Place des Adjectifs

The place of adjectives

Part of All Levels | French Adjectives

Where do adjectives go in a French sentence?

General Rule

Most adjectives follow the noun they modify.

• un chat noir (a black cat)
• deux robes neuves (two new dresses)
• trois hôtels français (three French hotels)

Exceptions

However, there are exceptions to the rule – of course 🙂

The following adjectives are often in front of the noun

• bon/ne (good)
• mauvais/e (bad)
• grand/e (big, tall)
• petit/e (small)
• jeune (young)
• vieux, vieille (old)
• nouveau, nouvelle (new)
• ancien/ne (former)
• long/ue (long)
• court/e (short)
• joli/e (pretty)
• beau, belle (beautiful)
• gros/se (fat)

Both ways

Sometimes, an adjective can go either before or after the noun it modifies. When the adjective is in front of the noun, it generally means that the person who’s talking is trying to focus on the meaning of that adjective.

• Je pars pour le traditionnel bal des pompiers.
  • I’m on my way to the famous traditional firemen ball.
• Le bal traditionnel des pompiers sera le 13 juillet à la salle des fêtes.
  • The traditional firemen ball will be held on July 13 at the community center.
• Regardez ce charmant film.
  • Watch this really charming movie.
• Ce film charmant m’a enchanté.
  • I really like this charming movie.
• Saint-Trop est plein de riches vedettes.
  • Saint-Tropez is full of very rich stars.
• Les vedettes riches de Saint-Trop viennent toujours dans ce resto.
  • Saint-Tropez’ rich stars always come to this restaurant.
• Il y a différentes routes pour venir chez nous.
  • There are several roads to get to your place.
• Ce sont films différents chaque année.
  • They are new movies each year.

Before or After - Different meaning

I’d like to highlight these common adjectives that change meaning according to where they are in the sentence, before or after the noun. As a general rule, the meaning is more metaphorical or formal when the adjective is in front of the noun, and the meaning is more literal when the adjective comes after the noun.

More metaphorical

1. une grande dame = a great woman
2. un pauvre homme = an unfortunate man
3. une chère amie = a dear friend
4. la dernière semaine = the last week
5. le prochain mois = the following, the next month
6. ma propre maison = my own house
7. une seule personne = only one person
8. une sale affaire = a bad story

More literal

1. une dame grande = a tall woman
2. un homme pauvre = a poor man
3. un hôtel cher = an expensive hotel
4. la semaine dernière = last week
5. le mois prochain = next month
6. ma maison propre = my clean house
7. une personne seule = a single perso
8. une affaire sale = a dirty piece of clothing

Expressions with the adjective in front of the noun

And last, but not least, you have common idiomatic expressions and proper names placing the adjective in front of the noun, such as:

• pas grand-chose
• la pleine lune
• en parfaite condition
• un fou rire
• un drôle de mot
• rue des Blancs Manteaux
• Blanche-Neige

Refresh - Encore !

Further your French - Allez plus Loin

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