In French, adjectives describe nouns and agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with the noun they modify. Most adjectives are placed after the noun, but some common ones come before.
Agreement:
- To form the feminine, add -e to the masculine form (e.g., petit → petite).
- To form the plural, add -s (e.g., petit → petits, petite → petites).
- If the masculine form ends in -e, the feminine is the same (e.g., jeune → jeune).
Placement:
- Most adjectives follow the noun (e.g., un livre intéressant).
- Common adjectives like beau (beautiful), bon (good), grand (big), petit (small), vieux (old) usually come before the noun.
Comparative and Superlative:
- Comparative: use plus ... que (more ... than), moins ... que (less ... than), or aussi ... que (as ... as).
- Superlative: use le/la plus (the most) or le/la moins (the least) before the adjective.
Irregular Adjectives:
Some adjectives have irregular forms, especially in the comparative and superlative (e.g., bon → meilleur, mauvais → pire).
Understanding adjectives’ agreement and placement is key to French grammar and helps descriptions sound natural.
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Table of Contents
- Descriptive Adjectives
Descriptive adjectives in French, their rules for agreement, placement, and usage in sentences.
- Comparative Adjectives
Comparative adjectives in French, including how to form comparisons of equality, superiority, and inferiority, along with examples and key rules.
- Superlative Adjectives
- Demonstrative Adjectives
Demonstrative adjectives in French, including usage, forms, examples, and common rules to help you point out specific things confidently.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
