In this section:

• adjectives to describe personality
• irregular adjective patterns
• BANGS – adjective placement
• c’est vs. il/elle/iel est
• la comparaison

adjectives to describe personality

irregular adjective patterns

	1.	gender
	2.	number

Regular adjectives are formed by adding an e to the masculine form in the singular (content / contente), or by adding an s to the masculine and feminine forms in the plural (Sam et Edouard sont contents / Sacha et Sophie sont contentes). This group of adjectives is by far the most common. There are, however, a number of adjectives which are called irregular, because they do not have the normal -e, -s, or -es endings. The endings of these irregular adjectives vary widely and often change the pronunciation.

gender
Some adjectives are completely irregular:

Other adjectives can be grouped in categories:

Some adjectives have identical masculine and feminine forms. This is generally the case with adjectives ending in e in their masculine form and with foreign adjectives like ‘snob’, ‘cool’, etc. For example: Sam est un homme d’affaires riche; Sophie aussi est une femme d’affaires riche. Ils sont riches. (Sam is a rich businessman; Sophie too is a rich businesswoman. They are rich.) Here are a few of these adjectives:

number
The majority of adjectives are regular in the plural; that is, an –s is added to the singular masculine or feminine forms. There are two major exceptions to this rule:

The feminine plural form of these adjectives is regular; it is formed by simply adding an s to the feminine singular form: Sam aime lire la presse internationale. Sam aime aussi les revues internationales. (Sam likes to read international papers. Sam also likes international magazines).

Listen to this dialogue:

plus d’adjectifs – BANGS 

The placement of most adjectives in French is after the noun: un garçon parlant, une fille travailleuse, des étudiants intelligents, etc. There is a small group of adjectives, however, that normally precede the noun. These adjectives may be categorized as adjectives of Beauty, Age, Numbers Goodness, and Size (BANGS).

beau, nouveau, vieux
Beau, nouveau, and vieux have irregular forms. Note the special forms in the masculine singular when they precede a word that begins with a vowel or a silent h.

The adjectives which precede the noun must agree in number and gender with the noun they modify (see the regular rule for adjective formation). Be aware that changing the position of some adjectives may change their meaning. Listen to this dialogue:

c’est vs. il/elle est

1.c’est/ce sont 

2.il/elle est / ils/elles sont
To describe and introduce things or people in French, two common phrases are used: c’est and il/elle/iel est. The plural forms are ce sont and ils/elles/iels sont.

The choice between c’est and il / elle/iel est is not always easy, but there are basic principles which can guide you in the choice. A rule of thumb is that c’est or ce sont are followed by a determined noun (‘une Américaine’, ‘mes livres’). Remember that nouns in French are preceded by a determiner. Il/elle/iel est and ils/elles/iels sont are followed by an adjective (‘content’, ‘sympathique’).

c’est/ce sont
C’est and ce sont are followed by the following:

il/elle/iel est/ils/elles/iels sont
Use il/elle/iel est or ils/elles/iels sont to introduce the following:

+ adjective alone Sam? Il est arrogant! Il n’est pas français. Il est américain. Sophie? Elle est gentille. Sam? He is arrogant! He isn’t French. He is American. Sophie? She is nice. + nationality, occupation, religion (used as adjectives in French) Edouard? Il est poète. Trey? Il est musicien. Marie? Elle est étudiante. Edouard? He is a poet. Trey? He is a musician. Marie? She is a student.

Remember that il(s), elle(s), and iel(s) refer to a specific person or thing. Ce does not refer to a specific person or thing; it is usually translated as that.

des comparaisons

comparative adjectives indicating more or less

Adjectives are frequently used to compare things, people, events, ideas etc. Plus … que conveys the idea of ‘more … than’, moins … que the idea of ‘less than.’

comparative adjectives indicating similarity or equality

Aussi … que conveys the idea of ‘as … as’.

irregular adjectives

The adjectives bon and mauvais have irregular forms of comparison, meilleur and pire. However, the regular form plus mauvais que has become commonly accepted. Note that this irregularity is found in English too with ‘better’ (not *gooder) and ‘worse’ (not *badder).

Listen to this dialogue: