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1 Definitions

Adjectives are words that give information about a noun . Most often adjectives give descriptive information about a noun (as in The book is red), and these are called qualificative adjectives.

 

Agreement is is a grammatical way of showing that a particular word or phrase relates to another e.g. by means of a word ending.

 

2 Agreements to top

2.1 General

In French adjectives must agree with the noun(s) they refer to. If a noun is feminine , then all adjectives referring to it must also be feminine. Generally adjectives take an -e in the feminine:

1 Definitions 2 Agreements
un acteur connu  
une actrice connue  
a well-known actor
a well-known actress

 switcher See three more examples



If a noun is plural , then all adjectives referring to it must also be plural. Generally adjectives take an -s in the plural:

un acteur connu  
des acteurs connus  
a well-known actor
well-known actors

 switcher See three more examples



If a noun is both feminine and plural, then all adjectives referring to it must also be feminine and plural. Generally adjectives will take -es:

une actrice connue  
des actrices connues  
a well-known actress
well-known actresses

 switcher See three more examples



 

2.2 No change

Adjectives which already end with an -e or -s remain unchanged:

un homme maigre  
une femme maigre  
a thin man
a thin woman
un plafond bas  
des plafonds bas  
a low ceiling
low ceilings

 

 switcher See three more examples



 

2.3 Irregular forms

Many adjectives have irregular feminine and plural forms:

 

 

 switcher See three more examples



 

However, some adjectives do not follow any of these patterns:

 

 

 switcher See three more examples



 

 

2.4 Special masculine forms

Some adjectives have special masculine forms ending in -l which are used before a vowel or an h treated as a vowel:

un beau paysage  
but
un bel oiseau  
a pretty landscape
a pretty bird
un nouveau rapport  
but
un nouvel hôpital  
a new report
a new hospital
un vieux professeur  
but
un vieil homme  
an old teacher
an old man

 switcher See three more examples



 

2.5 Adjectives not taking an agreement

A very small number of adjectives do not agree in the normal manner. Some, such as chic (stylish), snob (snobbish) and kaki (khaki) do not have a feminine form, and sometimes do not take a plural form:

Elle est très chic / Ils sont très chic(s)  

She's very chic / They're very chic

Ma voisine est très snob / Nos voisins sont très snob(s)  

My neighbour's very snobbish / Our neighbours are very snobbish

 

Others, such as the indefinite adjective plusieurs (several) and most nouns used as adjectives of colour take no agreement:

Elle a des cheveux marron  

She's got brown hair

Elle porte des chaussures orange  

She's wearing orange shoes

 switcher See three more examples





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