Adjectives are words which accompany Nouns or Pronouns to allow us to refer more precisely to something. If I speak about seeing a stone, you know I didn't see a piece of metal or a tree but you don't know much about the stone I saw. I can add adjectives to be more precise: a green stone, a semi-precious stone, a huge stone. Most Adjectives come before the noun in English, but after the noun in French: However, some very common adjectives come before the noun in French: This means that ombinations such as the following are possible. In the frequency list below, note how the most frequent adjectives precede the noun, then as they become a little less common, they tend to follow it. And when you read Little Red Riding Hood in the Reading Texts, which is written in very simple French, you'll notice that almost all the adjectives precede the nouns. Adjectives can go directly before or after the noun, as in the above examples, or they can be separated from it by a verb. In both cases they must agree with the noun in Number and Gender.  Forms of the AdjectiveBecause of the need to agree with nouns, most adjectives have two (sometimes four) slightly different forms, which are not usually difficult to relate to each other.
Other very common adjectives:
Some of these are irregular forms (they don't follow the -, -s, -e, -es rule). Which masculine plurals are irregular? Can you figure out a rule? Which feminine singulars are irregular? Does the irregularity make it difficult for you to understand? Does it make it difficult to look up the word (in the masculine singular) in the dictionary? It's not as bad as it might appear actually. Many adjectives have only two forms, singular and plural, because they end in -e even in the masculine (atmosphérique, atmosphériques; ridicule, ridicules).
Frequency ListFollowing is a list containing, in order of frequency, the most common adjectives in written French. Many are COGNATES, but you should know the meanings of all of the first group by the end of French 235, and the rest by the end of French 237. To check the meanings of those you do not recognize, do the exercises. Write those you are not familiar with into a paper Notebook, grouping them in ways that make sense to you, and review them from time to time. Doing the exercises will also help you learn them.The adjectives in the first group are given here with very common nouns and determiners you should also get to know. When they are in the feminine, the masculine form, if different, is given in parentheses.
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When you have done the review, don't forget to do the exercises.
