Grammar - Adjectives
French: AQA A Level, topic 7.1.6
Adjectives
Adjectives in the singular form
- RULE 1: Add an –E to the masculine adjective form to become feminine
- vert = verte, grand = grande
- RULE 2: The adjectives already ending in an E stay the same
- Jaune = jaune, moderne = moderne
- RULE 3: Some adjectives that have different versions
- Beau, bel, belle, beaux, belles
- Vieux, vieil, Vieille, vieux, vieilles
- Nouveau, nouvel, nouvelle, nouveaux, nouvelles
- RULE 4 : Use bel, vieil, nouvel if the masculine noun starts with a vowel:
- un bel homme, un vieil homme, le nouvel an.
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Some common irregular adjectives
- crazy: Fou-folle, good: bon-bonne,
- dry: sec-sèche, Greek: grec-grecque,
- fresh: frais-fraîche, public: public-publique,
- favourite: favori-favorite, nice/kind: gentil-gentille,
- false: faux-fausse, sweet/soft: doux-douce,
- sly/evil minded: malin-maligne, silly/foolish: sot-sotte,
- low: bas-basse, thick: épais-épaisse,
- sharp: aigu-aiguë, ginger hair: roux-rousse,
- soft: mou-molle, fat (in food): gras-grasse
Adjectives in the plural forms
- RULE 1: Add an S to the masculine or feminine singular adjective
- verts = vertes, grands = grandes, modernes = modernes
- RULE 2: masculine singular adjectives ending in X or S don’t change
- généreux = généreux, gros = gros
- RULE 3: masculine singular adjectives ending in EAU add X
- Beau = beaux, nouveau = nouveaux
- RULE 4: masculine singular adjectives ending in AL change to AUX
- Amical = amicaux, égal = égaux
Adjectives 2
Position of adjectives
- Adjectives go after the noun except these adjectives which MUST go in front of the noun:
- joli, vieux, jeune, petit, court, gentil, long, grand, beau, gros, large, meilleur, haut, mauvais, méchant, excellent, villain, tout, tel, autre, and numbers.
- use the mnemonic BANGS (beauty, age, numbers, goodness, size)
- joli, vieux, jeune, petit, court, gentil, long, grand, beau, gros, large, meilleur, haut, mauvais, méchant, excellent, villain, tout, tel, autre, and numbers.
Position of adjectives (continued)
- What happens if there are 2 adjectives?
- Are they both from the list?
- Put both before the noun : Un joli grand château
- Is there only one from the list?
- Put the one from the list before the noun, put the other one after the noun : Des petits gâteaux rouges
- Are neither from the list?
- Put both after the noun and link them with et : Une maison vide et affreuse
- Are they both from the list?
Superlative adjectives
- The most
- Le plus
- The least
- Le moins
Test yourself on Grammar - Adjectives
Which one is correct ?
Which one is correct ?