Mastering Singular Endings
In French, adjectives must agree in gender with the noun they describe. This means the ending of the adjective changes depending on whether the noun is masculine or feminine. Practice these patterns with PrepMyFrench exercises to build your intuition.
The golden rule: Masculine is the base form, Feminine usually adds an 'e'.
The Core Agreement Rules
The Masculine form is the default.
Example: petit (small) for a boy.
Add an 'e' for Feminine nouns.
Example: petite (small) for a girl.
If it already ends in 'e', it stays the same.
Example: calme (calm) for both.
Special Feminine Transformations
| Masculine Ending | Feminine Ending | Example (M $ ightarrow$ F) |
|---|---|---|
| -er | -ère | Léger $ ightarrow$ Légère |
| -f | -ve | Actif $ ightarrow$ Active |
| -eux | -euse | Heureux $ ightarrow$ Heureuse |
| -el | -elle | Cruel $ ightarrow$ Cruelle |
Scaling Up: Plural Endings
General Pluralization
To make an adjective plural, simply add an 's' to the singular form. If the adjective already ends in 's' or 'x', it remains unchanged. Check the PrepMyFrench grammar guide for more on noun-adjective agreement.
Example: petit $ ightarrow$ petits / petite $ ightarrow$ petites
Feminine Plural Logic
First, apply the feminine rule (usually adding 'e'), then add the 's' for the plural.
Example: heureux $ ightarrow$ heureuse $ ightarrow$ heureuses
The Rule Breakers: Invariables
Some adjectives are 'invariable', meaning they never change regardless of gender or number. These are rare but essential for fluency. Use the PrepMyFrench verb conjugator and vocabulary tools to master these exceptions.