Position of adjectives
Key points
- Most adjectives come after the noun: un chapeau rouge
- A number of common adjectives usually come before the noun. For example, you say une bonne idée and not une idée bonne.
- hese include the pairs bon and mauvais, grand and petit.
Unlike in English, most adjectives in French come after the noun :
un chapeau rouge
a red hat
However, a number of commonly used adjectives usually come before the noun . These include the pairs of opposites bon and mauvais, grand and petit, jeune and vieux, and long and court.
une bonne idée
a good idea
un mauvais élève
a bad student
un grand homme
a tall man
une petite souris
a bad student
They also include the pairs jeune and vieux, long and court, and the commonly used adjectives beau and nouveau:
une jeune femme
a young woman
un vieux château
an old castle
un long voyage
a long journey
une courte distance
a short distance
une belle vue
a beautiful view
un nouveau professeur
a new teacher