French descriptive adjectives (les adjectifs qualificatifs) are words that describe qualities, states, or characteristics of nouns, providing more information about a person, place, thing, or idea. They must agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with the noun they modify.
- Modify nouns by expressing qualities or states.
- Agree in gender and number with the noun.
- Can appear before or after the noun, depending on the adjective.
| Masculine Singular | Feminine Singular | Masculine Plural | Feminine Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| petit | petite | petits | petites |
| rouge | rouge | rouges | rouges |
| heureux | heureuse | heureux | heureuses |
- Typical endings: -e for feminine, -s for plural (with some exceptions).
- Examples: un chat noir (a black cat m.), une robe noire (a black dress f.), des chats noirs (black cats m. or mixed).
Placement of Adjectives
Most French adjectives follow the noun they describe, but some common adjectives are placed before the noun.
- Typical placement: after the noun (une voiture rouge).
- Common pre-nominal adjectives: beau, bon, grand, petit, jeune, vieux, joli.
Examples:
| Adjective (English) | Before Noun (Fr.) | After Noun (Fr.) |
|---|---|---|
| Good | un bon repas | un repas intéressant |
| Beautiful | une belle maison | une maison ancienne |
> Answer: bon, petit, jeune (and some others like beau, grand, vieux)
Agreement Rules
Adjectives must match the noun in both gender and number:
- Add -e for feminine (if not already present): petit → petite
- Add -s for plural: petit → petits, petite → petites
- Some adjectives have irregular feminine forms: heureux → heureuse
> Answer: rouges
> Answer: heureuse
Common Descriptive Adjectives
| English | Masculine | Feminine | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | petit | petite | |
| Big | grand | grande | |
| Beautiful | beau | belle | |
| Good | bon | bonne | |
| Bad | mauvais | mauvaise | |
| Happy | heureux | heureuse | |
| Sad | triste | triste | Same for m/f |
| New | nouveau | nouvelle | |
| Old | vieux | vieille | |
| Strong | fort | forte |
> Answer: nouvelle
Exercises
- Provide the correct form of the adjective in parentheses:
- Une fille (heureux) .
- Des chats (noir) .
- Un homme (fort) .
- Des idées (intéressant) .
- Which adjectives go before the noun?
a) Rouge
b) Petit
c) Jeune
d) Sérieux
e) Beau
- Match the adjective to its correct feminine form:
- Content →
- Doux →
- Blanc →
- Actif →
Conclusion
French descriptive adjectives provide essential details by expressing qualities and must agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify. Mastery of agreement rules and adjective placement is crucial for fluency.
- Adjectives change endings to match the noun's gender and number.
- Most adjectives follow the noun, but some common ones precede it.
- Correct usage enhances both written and spoken French accuracy.