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Adjectives in French

Avant ou après?

(Before or after?)

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How adjectives work in English

In English, adjectives almost always go before the nouns they modify:

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  • a blue car

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  • a big house

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  • a fantastic movie

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  • a round table

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In French, adjectives can be placed before or after the noun, depending on their type and meaning. The following covers about 95% of cases, but there are always exceptions. �

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1. Placement after the noun (most adjectives) �

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  • Most adjectives are placed after the noun they modify. This includes shape, color, taste, nationality, religion, and other adjectives that describe things like personality and mood.

une table ronde - round table�un livre noir - black book�du thé sucré - sweet tea�une femme américaine - American woman

une église catholique - Catholic church

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1. Placement after the noun (most adjectives) �

In addition, “longer” adjectives are almost always placed after the noun.

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  • une histoire intéressante - interesting story
  • un débat fantastique - fantastic debate

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2. Placement before the noun

  • Certain adjectives are placed before the noun, just like in English. You can remember which ones by using the acronym…

"BAGS”

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BAGS

  • B
  • A
  • G
  • S

eauty (beau, joli) (handsome, pretty)

ge (jeune, vieux, nouveau) (young, old, new)

ood and bad (bon, mauvais) (good, bad)

ize (petit, gros, maigre, grand*) � (small, fat, skinny, tall)

* Figurative /poetic: un grand homme a great man �* Literal / actual: un homme grand - a tall man

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BAGS(O)

You may see the acronym BAGS with an O at the end. This stands for “ordinal” meaning numbers!

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  • Premier, deuxième…
  • Un, deux, trois…

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Some examples

  • une jolie fille - pretty girl
  • un jeune homme - young man
  • une nouvelle maison - new house
  • un bon enfant - good child
  • un petit problème - small problem

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Your turn! Avant ou après?�(Before or after?)

  1. A good meal (Avant/Après)
  2. A fantastic person (Avant/Après)
  3. A young boy (Avant/Après)
  4. A red apple (Avant/Après)
  5. A small mouse (Avant/Après)
  6. A bad day (Avant/Après)
  7. A sour candy (Avant/Après)

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Your turn! Avant ou après? �(Before or After?)

  1. A good meal (Avant) �un bon repas
  2. A fantastic person (Après) �une personne fantastique
  3. A young boy (Avant)�un jeune garçon
  4. A red apple (Après)�une pomme rouge
  5. A small mouse (Avant)�une petite souris
  6. A bad day (Avant)�un mauvais jour
  7. A sour candy (Après)�un bonbon aigre

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SPECIAL “DESIGNER” BAGS

  • There are three ‘special’ forms used for adjectives that are masculine, where the noun starts with a vowel (or vowel sound). What are they?

Beau → Bel

Nouveau → Nouvel

Vieux → Vieil

E.g.

un bel homme,

un nouvel ami,

un vieil auto

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Example

  • He has a new blue skateboard

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Step 1: Find the item (what is being described)

  • -> is it masculine/feminine/plural? �
  • He has a new blue skateboard�

skateboard = une planche à roulettes(f)

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Step 2: Find the adjectives

  • -> Do they go before or after? Are they a part of BAGS(O)? �
  • He has a new blue skateboard

new = nouveau -> BAGS(O)?

blue = bleu -> BAGS(O)?

-> Oui / Non

-> Oui / Non

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Step 3: Write it out, �**make everything agree!**

  • -> -> If the item is feminine, your adjectives need to also be feminine. If the item is masculine plural, your adjectives also need to be masculine plural. �

Final sentence:�He has a new blue skateboard

Il a une nouvelle planche à roulettes bleue.

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Re-cap

  • Step 1: Find the item (what is being described)
  • Step 2: Find the adjectives
  • Step 3: Write it out, **make everything agree!**

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  • He is wearing a small red baseball cap
  • Il porte une petite casquette rouge

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Pratiquez!

  • 1 - She has new green earrings (f)
  • 2 - They are wearing fantastic running shoes (f)
  • 3 – I want to buy pretty clothes (m)
  • 4 – He is using a small yellow mp3 player

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Réponses

  • 1 - She has new green earrings

>> Elle a des nouvelles boucles d’oreilles vertes

  • 2 - They are wearing fantastic running shoes

>> Ils portent des chaussures fantastiques

  • 3 – I want to buy pretty clothes

>> Je veux acheter des jolis vêtements

  • 4 – He is using a small yellow mp3 player

>> Il utilise un petit baladeur jaune