French adjectivesPosition of adjectives

In French, most adjectives come after the noun. For example:

• J’ai les yeux bleus. – I have blue eyes.
• Ma sœur préfère les matières pratiques. – My sister prefers practical subjects.

Some adjectives come before the noun, such as grand, petit, bon, joli, mauvais, nouveau, vieux and beau. For example:

• Il y a un petit parc dans ma ville. – There is a small park in my town.
• On espère avoir de bonnes notes. – We hope to get good grades.
• Elle a admiré la belle vue. – She admired the beautiful view.

Usingnouveau, vieux and beau

Three adjectives that come before the noun need special care with masculine/feminine forms: nouveau, vieux and beau change to nouvel, vieil and bel with a masculine noun that starts with a vowel or a silent h-. For example:

• J’ai un nouvel ami. - I have a new friend.
• Elle a un vieil ordinateur. - She has an old computer.
• C’est un bel homme. - He’s a good-looking man.

The feminine is nouvelle, vieille, belle. Add -s for the plural. For example:

• J’ai une nouvelle idée.- I have a new idea.
• J’habite dans une vieille maison. I live in an old house.
• Les fleurs sont belles. The flowers are beautiful.

Reorder these words to make full sentences.