attributifs

Attributifs, in linguistic terminology, refers to attributive adjectives—adjectives that directly modify a noun within a noun phrase, without a linking verb. This usage contrasts with predicative adjectives, which complete the meaning of a verb such as être in a clause like “la voiture est rouge.” In many languages, and especially in French grammar, attributive adjectives describe inherent or characteristic properties of the noun they modify and agree in gender and number with that noun.

In practice, attributive adjectives can appear before or after the noun. Some adjectives are commonly placed before the noun for nuance or emphasis (for example, beauty, age, goodness, size in the well-known B.A.G.S. order), while many others follow the noun. Examples include “un livre intéressant” (an interesting book) and “une maison rouge” (a red house). The position of the adjective can subtly affect meaning or style, and some adjectives may change meaning depending on whether they are preposed or postposed.

Adjectives used attributively form a core part of noun phrases and typically do not require punctuation between the noun and the adjective. They must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. The set of adjectives considered attributive is not fixed by form alone; it is defined by syntactic function within the noun phrase.

Summary: attributifs are adjectives that modify a noun within a noun phrase, distinct from predicative adjectives tied to a verb. Their placement relative to the noun and agreement with the noun are key aspects of their function, contributing to nuance, emphasis, and grammatical clarity in sentences.

See also: adjectives, predicative adjective, noun phrase, French grammar.