Adjectives in French do not work exactly like in English. They change form to match the noun they describe, and most of them go after the noun rather than before it. Once you understand these two rules, adjectives become much easier to use correctly.
Rule 1: Most adjectives go after the noun
- un appartement spacieux = a spacious apartment
- une idee originale = an original idea
- une journe chargee = a busy day
Adjectives that go before the noun (BAGS)
A helpful group of common adjectives comes before the noun. They describe Beauty, Age, Goodness, and Size.
- Beauty: beau, joli
- Age: vieux, jeune, nouveau
- Goodness: bon, mauvais
- Size: grand, petit, gros, long, court
Examples: un beau jardin, une petite maison, un vieux quartier, un bon repas
Rule 2: Adjectives agree with the noun
The adjective changes to match the gender and number of the noun it describes.
- Masculine singular: un stylo rouge
- Feminine singular: add -e → une voiture rouge
- Masculine plural: add -s → des stylos rouges
- Feminine plural: add -es → des voitures rouges
Common agreement patterns
- Adjectives ending in -e (masc): no change for feminine → un film moderne / une maison moderne
- -eux → -euse: heureux / heureuse
- -er → -ere: premier / premiere
- -f → -ve: actif / active
- -al → -ale: national / nationale / plural: nationaux / nationales
Irregular adjectives worth knowing
- beau → belle → beaux → belles
- nouveau → nouvelle → nouveaux → nouvelles
- vieux → vieille → vieux → vieilles
- bon → bonne → bons → bonnes
Adjectives with two masculine forms
Beau, nouveau, vieux have a special form used before a vowel or silent h in masculine singular.
- un beau garcon but un bel homme
- un vieux livre but un vieil ami
Final tip
When in doubt about adjective position, place it after the noun. That is correct for the vast majority of French adjectives. Learn the BAGS group as exceptions, and you will make far fewer mistakes.
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