Descriptive adjectives in French

Descriptive Adjectives

Descriptive adjectives are used to describe nouns. In French, descriptive adjectives usually follow the nouns they modify. Descriptive adjectives may also follow forms of the verb être (to be): il/elle est... (he/she/it is . . . ); ils/ elles sont... (they are . . . )

un professeur intéressant          an interesting teacher

un ami sincère                          a sincere friend

Il est pratique.                                 He/It is practical.

Elle est sportive.                             She is athletic.

Agreement of Adjectives in Gender and Number

In French, adjectives agree in both gender and number with the nouns they modify. The feminine form of adjectives usually ends in -e. The regular plural adds an s.

Singular                                  Plural

Masculine      un ami intelligent                 des amis intelligents

Feminine        une amie intelligente                 des amies intelligentes

If the masculine singular form of the adjective ends in an unaccented or silent -e, the ending remains the same in the feminine singular.

C’est un homme extraordinaire. He’s an extraordinary man.

C’est une femme extraordinaire. She’s an extraordinary woman.

Paul est optimiste. Paul is optimistic.

Mais Claire est pessimiste. But Claire is pessimistic.

If the singular form of an adjective ends in -s or -x, the plural ending

remains the same.

Bradley est anglais.                       Bradley is English;

les amis de Bradley                         Bradley’s friends are also English.

sont aussi anglais.

M. Blin est généreux;                     Mr. Blin is generous;

ses (his) enfants sont aussi généreux.

his children are also generous.

If a plural subject or group contains one or more masculine items or people, the plural adjective is masculine.

Suzanne et Georges                         Suzanne and Georges are

sont intelligents.                                                       intelligent.

Suzanne et Amélie sont                         Suzanne and Amélie are

intelligentes.                                                             intelligent.

Invariable adjectives or adjectival phrases do not change in gender or number.

Ce sont des chaussures chic et bon marché.

These are stylish and inexpensive shoes.

Some descriptive adjectives have irregular forms.

Singular

MASCULINE        FEMININE            ENGLISH

conservateur          conservatrice         conservative

courageux             courageuse           courageous

fier                        fière                      proud

gentil                     gentille                  nice

naturel                   naturelle                natural

parisien                 parisienne             Parisian

sportif                    sportive                 athletic

travailleur              travailleuse           hardworking

Plural

MASCULINE        FEMININE            ENGLISH

conservateurs        conservatrices       conservative

courageux             courageuses         courageous

fiers                      fières                              proud

gentils                   gentilles                nice

naturels                 naturelles              natural

parisiens               parisiennes           Parisian(someone from Paris)

sportifs                  sportives               athletic

travailleurs            travailleuses                    hardworking

Other descriptive adjectives with irregular forms include the following examples:

canadien (canadienne) Canadian

cher (chère) expensive; dear

conspirateur (conspiratrice) conspiratorial

ennuyeux (ennuyeuse) boring

naïf (naïve) naïve

paresseux (paresseuse) lazy

sérieux (sérieuse) serious

Acknowledgements 

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