PrepMyFrench
PrepMyFrench
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 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.
| 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 |
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
First, apply the feminine rule (usually adding 'e'), then add the 's' for the plural.
Example: heureux $ ightarrow$ heureuse $ ightarrow$ heureuses
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.
C'est un homme heureux et une femme heureuse.
He's a happy man and she's a happy woman. (-eux → -euse)
Il est très actif et elle est très active.
He's very active and she's very active. (-if → -ive)
C'est un ancien ami canadien.
He's an old Canadian friend. (-ien → -ienne for feminine)
Ce gâteau est délicieux. Cette tarte est délicieuse.
This cake is delicious. This pie is delicious. (-eux pattern)
Un beau jardin, une belle maison.
A beautiful garden, a beautiful house. (irregular: beau → belle)
C'est un problème réel. C'est une situation réelle.
It's a real problem. It's a real situation. (-el → -elle)
Elle est heureux.
Elle est heureuse.
Adjectives must agree with the noun's GENDER. Heureux (masculine) → Heureuse (feminine). The -x becomes -se. Never use the masculine form for a feminine subject.
C'est une actif personne.
C'est une personne active.
-if adjectives become -ive in feminine: actif → active, sportif → sportive. Also note placement: most adjectives go AFTER the noun (une personne active).
Un nouveau voiture.
Une nouvelle voiture.
Nouveau has irregular feminine: nouvelle (not 'nouveaue'). Same pattern: beau → belle, vieux → vieille, fou → folle. These common adjectives must be memorized.
👗 The Adjective Wardrobe Change
Think of adjective endings as a wardrobe change. The masculine form is the 'default outfit.' To make it feminine, you add accessories: -e (grand→grande), change -x to -se (heureux→heureuse), -f to -ve (actif→active), or do a complete costume change (beau→belle). Each adjective family has its own transformation ritual — learn the 6 main patterns and you've unlocked 95% of French adjectives!
Adjective endings are tested from A1 through B1 in TEF/TCF. At A1/A2, basic -e addition (grand→grande) is assessed. At B1, irregular patterns are tested: -eux→-euse (heureux→heureuse), -if→-ive (actif→active), -ien→-ienne (canadien→canadienne), -el→-elle (naturel→naturelle), and the beau/belle/vieux/vieille/nouveau/nouvelle irregulars. Agreement errors on these common adjectives are penalized at all levels.
Describing people at a party:
Tu vois cette femme là-bas ? Elle est vraiment belle.
La brune ? Oui, elle a l'air très heureuse. Et son ami a l'air sportif.
C'est un couple canadien. Ils sont nouveaux dans le quartier.
Ah, c'est pour ça qu'ils ont l'air si gentils et naturels !
Practice French adjective endings with 25 interactive questions on PrepMyFrench. Master masculine-to-feminine patterns (-eux/-euse, -if/-ive, -ien/-ienne) with instant scoring.
Take PrepMyFrench's free CEFR placement test (A1-C1) to find your exact French level and get personalized grammar study recommendations.