Adjectives
One of the eight parts of speech, adjectives are a type of modifier. They serve the same purpose in French and English, but they are very different in two respects. adjectives
French adjectives describe nouns in various ways and usually have to agree with them in gender and number.
One of the eight parts of speech, adjectives are a type of modifier. They serve the same purpose in French and English, but they are very different in two respects. A1 • adjectives • agreement • word order
Adjectives Functioning as Adverbs
By definition, adjectives modify nouns. But more than 30 French adjectives can sometimes modify verbs instead, thus taking on the role and characteristics of adverbs, including the fact that they are invariable. adjectives • adverbs • agreement
Adjectives vs Pronouns
There are six French adjective / pronoun pairs, where an adjective + noun can be replaced by a corresponding pronoun. adjectives • B1 • pronouns
Adjectives with Prepositions
When describing someone as capable of doing or determined to do something, a preposition is required between the adjective and verb. In French, the choice of preposition depends on the adjective that precedes it, not the verb that follows. Adverbs of Manner
Adverbs of manner express how the action of a verb occurs. In English, the vast majority of adverbs of manner end in -ly, whereas in French, they mostly end in -ment. They are created from adjectives. A2 • adjectives • adverbs
Agreement
Grammatical agreement is a vast topic - and one of the banes of French students. While in English we have a few pronouns and adjectives that indicate gender and number (e.g., he/him/his and she/her/hers), in French, agreement is found in 5 of the 8 parts of speech. adjectives • articles • nouns • pronouns
Agreement with Subjects
The three French verb constructions which include some form of être plus a past participle usually require grammatical agreement of the past participle with the subject. A2 • adjectives • agreement
Apocopes
abbreviations • adjectives • nouns
Demonstrative Adjectives
Ce, cette, cet, and ces are demonstrative adjectives, which are used to indicate a specific noun or nouns. In French, they must agree with the noun(s) in number and sometimes gender. A2 • adjectives
Euphonic Adjectives
French grammar is sometimes trumped by pronunciation, as in the case of euphonic adjectives. Because French does not like the hiatus created when a word ending with a vowel precedes a word that begins with a vowel or mute h, a few adjectives change their spelling—and thus their pronunciation—for purely euphonic reasons. A2 • adjectives • spelling
Exclamative Adjectives
To express admiration, surprise, contempt, or another strong feeling about a noun, you can use the exclamative adjective quel, meaning "what (a)." adjectives • B1 • exclamations
Fractions
abbreviations • adjectives • adverbs • B1 • spelling
Indefinite Adjectives
Indefinite adjectives like certains, divers, and quelques describe nouns in a general or non-specific way. Many indefinite adjectives indicate a vague quantity. adjectives • B1 • indefinition
Indefinite and Partitive Articles Reduced to De
With articles, the de vs du, de la, des choice has to do with affirmative/negative and whether there's an adjective in front of the noun. adjectives • articles • negation • prepositions
Interrogative Adjectives
When asking someone to make a choice between two or more things, you need the interrogative adjective quel, meaning "which" or "what." A2 • adjectives • questions
