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French • Level 1 • GRAMMAR

concordance

💡 Grammar Rule

Agreement of Qualifying Adjectives (L’accord des adjectifs qualificatifs)

In French, adjectives are words that describe nouns. Unlike in English, French adjectives must change their form to match the noun they modify. This is called agreement.

1. The General Rule

An adjective must agree in gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) with the noun it describes. Usually, you add an -e for feminine and an -s for plural.

  • Une rue bruyante (A noisy street) - Feminine singular
  • Des enfants blonds (Blond children) - Masculine plural
  • Des manches courtes (Short sleeves) - Feminine plural

2. Adjectives as Attributes

Agreement also occurs when the adjective is separated from the noun by a "linking verb" like être (to be), paraître (to appear), or sembler (to seem).

  • Cette maison paraît inhabitée. (This house appears uninhabited.)
  • Les enfants sont restés seuls. (The children remained alone.)

3. Mixing Genders

If an adjective describes two or more nouns of different genders (e.g., one masculine and one feminine), the adjective always takes the masculine plural form.

  • Une jupe et un chemisier blancs (A white skirt and blouse)
  • Mon oncle et ma tante sont très âgés. (My uncle and my aunt are very old.)

4. Color Adjectives

Color agreement can be tricky. There are two main exceptions to the general rule:

  • Nouns used as colors: When a noun (like a fruit or stone) is used as a color, it stays invariable (it does not change). Examples include marron (chestnut), orange, and noisette (hazel).
    • Une veste marron (A brown jacket)
    • Des coussins orange (Orange cushions)
  • Compound colors: If a color is modified by another word (like dark or light), it remains invariable.
    • Bleu foncé (Dark blue)
    • Bleu marine (Navy blue)
  • Simple colors: Basic colors that aren't nouns follow the general rule.
    • Une jupe verte (A green skirt)
    • Des chandails bleus (Blue sweaters)

5. Special Cases: Demi, Nu, Ci-joint, Ci-inclus

The words demi (half), nu (bare/naked), ci-joint (attached), and ci-inclus (enclosed) change their agreement based on their position:

  • Before the noun: They are invariable (no change).
    • Une demi-heure (A half-hour)
    • Nu-pieds (Barefoot - literally "bare-feet")
    • Ci-joint des photocopies (Attached are photocopies)
  • After the noun: They agree with the noun.
    Note: "Demi" only agrees in gender (feminine), never in number (plural).
    • Deux heures et demie (Two and a half hours)
    • Pieds nus (Bare feet)
    • Les photocopies ci-jointes (The attached photocopies)
Are the streets noisy?
Est-ce que les rues sont bruyantes ?
Yes, they are very noisy.
Oui, elles sont très bruyantes.
My sister is blonde.
Ma sœur est blonde.
Her brothers are also blonde.
Ses frères sont blonds aussi.
Do you like short sleeves?
Est-ce que tu aimes les manches courtes ?
No, I prefer long sleeves.
Non, je préfère les manches longues.
This house seems uninhabited.
Cette maison paraît inhabitée.
It is true, it is very quiet.
C’est vrai, elle est très calme.
Did the children stay alone?
Est-ce que les enfants sont restés seuls ?
No, they are with their mother.
Non, ils sont avec leur mère.
A white skirt and a white blouse.
Une jupe et un chemisier blancs.
They are very elegant.
Ils sont très élégants.
Are your uncle and aunt very old?
Est-ce que ton oncle et ta tante sont très âgés ?
Yes, they are eighty years old.
Oui, ils ont quatre-vingts ans.
My jacket is brown.
Ma veste est marron.
I like brown clothes a lot.
J’aime beaucoup les vêtements marron.
Do you see those orange pillows?
Est-ce que tu vois ces coussins orange ?
Yes, they are magnificent.
Oui, ils sont magnifiques.
She has hazel eyes.
Elle a les yeux noisette.
Her eyes are very special.
Ses yeux sont très spéciaux.
Is your shirt dark blue?
Est-ce que ta chemise est bleu foncé ?
No, my shirt is navy blue.
Non, ma chemise est bleu marine.
I want a green skirt.
Je veux une jupe verte.
And I want some blue sweaters.
Et moi, je veux des chandails bleus.
Do you have a half hour?
Est-ce que tu as une demi-heure ?
I have two and a half hours.
J’ai deux heures et demie.
The child walks barefoot.
L’enfant marche nu-pieds.
He has bare feet on the sand.
Il a les pieds nus sur le sable.
Is the address included?
Est-ce que l’adresse est ci-incluse ?
Yes, the included address is correct.
Oui, l’adresse ci-incluse est correcte.
I attach some photocopies.
Ci-joint des photocopies.
Thanks, I see the attached photocopies.
Merci, je vois les photocopies ci-jointes.
Do the students seem tired?
Est-ce que les étudiantes paraissent fatiguées ?
Yes, they work a lot.
Oui, elles travaillent beaucoup.
My male cat and my female cat are black.
Mon chat et ma chatte sont noirs.
They are very cute.
Ils sont très mignons.
Are the lessons short?
Est-ce que les leçons sont courtes ?
No, they are very long.
Non, elles sont très longues.
The window is open.
La fenêtre est ouverte.
The doors are also open.
Les portes sont aussi ouvertes.
Are Marie and Pierre happy?
Est-ce que Marie et Pierre sont contents ?
Yes, they are very happy today.
Oui, ils sont très heureux aujourd’hui.
I am buying two red apples.
J’achète deux pommes rouges.
I prefer yellow bananas.
Je préfère les bananes jaunes.

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