French Adjectives
Lessons on everything you need to know about French adjectives: meaning, usage, placement, and types.
Introduction to French Adjectives
An adjective is a word that modifies a noun by describing it in some way: shape, color, size, nationality, etc. French adjectives are very different from English adjectives in two ways: agreement and word order.
An adjective is a word that modifies a noun by describing it in some way: shape, color, size, nationality, etc. French adjectives are very different from English adjectives in two ways: agreement and word order.
Adjectives with special forms
Since French adjectives usually have to agree with the nouns they modify in gender and number, most of them have up to four forms. But there are several French adjectives that have an additional variation: a special form that is used when the adjective precedes a word that begins with a vowel or mute H.
Since French adjectives usually have to agree with the nouns they modify in gender and number, most of them have up to four forms. But there are several French adjectives that have an additional variation: a special form that is used when the adjective precedes a word that begins with a vowel or mute H.
Fickle French Adjectives
There are a number of French adjectives which have different meanings depending on whether they are placed before or after the noun. Generally speaking, when the adjective precedes the noun, it has a figurative or subjective meaning, whereas the adjective which follows the noun has a literal or objective meaning.
There are a number of French adjectives which have different meanings depending on whether they are placed before or after the noun. Generally speaking, when the adjective precedes the noun, it has a figurative or subjective meaning, whereas the adjective which follows the noun has a literal or objective meaning.
Adverbial Adjectives ~ Adjectifs adverbiaux (Bas, Bon, Cher...)
By now you know that French adjectives normally agree with the nouns they modify, but you've probably seen a few cases where they don't. There are a number of French adjectives which are often used as adverbs (that is, they modify verbs rather than nouns), and when used in this way, these "adverbial adjectives" are invariable.
By now you know that French adjectives normally agree with the nouns they modify, but you've probably seen a few cases where they don't. There are a number of French adjectives which are often used as adverbs (that is, they modify verbs rather than nouns), and when used in this way, these "adverbial adjectives" are invariable.
Attributive Adjectives ~ Adjectifs épithètes (Beau, Jeune, Rouge...)
Attributive adjectives describe or emphasize some characteristic of the noun they modify. The defining characteristic of attributive adjectives is that they are joined to the noun they modify - immediately preceding or following it with no verb in between.
Attributive adjectives describe or emphasize some characteristic of the noun they modify. The defining characteristic of attributive adjectives is that they are joined to the noun they modify - immediately preceding or following it with no verb in between.
Exclamative Adjectives - Adjectifs exclamatifs (Quel, Quelle...)
Exclamative adjectives ask the question which. The French equivalent of which, quel, must be used whenever there is more than one noun that you are choosing between.
Exclamative adjectives ask the question which. The French equivalent of which, quel, must be used whenever there is more than one noun that you are choosing between.
Demonstrative Adjectives - Adjectif démonstratif (Ce, Cet, Cette, Ces)
Demonstrative adjectives (this, that, these, those) are words used in place of articles to indicate a specific noun. In French, they must agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify.
Demonstrative adjectives (this, that, these, those) are words used in place of articles to indicate a specific noun. In French, they must agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify.
Determiners ~ Adjectifs déterminants / non qualificatifs
The grammatical term determiner refers to a word which introduces and simultaneously modifies a noun. Determiners are much more common in French than in English.
The grammatical term determiner refers to a word which introduces and simultaneously modifies a noun. Determiners are much more common in French than in English.
Interrogative Adjectives - Adjectifs interrogatifs (Quel, Quelle...)
Interrogative adjectives ask the question which. The French equivalent of which, quel, must be used whenever there is more than one noun that you are choosing between.
Interrogative adjectives ask the question which. The French equivalent of which, quel, must be used whenever there is more than one noun that you are choosing between.
Faux Adjectives ~ Les adjectifs occasionnels
In French, there are a number of words which are not actually adjectives but may be used as adjectives. These "occasional adjectives" or "faux adjectives" are always invariable - they do not agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify. There are three different types of words that may be used as adjectives.
In French, there are a number of words which are not actually adjectives but may be used as adjectives. These "occasional adjectives" or "faux adjectives" are always invariable - they do not agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify. There are three different types of words that may be used as adjectives.
Indefinite Adjectives - Adjectifs indéfinis Autre, Certain, Chaque...
Affirmative indefinite adjectives are used to modify nouns in a unspecific sense. Certain adjectives will help some people talk about several new things.
Affirmative indefinite adjectives are used to modify nouns in a unspecific sense. Certain adjectives will help some people talk about several new things.
Invariable Adjectives - Adjectifs invariables
In French, adjectives normally have to agree with the nouns they modify in gender and number. However, there are numerous adjectives which don't agree - they have a single form that does not change to reflect the gender or number of the noun.
In French, adjectives normally have to agree with the nouns they modify in gender and number. However, there are numerous adjectives which don't agree - they have a single form that does not change to reflect the gender or number of the noun.
Negative Adjectives - Adjectifs négatifs (Ne... aucun, nul, pas un)
French negative adjectives, sometimes called indefinite negative adjectives, are made up of two parts which surround the verb. Negative adjectives negate, refuse, or cast doubt on a quality of the noun they modify.
French negative adjectives, sometimes called indefinite negative adjectives, are made up of two parts which surround the verb. Negative adjectives negate, refuse, or cast doubt on a quality of the noun they modify.
Numerical Adjectives - Adjectives numéraux (Un, Deuxième, Tiers...)
Numerical adjectives aren't as complicated as they might sound - numerical adjective is simply the grammatical term for numbers. There are three types of numerical adjectives, each of which is used for a different purpose. Learn about the types, placement, and agreement of numerical adjectives.
Numerical adjectives aren't as complicated as they might sound - numerical adjective is simply the grammatical term for numbers. There are three types of numerical adjectives, each of which is used for a different purpose. Learn about the types, placement, and agreement of numerical adjectives.
Past Participle - Participe passé (Assis, Fatigué...)
The participe passé is the French equivalent of the -ed form of English verbs and may be used as an adjective.
The participe passé is the French equivalent of the -ed form of English verbs and may be used as an adjective.
Possessive Adjectives - Adjectifs possessifs Mon, Ma, Mes, Ton, Ta...
Lesson and quiz on my, your, his, etc.
Lesson and quiz on my, your, his, etc.
Present Participle - Participe présent (Amusant, Intéressant...)
The participe présent is the French equivalent of the -ing form of English verbs and may be used as an adjective.
The participe présent is the French equivalent of the -ing form of English verbs and may be used as an adjective.
Relative Adjectives - Adjectifs relatifs (Lequel)
Relative adjectives are placed in front of nouns to indicate a link between that noun and an antecedent. In both English and French, relative adjectives are used mainly in legal, administrative, or other highly-formal language.
Relative adjectives are placed in front of nouns to indicate a link between that noun and an antecedent. In both English and French, relative adjectives are used mainly in legal, administrative, or other highly-formal language.
Bon vs Bien, Mauvais vs Mal
The French words bon and bien, mauvais and mal are often mixed up - study this lesson to straighten them out.
The French words bon and bien, mauvais and mal are often mixed up - study this lesson to straighten them out.
Deuxième vs Second
They both mean "second" but what's the difference?
They both mean "second" but what's the difference?
Même
The French word même can be an indefinite adjective, indefinite pronoun, or adverb, and is also used in a number of expressions, making it an extremely versatile and useful French word.
The French word même can be an indefinite adjective, indefinite pronoun, or adverb, and is also used in a number of expressions, making it an extremely versatile and useful French word.
Nouveau vs Neuf
English speakers sometimes find it difficult to translate "new" into French, due to confusion over the French words nouveau and neuf. In fact, the French adjectives have distinctly different meanings; the problem is actually caused by the fact that the English "new" has more than one meaning.
English speakers sometimes find it difficult to translate "new" into French, due to confusion over the French words nouveau and neuf. In fact, the French adjectives have distinctly different meanings; the problem is actually caused by the fact that the English "new" has more than one meaning.
Quelque
Quelque is an indefinite adjective and adverb that is found in numerous indefinite terms and expressions.
Quelque is an indefinite adjective and adverb that is found in numerous indefinite terms and expressions.
Tel, Telle, Tels, Telles
The French word tel can be a qualifying adjective, an indefinite adjective, or an indefinite pronoun, and is also used in a number of expressions and conjunctions, making it an extremely versatile and useful French word.
The French word tel can be a qualifying adjective, an indefinite adjective, or an indefinite pronoun, and is also used in a number of expressions and conjunctions, making it an extremely versatile and useful French word.
Tout, Tous, Toute, Toutes
Learn all about the French adjective tout.
Learn all about the French adjective tout.