Basic Adjectives in French and How They Work

Gender and Number Basics

In French, adjectives need to match the nouns they describe in two ways: gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural).

Some Common Adjectives:

• Grand (tall) - masculine singular
• Grande (tall) - feminine singular
• Petits (small) - masculine plural
• Petites (small) - feminine plural

How to Make Adjectives Agree:

1. Masculine Singular: Just use the simple form (e.g., un homme grand - a tall man).
2. Feminine Singular: Add an -e (e.g., une femme grande - a tall woman).
3. Masculine Plural: Add -s (e.g., des hommes grands - tall men).
4. Feminine Plural: Add -es (e.g., des femmes grandes - tall women).

Example Sentences:

• Je suis grand. (I am tall - masculine)
• Elle est petite. (She is small - feminine)
• Nous sommes amis. (We are friends - masculine or mixed group)
• Ils sont gentils. (They are nice - masculine or mixed group)

Important Grammar Points:

• Regular -er Verbs: Here are some examples:

  • Je parle (I speak)
  • Tu aimes (You like)

• Using Articles:

  • Le (the, masculine)
  • La (the, feminine)
  • Un (a, masculine)
  • Une (a, feminine)

• Subject Pronouns:

  • Je (I)
  • Tu (You)
  • Il/Elle (He/She)
  • Nous (We)
  • Vous (You, formal or plural)
  • Ils/Elles (They)

• Negative Sentences:

  • Je ne sais pas (I don’t know).

By understanding these simple rules, you can improve your French conversation skills!