Adjectifs

Adjectifs, or adjectives in French, are words that modify nouns by describing a quality, quantity, or state. They agree in gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) with the nouns they qualify, which distinguishes them from many English adjectives that remain invariable.

The typical placement of an adjective can be before or after the noun. Most adjectives follow the noun (e.g., « une maison blanche »), but a set of frequently used adjectives, often referred to as BAGS (beauty, age, goodness, size), usually precede the noun (e.g., « un beau jour », « une petite fille »). When an adjective can occupy both positions, the meaning may shift: « un homme pauvre » (a man who is poor) versus « une pauvre homme » (a pitiful man).

Adjectives can be formed from other parts of speech. Many derive from nouns (‑al, ‑ique), verbs (‑ant, ‑é), or other adjectives (‑y, ‑if). Some adjectives are irregular, showing atypical forms in the comparative and superlative degrees. The comparative generally uses « plus », « moins », or « aussi » plus the adjective (e.g., « plus grand », « aussi rapide »). The superlative is built with « le/la/les plus » or « le/la/les moins » (e.g., « le plus intéressant », « les moins chers »). Certain adjectives have irregular forms: bon → meilleur, mauvais → pire.

Adjectifs can also be part of fixed expressions and idiomatic phrases, contributing to the richness of French style. Mastery of adjective agreement, placement, and degree formation is essential for accurate and fluent French communication.