53. Adjectives: Formation of Feminine
Almost all adjectives must agree in number and gender with the noun they modify. Most adjectives are given in the masculine form, so to change to the feminine forms, follow these rules:
|
|
Masculine |
Feminine |
Adjective |
||
|
Add -e |
brun |
|
brune |
|
brown |
|
|
fatigué |
|
fatiguée |
|
tired |
|
If it already ends in -e, add nothing |
jeune |
|
jeune |
|
young |
|
-x changes to -se |
généreux |
|
généreuse |
|
generous |
|
Exceptions: |
faux |
|
fausse |
|
false |
|
|
roux |
|
rousse |
|
red (hair) |
|
|
doux |
|
douce |
|
sweet, soft |
|
-il, -el, and -eil change to -ille, -elle, and -eille |
naturel |
|
naturelle |
|
natural |
|
-et changes to -ète |
inquiet |
|
inquiète |
|
worried |
|
Exceptions: |
muet |
|
muette |
|
silent |
|
|
coquet |
|
coquette |
|
stylish |
|
-en and -on change to -enne and -onne |
Italien |
|
Italienne |
|
Italian |
|
-er changes to -ère |
cher |
|
chère |
|
dear, expensive |
|
-f changes to -ve |
actif |
|
active |
|
active |
|
-c changes to -che |
blanc |
|
blanche |
|
white |
|
Exceptions: |
public |
|
publique |
|
public |
|
|
grec |
|
grecque |
|
Greek |
|
-g changes to -gue |
long |
|
longue |
|
long |
|
-eur changes to -euse if adjective is derived from verb |
menteur |
|
menteuse |
|
liar |
|
-eur changes to -rice if adjective is not same as verb |
créateur |
|
créatrice |
|
creator |
|
-eur changes to -eure with adjectives of comparison |
inférieur |
|
inférieure |
|
inferior |
|
And a few completely irregular ones: |
épais |
|
épaisse |
|
thick |
|
favori |
|
favorite |
|
favorite |
|
|
frais |
|
fraîche |
|
fresh, cool |
|
