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French • Level 1 • GRAMMAR

feminine: adjectives

💡 Grammar Rule

Formation of the Feminine of Qualifying Adjectives

In French, adjectives must agree in gender with the noun they describe. This means we must often change the ending of the adjective when referring to a feminine noun.

1. The General Rule

The standard way to form the feminine is by adding an -e to the masculine written form. This often changes the pronunciation because it causes the final consonant (which is usually silent in the masculine) to be pronounced.

  • un grand garçon (a tall boy) → une grande fille (a tall girl)

2. Adjectives Ending in -e

Adjectives that already end in -e in the masculine form do not change in the feminine. They remain exactly the same for both genders.

  • un livre rouge (a red book) → une voiture rouge (a red car)
  • calme (calm), facile (easy), tranquille (quiet), jeune (young), propre (clean)

3. Variable in Writing Only

For some adjectives, adding the -e changes the spelling but does not change the pronunciation of the word.

  • absolu → absolue (absolute)
  • poli → polie (polite)
  • dur → dure (hard)
  • général → générale (general)
  • espagnol → espagnole (Spanish)
  • civil → civile (civil)
  • direct → directe (direct)

4. Specific Spelling Patterns

Many adjectives undergo more complex changes in their endings:

  • c → che: blanc → blanche (white), franc → franche (frank), sec → sèche (dry - note the grave accent)
  • eur → euse: menteur → menteuse (liar), moqueur → moqueuse (mocking)
  • teur → trice: observateur → observatrice (observant), interrogateur → interrogatrice (interrogative)
  • eau → elle: nouveau → nouvelle (new), jumeau → jumelle (twin), beau → belle (beautiful)
  • ou → olle: fou → folle (crazy), mou → molle (soft)

5. Special Case: Two Masculine Forms

The adjectives beau, nouveau, and vieux have a special second masculine singular form used before a noun starting with a vowel or a silent h to make pronunciation smoother.

  • Before a consonant: un beau tableau (a beautiful painting), un nouveau manteau (a new coat), un vieux chien (an old dog).
  • Before a vowel/silent h: un bel homme (a handsome man), un nouvel appartement (a new apartment), un vieil ami (an old friend).

6. Other Special Irregulars

  • roux → rousse (red-haired)
  • doux → douce (sweet/soft)
  • faux → fausse (false)
  • long → longue (long)
  • frais → fraîche (fresh)
Are you tall?
Es-tu grand ?
Yes, and my sister is tall too.
Oui, et ma sœur est grande aussi.
He is very calm.
Il est très calme.
She is very calm too.
Elle est très calme aussi.
Are you polite?
Es-tu poli ?
Yes, I am a very polite person.
Oui, je suis une personne très polie.
He is Spanish.
Il est espagnol.
She is Spanish too.
Elle est espagnole aussi.
Are you wearing white?
Es-tu en blanc ?
No, my shirt is white.
Non, ma chemise est blanche.
He is a liar.
Il est menteur.
She is a liar too.
Elle est menteuse aussi.
Are you observant?
Es-tu observateur ?
Yes, I am very observant.
Oui, je suis très observatrice.
He is a new student.
Il est un nouveau étudiant.
She is a new student.
Elle est une nouvelle étudiante.
Are you handsome?
Es-tu beau ?
No, but my friend is beautiful.
Non, mais mon amie est belle.
He is a little crazy.
Il est un peu fou.
She is a little crazy.
Elle est un peu folle.
Are you red-haired?
Es-tu roux ?
No, I am red-haired.
Non, je suis rousse.
He is very sweet.
Il est très doux.
She is very sweet too.
Elle est très douce aussi.
Are you fake?
Es-tu faux ?
No, I am not a fake person.
Non, je ne suis pas une personne fausse.
The path is long.
Le chemin est long.
The road is long too.
La route est longue aussi.
Are you frank?
Es-tu franc ?
Yes, I am very frank.
Oui, je suis très franche.
He is dry.
Il est sec.
She is dry too.
Elle est sèche aussi.
Are you a good friend?
Es-tu un bon ami ?
Yes, I am a good friend.
Oui, je suis une bonne amie.
He is a handsome man.
C’est un bel homme.
She is a beautiful woman.
C’est une belle femme.
Do you have a new apartment?
As-tu un nouvel appartement ?
No, I have a new house.
Non, j’ai une nouvelle maison.
He is an old friend.
C’est un vieil ami.
She is an old friend.
C’est une vieille amie.
Are you direct?
Es-tu direct ?
Yes, I am very direct.
Oui, je suis très directe.
He is very polite.
Il est très civil.
She is very polite too.
Elle est très civile aussi.

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