Adjectival Agreement in French: Rules and Examples
French adjectives must agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify, a concept that can be challenging for English speakers. This guide will help you understand and master the rules of adjectival agreement in French.
Basic Rules of Agreement
Gender Agreement
Most French adjectives have two forms: masculine and feminine. To form the feminine, typically add an -e to the masculine form:
- Petit (small, masculine) → Petite (small, feminine)
- Grand (tall, masculine) → Grande (tall, feminine)
Example:
- Un petit garçon (A small boy)
- Une petite fille (A small girl)
Number Agreement
To make adjectives plural, generally add -s to the singular form:
- Petit → Petits
- Petite → Petites
Example:
- Des petits garçons (Small boys)
- Des petites filles (Small girls)
Special Cases and Irregular Forms
Adjectives Ending in -e
Adjectives already ending in -e in the masculine form don't change for feminine:
- Jeune (young): un jeune homme, une jeune femme
Adjectives Ending in -eux
Change -eux to -euse for feminine:
- Heureux (happy): un homme heureux, une femme heureuse
Adjectives Ending in -f
Change -f to -ve for feminine:
- Actif (active): un homme actif, une femme active
Position of Adjectives
Most French adjectives come after the noun they modify:
- Une voiture rouge (A red car)
Some common adjectives, however, precede the noun:
- Bon (good), mauvais (bad), petit (small), grand (tall), jeune (young), vieux (old)
Example: Un bon livre (A good book)
Conclusion
Mastering adjectival agreement is crucial for speaking and writing French correctly. Regular practice and exposure to French text and speech will help you internalize these rules over time. Remember, while there are exceptions, the basic principles of matching gender and number will serve you well in most situations.