Understanding French Adjective Agreement and Placement

The Basics of French Adjective Agreement

In French, adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Unlike English, where adjectives remain the same regardless of the noun, French adjectives change in form.

Understanding Gender Agreement

Most French nouns are either masculine or feminine. Adjectives that describe these nouns must match the gender. For example, 'petit' is used for masculine nouns and 'petite' for feminine nouns.

Number Agreement: Singular vs. Plural

In addition to gender, French adjectives also agree in number. If a noun is plural, the adjective takes an 's' at the end, regardless of gender. For example, 'petits' and 'petites' both mean 'small' but in male and female plural contexts respectively.

Placement of French Adjectives

Unlike English, where adjectives generally precede nouns, the placement of French adjectives is nuanced and can depend on the adjective itself.

Adjectives Before the Noun

Some common adjectives appear before the noun they modify. These include 'beau', 'joli', 'jeune', 'vieux', 'nouveau', 'bon', and 'mauvais'.

Adjectives After the Noun

Most French adjectives are placed after the noun. For example, 'une voiture rouge' (a red car) and 'un homme fort' (a strong man) follow this pattern.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Practice Makes Perfect

Consistent practice with writing and speaking is essential to mastering French adjective agreement and placement. Try to incorporate new adjectives into sentences whenever possible.

• Write sentences using both masculine and feminine forms.
• Arrange sentences to practice adjective placement.
• Engage with native speakers to get feedback.