French grammar: adjectifs qualificatifs

What this grammar point covers

Adjectifs qualificatifs are words in French that describe or give more information about a noun, such as its color, size, or quality.

When to use it

Use adjectives in French to describe people, objects, or places. Adjectives usually come after the noun, but some common ones come before.

Key forms

• Most adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun they describe.
• Masculine singular: petit
• Feminine singular: petite
• Masculine plural: petits
• Feminine plural: petites

Examples

Tips

• Remember that most adjectives must match the noun in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural).
• Some adjectives like 'beau', 'grand', 'petit' usually come before the noun.
• Be careful with spelling changes in the feminine or plural forms.

Exceptions and edge cases

• Some adjectives have irregular forms, like 'beau' (belle), 'nouveau' (nouvelle), or 'vieux' (vieille).
• A few adjectives change meaning depending on whether they come before or after the noun, like 'ancien'.