Most of the time, French adjectives go after the nouns the describe:
| une voiture rouge | a red car |
| un repas délicieux | a delicious meal |
| un livre intéressant | an interesting book |
Other times, certain adjectives come before the nouns they describe. Though it isn’t foolproof, you can use the acronym BAGS to refer to these adjectives to help you remember the categories.
This lesson will be helpful when learning when to use DE before plural adjectives
| B | beauty |
| A | age |
| G | goodness |
| S | size |
👇 Scroll below the examples for exceptions to the rule 👇
BEAUTY
| beau masculine – singular beaux masculine – plural belle(s) feminine – singular (add S for plural) bel masculine – singular before a vowel or aspirate H | un beau tableau a beautiful painting de beaux meubles beautiful furniture une belle maison a beautiful house un bel hôtel a beautiful hotel un bel appartement a beautiful apartment |
| joli(s) masculine – singular (add S for plural) jolie(s) feminine – singular (add S for plural) | pretty un joli sourire a pretty smile une jolie voix a pretty voice |
| vilain(s) masculine – singular (add S for plural) vilaine(s) feminine – singular (add S for plural) | naughty – ugly – nasty un vilain rhume a nasty cold une vilaine sorcière an ugly witch |
AGE
| jeune(s) masculine or feminine – singular (add S for plural) | young un(e) jeune étudiant(e) a young student |
| vieux masculine singular or plural vieille(s) feminine – singular (add S for plural) vieil masculine before a vowel or aspirate H | old un (de) vieux chien(s) an (some) old dog(s) une vieille âme an old soul un vieil ami an old friend un vieil homme an old man |
| nouveau masculine – singular nouveaux masculine – plural nouvel masculine – singular before a vowel or aspirate H nouvelle(s) feminine – singular (add S for plural) | new un nouveau monde a new world de nouveaux horizons new horizons un nouvel ordinateur a new computer un nouvel homme a new man une nouvelle loi a new law |
GOODNESS – BADNESS
| bon(s) masculine – singular (add S for plural) bonne(s) feminine – singular (add S for plural) | good un bon croissant a good croissant une bonne blague a good joke |
| meilleur(s) masculine – singular (add S for plural) meilleure(s) feminine – singular (add S for plural) | better un meilleur monde a better world une meilleure solution a better solution |
| gentil(s) masculine – singular (add S for plural) gentille(s) feminine – singular (add S for plural) | nice un gentil message a nice message une gentille pensée a nice thought |
| mauvais masculine singular and plural mauvaise(s) feminine – singular (add S for plural) | bad un mauvais film a bad film une mauvaise herbe a weed |
SIZE
| grand(s) masculine – singular (add S for plural) grande(s) feminine – singular (add S for plural) | tall – large – big – great un grand magasin a department store une grande opportunité a great opportunity |
| petit(s) masculine – singular (add S for plural) petite(s) feminine – singular (add S for plural) | small – little un petit peu a little bit une petite araignée a small spider |
| gros masculine singular and plural grosse(s) feminine – singular (add S for plural) | large – big – fat un gros câlin a big hug une grosse baleine a big whale |
| haut(s) masculine – singular (add S for plural) haute(s) feminine – singular (add S for plural) | high – tall – great un haut niveau a high level une haute montagne a high mountain |
| court(s) masculine – singular (add S for plural) courte(s) feminine – singular (add S for plural) | short – brief un court livre a short book une courte aventure a brief adventure |
| long(s) masculine – singular (add S for plural) longue(s) feminine – singular (add S for plural) | long un long voyage a long trip une longue vie a long life |
| immense(s) masculine & feminine singular (add S for plural) | immense – huge – vast un immense merci a huge thanks une immense forêt a vast forest |
EXCEPTIONS
| CATEGORY | ADJECTIVE | EXAMPLE |
BEAUTY | laid(s) masculine – singular (add S for plural) laide(s) feminine – singular (add S for plural) | ugly un tapis laid an ugly rug une robe laide an ugly dress |
GOODNESS BADNESS | méchant(s) masculine – singular (add S for plural) méchante(s) feminine – singular (add S for plural) | mean – wicked un chien méchant a mean dog une personne méchante a wicked person |
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