Contents · A2
- The present and the imperative completed
- The passé composé completed
- The imparfait and the choice of a past tense
- The future and the condition
- The verb forms of A2 side by side
- Verbs and adjectives followed by à, de or en
- The gender of nouns
- Adjectives: agreement and place
- Comparing and measuring
- Object pronouns, y and en
- Demonstrative and possessive pronouns, and tout
- Relative clauses
- Negation, questions and exclamations
- Prepositions and adverbs of place and time
- Linking words
- Spelling: words that sound alike
Tap a sentence to see its translation.
The adjective agrees with the noun in gender and number (level A1). Level A2 completes its feminine and plural forms and the place of beau, nouveau and vieux.
The agreement of adjectives completed.
Formation
The feminine of most adjectives is formed by adding -e to the masculine, and the plural by adding -s (level A1). Several endings change more in the feminine, and the masculine plural of the adjectives in -al ends in -aux.
| Masculine | Feminine | Masculine plural | Feminine plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| heureux, paresseux | heureuse, paresseuse | heureux | heureuses |
| sportif, actif, neuf | sportive, active, neuve | sportifs | sportives |
| blanc | blanche | blancs | blanches |
| inquiet, complet | inquiète, complète | inquiets | inquiètes |
| long | longue | longs | longues |
| national, normal, local | nationale, normale, locale | nationaux, normaux, locaux | nationales |
The feminine plural of the adjectives in -al is regular: des fêtes nationales. An adjective that already ends in -x or -s does not change in the masculine plural: des enfants heureux. When an adjective describes nouns of both genders, it is in the masculine plural: Paul et Léa sont sportifs.
- Ma grand-mère est toujours très heureuse.My grandmother is always very happy.
- Les chemises blanches sont dans ma valise.The white shirts are in my suitcase.
- Les journaux nationaux parlent de notre ville.The national newspapers are writing about our town.
- Ma mère est inquiète : mon frère n’est pas rentré.My mother is worried: my brother hasn’t come home.
Common mistakes
une femme sportif→ une femme sportiveThe feminine of the adjectives in -if ends in -ive.des problèmes nationals→ des problèmes nationauxThe masculine plural of the adjectives in -al ends in -aux.
Difference from English
English adjectives have one form. In French, the agreement depends on the gender of the noun, not on the person speaking: a man says Ma voiture est blanche.
→ See also: The agreement of adjectives (A1)
Beau, nouveau, vieux and the place of the adjective.
Formation
Most adjectives are placed after the noun, among them the colours and the nationalities. A few short and very frequent adjectives are placed before it: grand, petit, jeune, vieux, bon, mauvais, beau, joli, nouveau. Beau, nouveau and vieux have a second masculine singular form, bel, nouvel and vieil, used before a noun beginning with a vowel or a mute h.
| Before a consonant | Before a vowel | Feminine | Masculine plural | Feminine plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| beau | un beau jardin | un bel arbre | belle | beaux | belles |
| nouveau | un nouveau film | un nouvel ami | nouvelle | nouveaux | nouvelles |
| vieux | un vieux livre | un vieil hôtel | vieille | vieux | vieilles |
The feminine belle, nouvelle and vieille is formed on bel, nouvel and vieil. In the plural, the forms are beaux, nouveaux and vieux, even before a vowel: de nouveaux amis, de beaux arbres. When a noun has an adjective of each kind, each is placed as usual: une nouvelle voiture rouge.
- Nous habitons dans un vieil immeuble.We live in an old building.
- Tu connais mon nouvel ami ?Do you know my new friend?
- Ils ont acheté une belle maison blanche.They bought a beautiful white house.
Common mistakes
un nouveau appartement→ un nouvel appartementBefore a vowel, nouveau becomes nouvel.un ami vieil→ un vieil amiVieux and vieil are placed before the noun.
→ See also: The place of the adjective (A1)
In short
| Point | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -eux, -if, -c, -et, -g | -euse, -ive, -che, -ète, -gue | heureuse, sportive, blanche |
| -al | masculine plural -aux | nationaux |
| beau, nouveau, vieux | before the noun; bel, nouvel, vieil before a vowel | un bel hôtel |