The adjective provides a precision about a noun. It can say the color of a dress, the size of a house, the age of a child, the shape of an object or a quality like gentil or silencieux. Without it, the noun remains more general. In une voiture, we know only that it is a vehicle. In une voiture rouge, the adjective gives additional information about the car. The adjective often follows the noun, but its position can change with certain words, as seen in Position de l'adjectif. It can also serve to show, count or qualify, which brings it close to Adjectifs démonstratifs and to Adjectifs numéraux.

Functions of the adjective in the sentence

Usage	Explanation
Precision about a noun	The adjective is used to provide more precise information about a noun that is described.
Change of quality	It is also used to show a changing or felt quality by the speaker.
Expressive description	It can finally create a vivid or imaginative effect to make the sentence more expressive.

The masculine singular is often the starting form of an adjective. It is found in its simple form, without feminine or plural marks. It is from this form that one very often builds the other forms. In un livre intéressant, intéressant is in masculine singular. In un enfant calme, calme too. When you learn an adjective, you must therefore know first its masculine singular form, because it serves as the base for agreement with the noun, as in Accord de l'adjectif.

Starting point for forming the adjective

Idea
The masculine singular is the starting form for constructing the other forms of the adjective.
This form is often used when the adjective accompanies a masculine singular noun.
It helps quickly identify the base word before gender and number changes.

Many adjectives form the feminine by simply adding -e to the masculine form. Petit becomes petite, grand becomes grande, joli becomes jolie. In speech, this letter does not always change pronunciation, but it changes the spelling and the agreement. It is used when the adjective modifies a feminine noun: une chambre petite, une rue calme, une idée claire. This form is the most regular and most frequent, and it also prepares the correct use of the Adjectifs qualificatifs.

Regular formation of the feminine

Idea
Many adjectives form the feminine by adding a final e.
If the masculine ends already with e, the feminine often stays unchanged.
This rule applies especially to short and very common adjectives.

The plural of adjectives is most often formed with -s. Grand becomes grands, petite becomes petites, simple becomes simples. This marker follows the plural of the noun: des livres noirs, des maisons blanches, des enfants sages. When the adjective already ends with s or x, the written form stays the same in the singular and the plural: un prix intéressant, des prix intéressants ; un choix difficile, des choix difficiles. The agreement is therefore seen in the whole noun phrase, not only on the noun.

Regular formation of the plural

Idea
The plural of adjectives is usually formed with a final s.
When the adjective already ends with s or x, its written form often changes little or not at all.
The plural agrees with the noun it describes and not the mere sense of the sentence.

Some adjectives change more in the feminine. Many double a consonant before -e: bon becomes bonne, ancien becomes ancienne, gentil becomes gentille. Others take a new ending. Adjectives ending in -eux often give -euse: heureux becomes heureuse, sérieux becomes sérieuse. Adjectives ending in -if often take -ive: actif becomes active, créatif becomes créative. The forms ending in -eur can become -euse, -rice or stay different depending on the word: travailleur becomes travailleuse, acteur becomes actrice. Some adjectives have a completely different feminine form: beau becomes belle, nouveau becomes nouvelle, vieux becomes vieille. These forms must be learned with the word, as they do not follow a single simple rule.

Main irregularities of the feminine

Idea
Some adjectives double a consonant in the feminine to obtain a new regular form.
Adjectives ending in eux often take euse in the feminine.
Adjectives ending in if often change to ive in the feminine.
Adjectives ending in eur may become euse or rice depending on the word.
Some adjectives have a completely different form in the feminine.

Some adjectives in -al take -aux in the plural. Un journal régional becomes des journaux régionaux, un problème national becomes des problèmes nationaux, un animal spécial becomes des animaux spéciaux. The ending therefore changes in the plural, and not just by adding a -s. This transformation mainly concerns common adjectives in -al. Other adjectives in -al can follow the regular form depending on the word, but the -aux form is the most known and the most useful to recognize.

Plural of adjectives in -al

Idea
Some adjectives in al form their plural in aux.
This transformation concerns mostly very common adjectives to memorize.
The change does not always follow perfect logic, so it is better to learn the most frequent forms.

The adjective agrees with the noun it qualifies. It takes the gender and number of that noun, even if the overall meaning seems different. We write une fille intelligente because fille is feminine, and des garçons intelligents because garçons is masculine plural. The agreement is with the expressed noun, not with the idea you have in mind. In une équipe nombreuse, the adjective is feminine singular because équipe is feminine singular. In un groupe nombreux, it becomes masculine singular. This agreement is the basic rule that links the adjective to the noun, as in Accord de l'adjectif.

Agreement of the adjective with the noun

Usage	Explanation
Agreement in gender	The adjective takes the gender of the noun itqualifies.
Agreement in number	The adjective also takes the number of the noun it accompanies.
Agreement with multiple nouns	When an adjective qualifies several nouns, it takes the form that corresponds to the whole group.

Some adjectives keep the same form in masculine, feminine and often in plural. This is the case for many color adjectives borrowed or formed from a noun, like orange, marron, chic, sympa. We write une robe orange, un pull orange, des chaussures orange. Other words used as adjectives can also remain invariable depending on usage or register, especially in informal language or in certain regions. The form then does not change, even when the noun changes gender or number. One must recognize these adjectives as words whose agreement does not follow the usual rule.

increvableconfituremarronorange

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Cet adjectif de couleur reste souvent invariable dans l usage courantCertaines expressions gardent la même forme dans un registre familier ou humoristiqueCet adjectif reste invariable pour la couleur du marron et ne change ni au féminin ni au plurielDans l usage familier, on rencontre parfois une couleur invariable pour éviter un accord compliqué

Variants and invariable uses of certain adjectives

Region	Variant	Definition	Example
France	marron	This adjective remains invariable for the color brown and changes neither in the feminine nor in the plural.	Des gants marron et une robe marron.Some brown gloves and a brown dress.
France	orange	This color adjective often remains invariable in common usage.	Des fleurs orange décorent la table.Some orange flowers decorate the table.
Belgium	confiture	In familiar usage, one sometimes encounters an invariable color to avoid a complicated agreement.	Une chemise confiture a surpris tout le monde.A jam-colored shirt surprised everyone.
Switzerland	increvable	Certain expressions retain the same form in a familiar or humorous register.	Ce vélo est increvable même sous la neige.This bicycle is indestructible even in the snow.

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