Les adjectifs
Descriptive adjectives are used to describe
nouns. In French, descriptive adjectives usually
follow the nouns they modify. Descriptive
adjectives may also follow forms of the verb tre
(to be): il/elle est... (he/she/it is . . . ); ils/ elles
sont... (they are . . . ).
un professeur intressant
an interesting teacher
un ami sincre
a sincere friend
Il est pratique.
He/It is practical.
Elle est sportive.
She is athletic.
Agreement of Adjectives in
Gender and Number
In French, adjectives agree in both gender and
number with the nouns they modify. The feminine
form of adjectives usually ends in -e. The regular
plural adds an s.
Singular
Plural
Masculine un ami intelligent des amis intelligents
Feminine une amie intelligente
intelligentes
des amies
If the masculine singular form of the adjective ends in
an unaccented or silent -e, the ending remains the
same in the feminine singular.
Cest un homme extraordinaire. Hes an extraordinary
man.
Cest une femme extraordinaire. Shes an extraordinary
woman.
With nouns that are modifi ed (accompanied by an
adjective or other descriptor), use the indefi nite subject
pronoun ce (cest.../ce sont...).With cest and ce sont
(these are/those are), articles or possessive
adjectives are always used before a noun. At times, the
context will identify the person.
Paul est optimiste.
Paul is optimistic.
Mais Claire est pessimiste.
But Claire is
If the singular form of an adjective ends in -s or -x,
the plural ending remains the same.
Bradley est anglais; les amis
Bradley is
English; Bradleys
de Bradley sont aussi anglais. friends are also
English.
M. Blin est gnreux; ses (his) Mr. Blin is
generous; his
enfants sont aussi gnreux.
children are also
generous.
If a plural subject or group contains one or more
masculine items or people, the plural adjective is
masculine.
Suzanne et Georges
are
sont intelligents.
Suzanne et Amlie sont
Amlie are
intelligentes.
Suzanne and Georges
intelligent.
Suzanne and
intelligent.
Invariable adjectives or adjectival phrases do not
change in gender or number.
Ce sont des chaussures chic These are stylish and
inexpensive
et bon march.
shoes.
Some descriptive adjectives have irregular forms.
Singular
MASCULINE
FEMININE
ENGLISH
conservateur
conservatrice
conservative
courageux
courageuse
courageous
fier
fire
proud
Gentil
gentille
nice
Naturel
naturelle
natural
Parisien
parisienne
Parisian
sportif
sportive
athletic
travailleur
travailleuse
hardworking
Plural
MASCULINE
FEMININE
ENGLISH
conservateurs conservatrices conservative
courageux
courageuses
courageous
fiers
fires
proud
gentils
gentilles
nice
naturels
naturelles
natural
parisiens
parisiennes
Parisian
Sportifs
sportives
athletic
travailleurs
travailleuses
hardworking
Other descriptive adjectives with irregular
forms include the followin
examples:
canadien (canadienne)
Canadian
cher (chre)
expensive; dear
conspirateur (conspiratrice) conspiratorial
ennuyeux (ennuyeuse)
boring
naf (nave)
nave
paresseux (paresseuse)
lazy
srieux (srieuse)
serious
Adjectives of Color
Adjectives of color normally follow the noun and
agree with it in gender and in number.
une chemise bleue
des livres gris
des chaussures vertes
a blue shirt
gray books
green shoes
Two adjectives of color, blanc and violet, have
irregular feminine forms.
un crayon blanc
a white pencil
une chemise blanche a white shirt
des cahiers violets
purple notebooks
des voitures violettes purple cars
Adjectives of color ending in silent -e are spelled
the same in both masculine and feminine.
des cahiers (m. pl.) jaunes
notebooks
des fleurs (f. pl.) jaunes
une chaise rouge
un manteau rouge
des pull-overs (m. pl.) roses
des chaussettes (f. pl.) roses
yellow
yellow fl owers
a red chair
a red coat
pink sweaters
pink socks
Two adjectives of color, marron and orange, are
invariable in gender and number.
des chaussures marron (f. pl.)
des sacs orange (m. pl.)
brown shoes
orange
handbags
The names of colors are masculine when
used as nouns.
Jaime le rose et le bleu. I love pink and blue.
Adjectives That Precede the Noun
Most descriptive adjectives follow the noun, but these
adjectives usually precede it:
autre other
joli(e) pretty
beau (m. s.) beautiful, handsome
mauvais(e) bad
bon(ne) good
mme same
grand(e) big, tall; great
nouveau (m. s.) new
gros(se) fat, big
petit(e) small; short
jeune young
vieux (m. s.) old
The adjectives beau (beautiful, handsome),
nouveau (new), and vieux (old) are irregular. In
addition, each has a second masculine singular form
that is used before a vowel sound or mute h.
Singular
Plural
Masculine
beau
beaux
Un
nouveau livre
de nouveaux
livres
vieux
vieux
Masculine Before Vowel Sound
Un
bel
un nouvel objet
vieil
Feminine
belle
une nouvelle auto
beaux
de nouveaux objets
vieux
belles
de nouvelles autos
Pronounce the examples below, and practice by
substituting other nouns for maison and homme.
What changes do you need to make in the
articles
and adjectives?
Cest une belle maison. Its a pretty house.
Cest un vieil homme. Hes an old man.
Cest le nouveau professeur. Thats the new
teacher
When a plural adjective precedes a plural noun, the
indefinite article des usually shortens to de/d, as
you may have noticed in the previous chart.
de grandes autos
de nouvelles ides
dautres amis
(some) big cars
(some) new ideas
(some) other friends
However, colloquial French often retains des before
the plural.
Ce sont des bons copains! Theyre good pals!
A few adjectives that usually precede
nouns can also follow them. This change of
position causes a change in meaning. For
example:
un ancien professeur
(a former teacher)
une maison ancienne (an ancient [very old]
house)
le dernier exercice
(the fi nal exercise)
lanne dernire (f.) (last year)
un pauvre garon
(an unfortunate boy)
un garon pauvre
(a poor [not rich]
boy)
une chre amie
(a dear friend)
un repas cher
(an expensive meal)
Les adjectifs descriptifs (Descriptive
Adjectives)
agrable (pleasant)
heureux (-euse) (happy)
avare (stingy)
idaliste (idealistic)
beau (bel, belle) (beautiful/handsome)
intelligent(e) (intelligent)
bon (bonne) (good)
intressant(e) (interesting)
bon march (inv.) (inexpensive)
jeune (young)
cher (chre) (expensive; dear)
joli(e) (pretty)
chic (inv.) (stylish, chic)
laid(e) (ugly)
content(e) (happy, pleased)
mauvais(e) (bad)
costaud(e) (sturdy [person])
mince (thin)
dernier (-ire) (last, fi nal)
nouveau/nouvel/nouvelle (new)
dsol(e) (sorry) p
auvre (poor)
diffi cile (difficult)
petit(e) (small; short)
drle (funny)
premier (-ire) (fi rst)
excellent(e) (excellent)
riche (rich)
facile (easy)
sincre (sincere)
fantastique (wonderful)
sociable (friendly)
fatigu(e) (tired)
sympathique (nice)
formidable (fabulous)
timide (shy, timid)
fort(e) (strong)
triste (sad)
grand(e) (big, tall; great)
typique (typical)
gros(se) (fat) vieux/vieil/vieille (old)
Les couleurs (Colors)
blanc(he) (white) blond(e) (blond[e])
bleu(e) (blue) brun(e) (dark-haired
Write the feminine singular form of the adjectives
given.
1. intressant
2. naf
3. agrable
4. srieux
5. jaune
6. marron
7. bleu
8. costaud
9. fier
10. chic
11. cher
12. conservateur
13. beau
14. gros
15. actif
16. gentil
17. travailleur
18. drle
19. vieux
20. heureux
1.intressante
2. nave
3. agrable
4. srieuse
5. jaune
6. marron
7. bleue
8. costaude
9. fire
10. chic
11. chre
12. conservatrice
13. belle
14. grosse
15. active
16. gentille
17. travailleuse
18. drle
19. vieille
20. heureuse
Complete the phrases with the correct adjective that
agrees in gender and number.
1. le (old) homme
2. la situation (diffi cult)
3. la (beautiful) maison
4. la personne (nice)
5. les fl eurs (yellow)
6. des amis (sincere)
7. un (great) homme
8. une voiture (ancient)
9. d (former) professeurs
10. des appartements (inexpensive)
11. une comdie (funny)
12. un livre (interesting)
1. vieil
2. Diffiicile
3. belle
4. gentille
5. jaunes
6. sincres
7. grand
8. ancienne
9. anciens
10. bon march/pas chers
11. drle
12. intressant
Write the plural form of each of the noun-adjective
phrases.
1. une lampe bleue
2. un ami srieux
3. le chat gris
4. une Suisse sympathique
5. une personne costaude
6. le bel appartement
7. un jeune garon
8. un examen diffi cile
9. le dernier train
10. le quartier ancien
1. des lampes bleues
2. des amis srieux
3. les chats gris
4. des Suisses sympathiques
5. des personnes costaudes
6. les beaux appartements
7. de jeunes garons
8. des examens difficiles
9. les derniers trains
10. les quartiers anciens
Translate the phrases into French.
1. the dark-haired men
2. the kind woman
3. (some) red shoes
4. the old hotels
5. the beautiful apartments
6. the interesting courses
7. the courageous heroes
8. the rich appetizers
9. (some) expensive cars
10. (some) idealistic Americans
11. the great universities
12. (some) new books
1. les hommes bruns
2. la femme gentille/sympathique
3. des chaussures rouges
4. les vieux htels
5. les beaux appartements
6. les cours intressants
7. les hros courageux 8
. les hors-doeuvre riches
9. des voitures chres
10.Amricains idalistes
11. les grandes universits
12. de nouveaux livres
13. les chapeaux orange
14. des tragdies tristes
15. les professeurs travailleurs 1
16. despersonnes fi res
