French Note
⏰ French Time Telling
Asking the Time
Quelle heure est-il ? = What time is it?
French | English |
Il est une heure. | It is 1:00. |
Il est deux heures. | It is 2:00. |
Il est trois heures et quart. | It is 3:15. |
Il est quatre heures et demie. | It is 4:30. |
Il est cinq heures moins le quart. | It is 4:45. |
Useful Time Expressions
et quart = quarter past
et demie = half past
moins le quart = quarter to
moins dix = ten minutes to
midi = noon
minuit = midnight
Examples
Il est sept heures. = It is 7:00.
Il est huit heures vingt. = It is 8:20.
Il est neuf heures moins cinq. = It is 8:55.
📝 Adjective Agreement
In French, adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in gender and number.
Masculine | Feminine | English |
grand | grande | tall |
petit | petite | small |
amusant | amusante | funny |
Singular | Plural |
grand | grands |
grande | grandes |
Examples
Un garçon intelligent. = An intelligent boy.
Une fille intelligente. = An intelligent girl.
Des garçons intelligents. = Intelligent boys.
Des filles intelligentes. = Intelligent girls.
Quick Rule
Feminine → usually add -e
Plural → usually add -s
Feminine plural → add -es
📍 Adjective Placement
Most Adjectives Go AFTER the Noun
French | English |
une voiture rouge | a red car |
un livre intéressant | an interesting book |
une maison moderne | a modern house |
Some Common Adjectives Go BEFORE the Noun
Use the acronym BAGS:
Beauty
Age
Goodness
Size
French
English
un beau chien
a beautiful dog
une vieille maison
an old house
un bon ami
a good friend
une petite voiture
a small car
Examples
Une robe bleue = A blue dress.
Un grand garçon = A tall boy.
Une jolie fleur = A pretty flower.
Un mauvais film = A bad movie.
⭐ Quick Study Tips
Time
et quart = :15
et demie = :30
moins le quart = :45
Agreement
Match the adjective to the noun:
Masculine = base form
Feminine = add e
Plural = add s
Placement
BAGS adjectives usually come before the noun:
beau/belle
joli(e)
bon(ne)
mauvais(e)
grand(e)
petit(e)
jeune
vieux/vieille
Everything else usually comes after the noun.
Example Sentence
Il est trois heures et quart. Une petite fille intelligente lit un livre intéressant.
Translation: It is 3:15. A small intelligent girl is reading an interesting book.