Adjective Agreements and Comparatives
Adjective Agreements, Comparatives and Superlatives
Accurate adjective use is one of the clearest markers of grammatical control at GCSE.
Basic Agreement Rules
French adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe:
| Masculine | Feminine | Masc. Plural | Fem. Plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Default | petit | petite | petits | petites |
| Ending in -e | triste | triste | tristes | tristes |
| Ending in -eux | heureux | heureuse | heureux | heureuses |
| Ending in -if | sportif | sportive | sportifs | sportives |
| Ending in -er | premier | première | premiers | premières |
| Ending in -on/-en | bon | bonne | bons | bonnes |
Irregular Adjectives
| Masculine | Feminine | English |
|---|---|---|
| beau (bel) | belle | beautiful |
| nouveau (nouvel) | nouvelle | new |
| vieux (vieil) | vieille | old |
| blanc | blanche | white |
| long | longue | long |
| favori | favorite | favourite |
| frais | fraîche | fresh |
Bel, nouvel, vieil are used before a masculine noun starting with a vowel or silent h: un bel homme, un nouvel ami, un vieil arbre.
Position of Adjectives
Most adjectives go after the noun:
- une maison blanche — a white house
- un film intéressant — an interesting film
Short common adjectives go before the noun (BANGS: Beauty, Age, Number, Goodness, Size):
- un grand jardin — a big garden
- une jolie fille — a pretty girl
- un vieux château — an old castle
- une bonne idée — a good idea
Some adjectives change meaning with position:
- un ancien élève (former pupil) vs un bâtiment ancien (ancient building)
- mon propre livre (my own book) vs un livre propre (a clean book)
Comparatives
| Structure | French | Example |
|---|---|---|
| more ... than | plus + adj + que | Paris est plus grand que Lyon. — Paris is bigger than Lyon. |
| less ... than | moins + adj + que | Le bus est moins rapide que le train. — The bus is less fast than the train. |
| as ... as | aussi + adj + que | Il est aussi intelligent qu'elle. — He is as clever as her. |
Irregular comparative: bon → meilleur (better), not "plus bon"
- La pizza est meilleure que le hamburger.
Superlatives
le/la/les plus + adjective = the most ...
le/la/les moins + adjective = the least ...
- C'est la plus belle ville du monde. — It's the most beautiful city in the world.
- C'est le film le moins intéressant. — It's the least interesting film.
Irregular superlative: bon → le meilleur / la meilleure (the best)
- C'est le meilleur restaurant de la ville.
Exam Tips
- Always check agreement — it is one of the most commonly penalised errors in writing.
- Using comparatives and superlatives in opinions boosts your grade: À mon avis, le français est plus utile que l'espagnol.
- In listening/reading, adjective endings can help identify whether the subject is masculine/feminine/plural — use this as a comprehension clue.
- In writing, try to include at least one BANGS adjective before the noun and several after — showing you know the rules.