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Lesson 11b – The adjective in French (part 2)

Geethan

  1. theory
    number
    position
  2. exercises đŸ”„
  3. comments

Theory

an adjective agrees in gender and number with the word it is wedded to

 

1) number

the majority of adjectives in French form their plural adding an “S”

long ➔ longs
longues ➔ longues

 

 irregularities

ending

singular

plural

-s = ∅

gris

gris

-x = ∅

précieux

précieux

-eau = eaux

beau

beaux

-al = aux *

abyssal

abyssaux

* banal/banals, fatal/fatals 



2) position

in general, the adjective will sit after the noun it is wedded to

a luminous antenna ➔ une antenne lumineuse

 exception 1

when the adjective has something to do with age, size, goodness or beauty, it rests in front of the noun

age : the old robot ➔ le vieux robot
size : the big automaton ➔ le grand automate
goodness : the kind droid ➔ le gentil droïde  
beauty : the pretty drone ➔ le joli drîne

 exception 2

in French, link consecutive adjectives with “et”

a luminous jet pack
➔ un rĂ©acteur dorsal lumineux

a luminous, blinking jet pack
➔ un rĂ©acteur dorsal lumineux et clignotant

a luminous, blinking, buzzing jet pack
➔ un rĂ©acteur dorsal lumineux,  clignotant et bourdonnant

 exception 3

some adjectives can be placed in front or after the noun but then change meaning

➔ mon robot propre ≠ mon propre robot
     my clean robot          my own robot  

➔ un projet simple  ≠  un simple projet
     a simple project         just a project                

Exercises

Results

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#1. futuristic nanotechnologies

#2. awesome computers ! are they new ?

#3. the engineer repaired the old circuits

#4. jellyfish-powered lamp-posts

#5. i just saw short, energetic, sophisticated mammoths

#6. it's just a question, Xen, not a threat

#7. this marvellous Barbie glows in the dark

Terminer

 

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