French Adjective Agreement & Common Adjectives

These flashcards review the core idea of French adjective agreement and provide the common adjectives listed in the lecture with their gender and number variations.

Adjective agreement (l'accord des adjectifs)

Rule that French adjectives must match the gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) of the nouns they describe.

Masculine singular form

The basic dictionary form of a French adjective; used when the noun is masculine and singular.

Feminine singular form

Usually formed by adding -e to the masculine singular; used when the noun is feminine and singular.

Masculine plural form

Typically formed by adding -s to the masculine singular; used when the noun is masculine and plural.

Feminine plural form

Typically formed by adding -es to the masculine singular (or -s to the feminine singular); used when the noun is feminine and plural.

triste

Means “sad.” Same spelling for masculine and feminine; add -s to make tristes for both plural forms.

calme

Means “calm.” Same spelling for masculine and feminine; add -s for plural: calmes.

timide

Means “shy.” Same spelling for masculine and feminine; add -s for plural: timides.

jeune

Means “young.” Same spelling for masculine and feminine; add -s for plural: jeunes.

fâché

Means “angry.” Feminine singular adds -e → fâchée; plurals add -s: fâchés / fâchées.

fatigué

Means “tired.” Feminine singular adds -e → fatiguée; plurals add -s: fatigués / fatiguées.

fort

Means “strong.” Feminine adds -e → forte; plurals add -s: forts / fortes.

grand

Means “tall; big.” Feminine adds -e → grande; plurals add -s: grands / grandes.

curieux

Means “curious.” Feminine changes to -se → curieuse; masculine plural curieux, feminine plural curieuses.

courageux

Means “brave.” Feminine changes to -se → courageuse; masculine plural courageux, feminine plural courageuses.

heureux

Means “happy.” Feminine changes to -se → heureuse; masculine plural heureux, feminine plural heureuses.

nerveux

Means “nervous.” Feminine changes to -se → nerveuse; masculine plural nerveux, feminine plural nerveuses.

gentil

Means “kind.” Feminine adds -le → gentille; plurals add -s: gentils / gentilles.

sportif

Means “athletic.” Feminine changes to -ve → sportive; plurals add -s: sportifs / sportives.