When you start learning French grammar, especially about adjectives and past participles, things can get a bit confusing. One tricky part is how words agree with each other. Here are some common exceptions that might help you:

1. Adjectives That Don't Change: Some adjectives stay the same no matter if they describe a boy or a girl. For example:

   • "cool"
   • "chic"
   • "orange"

2. Adjectives With Two Forms: Some adjectives have different forms for boys and girls, but we often use one form more. For example:

   • "beau" (for boys) and "belle" (for girls).
   • For more than one boy, we say "beaux," and for more than one girl, we say "belles."
   • You can see this when you say “un bel homme” (a handsome man) vs. “une belle femme” (a beautiful woman).

3. Past Participles With “être” and “avoir”: The rules change based on the helper verb we use. With "être," the past participle must match the subject:

   • For example, "Elle est partie" means "She left." (feminine) But with "avoir," the agreement depends on the direct object:
   • For example, "Les pommes que j'ai mangées" means "The apples that I ate." Here, it matches "les pommes."

4. Unique Phrases: Some phrases have adjectives that don’t follow the usual rules. An example is "la crème de la crème," which means "the best of the best."

If you remember these exceptions, you will feel more confident in your French conversations! These rules add some fun to learning, making it less strict. Happy studying!