POSITION OF ADJECTIVES
Adjectives AFTER the noun
In English we usually put most adjectives before the noun. In French, however, most adjectives come after the noun, including:
1. Adjectives indicating colour or shape
Une robe rouge - a red dress
2. Adjectives of origin, religion, profession, classification or those that refer to the arts
Une fille française - a French girl
3. Those formed by a past or present particIple
La semaine passée - Last week
Le jour fatiguant - the tiring day
Adjectives BEFORE the noun
The following adjectives usually go before the noun.
Autre (other) | Petit (small) |
Jeune (young) | Vilain (ugly, naughty) |
Même (same) | Bon (good) |
Haut (high) | Grand (big, great) |
Joli (pretty) | Gros (fat) |
Mauvais (bad) | Long (long) |
Méchant (bad, naughty) | Gentil (nice) |
Meilleur (better, best) | Beau (handsome, beautiful) |
Vieux (old) | Nouveau (new) |
Vrai (true) |
When 2 adjectives have the same position they can be joined by the conjunction ‘et’
Une femme intéressante et intelligente An interesting and intelligent woman
If an adjective is an integral part of the noun, another adjective can follow it without using ‘et’
Un petit jeune homme A small young man
Adjectives that change meaning according to position
Some adjectives have a different meaning depending on whether they precede or follow the noun
Eg Un triste livre - a poor worthless book
Un livre triste – a sad book
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