If adjectives relate to a specific person, they often go before that person's name or designation. For example:
La pauvre Marie. -- Poor Marie.
Le compétent Docteur Quinn. -- The competent Dr. Quinn.
-- Chris (not a native speaker).
Hopefully you already know that adjectives, or "describing words", usually come AFTER the noun [see Adjectives usually go AFTER nouns (adjective position)], and you also know these exceptions: Short and common adjectives that go BEFORE nouns (adjective position).
Here are other types of adjectives that are also placed BEFORE the noun:
1. Adjectives qualifying a proper noun (starting with a capital letter):
l'extraordinaire Marie Curie
the extraordinary Marie Curie
2. Numerical adjectives
Note that cardinal numbers (un, cinq, dix, cent...) never change.
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
Q&A Forum 5 questions, 9 answers
RobKwiziq community member
Why is "le Docteur compétent Quinn" wrong, and how should that sentence be corrected? Thanks!
Asked 1 year ago
Chris Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Oh, I just saw that this is explained pretty well in the lesson anyway. Did you have a question regarding that explanation?
-- Chris.
Rob asked:View original
Why is "le Docteur compétent Quinn" wrong, and how should that sentence be corrected? Thanks!
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GKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
What about une chambre double ?
- I was marked wrong on the 'double' example because I was following this example.
Asked 1 year ago
Talking to another French native she amended the previous response a bit:
"Une chambre double" is a fixed term, used when you order a double room in a hotel.
"Une double chambre" is a room subdivided into two units, somehow.
-- I hope this helps, -- Chris.
"Une chambre double" is a fixed term, used when you order a double room in a hotel.
"Une double chambre" is a room subdivided into two units, somehow.
-- I hope this helps, -- Chris.
Chris Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
It is "une chambre double", also according to a native French speaker whom I asked about this specifically.
-- Chris.
G asked:View original
What about une chambre double ?
- I was marked wrong on the 'double' example because I was following this example.
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PaulKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Ancien
Can you please explain the usage of ancien when placed before or after a noun?
Asked 2 years ago
Ron Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Bonjour Paul,
The link below is for the lesson regarding «ancien» use before and after the noun it modifies.
Ancien = former / old (adjectives that change meaning according to position)
Here is the take-away from the lesson:
Before the noun, ancien means --> 'former' / 'ex-' / no longer
After the noun it means --> 'ancient' / 'old'
***** Note that the adjective ancien in the sense of "ancient" is not really used for people.
J'espère que ma réponse vous aiderait.
Bonne chance et bonne continuation dans vos études en français, la langue de Molière et qui a été utilisé par le monde français depuis l’époque d’Hugues Capet
Paul asked:View original
Ancien
Can you please explain the usage of ancien when placed before or after a noun?
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Kwiziq community member
If "mon premier amour" is correct, why wouldn't it be "le premier homme"?
Asked 2 years ago
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GruffKwiziq team member
Hi Jacqueline - most adjectives go after the noun, so it's easiest to learn the exceptions and assume the rest go after. With weather, the obvious exception would be "un beau jour" (a fine/nice day).
However, you do need to be a little careful with weather expressions and descriptions as you often can't translate them word for word from the English. "A cold day" = "un jour froid" and "A cold and rainy day" = "un jour froid et pluvieux" but "a snowy day", would be "un jour de neige".
There will be many cases like that where a 'de' + noun is used instead of an adjective. "un jour de brouillard" (a foggy day).
If we are talking about the weather now, then we also have the "il y a" and "il fait" expressions: https://progress.lawlessfrench.com/revision/grammar/talking-about-the-weather-il-y-a">
Talking about the weather with il y a + [noun]
Talking about the weather with il fait + [adjective]">Talking about the weather with il fait + [adjective]">Talking about the weather with il fait + [adjective]">Talking about the weather with il fait + [adjective]
Notice that the "il fait" expressions use adjectives but the "il y a" expressions use preposition + noun.
Hope that helps.
However, you do need to be a little careful with weather expressions and descriptions as you often can't translate them word for word from the English. "A cold day" = "un jour froid" and "A cold and rainy day" = "un jour froid et pluvieux" but "a snowy day", would be "un jour de neige".
There will be many cases like that where a 'de' + noun is used instead of an adjective. "un jour de brouillard" (a foggy day).
If we are talking about the weather now, then we also have the "il y a" and "il fait" expressions: https://progress.lawlessfrench.com/revision/grammar/talking-about-the-weather-il-y-a">
Talking about the weather with il y a + [noun]
Talking about the weather with il fait + [adjective]">Talking about the weather with il fait + [adjective]">Talking about the weather with il fait + [adjective]">Talking about the weather with il fait + [adjective]
Notice that the "il fait" expressions use adjectives but the "il y a" expressions use preposition + noun.
Hope that helps.
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