Adjectives

General rule

  • adjectives modify nouns
  • adjectives follow the noun
    • as opposed to English in which the adjective precedes the noun
  • adjectives also match noun forms, singular v. plural, or masculine v. feminine
  • ex.:
    • "the blue hat" = "le chapeau bleu" (masculine form of "" = "")
    • "the red shoe" = "la chaussure rouge" (feminine)
    • the blue shoes" = "les chapeaux blues" or "les chaussures rouges"
      • note that the plural definite article (the) does not change gender in the plural ("les")
    • ex.: les

Invariable adjectives

  • some adjectives do not match noun gender
  • -e words
    • adjectives that already end with an "e" do not change between masculine or feminine, ex.:
      • "the red pants"= le pantalon rouge" (masculine)
      • "the red shoe" = "la chaussure rouge" (feminine)
  • colors that describe a thing that is of that color, ex:
    • "argent" = silver (a thing and an adjective for things colored silver)
      • "la chemise argent" < "argent" does not change gender
  • adjectives that are from other languages
    • ex.: "top" (fantastic or the best): "la chemise top"
  • see