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tex's french grammar
irregular adjectives
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1. gender
  2. number


Regular adjectives are formed by adding an e to the masculine form in the singular (content / contente), or by adding an s to the masculine and feminine forms in the plural (Tex et Edouard sont contents / Tammy et Bette sont contentes). This group of adjectives is by far the most common. There are, however, a number of adjectives which are called irregular, because they do not have the normal -e, -s, or -es endings. The endings of these irregular adjectives vary widely and often change the pronunciation.

gender
Some adjectives are completely irregular:

audio
masculine feminine translation
doux douce soft
faux fausse false
favori favorite favorite
frais fraîche fresh
long longue long
public publique public


Other adjectives can be grouped in categories:

audio
masculine ending feminine ending french english
-el -elle cruel • cruelle cruel
-eil -eille pareil • pareille similar
-il -ille gentil • gentille kind, nice
-on -onne mignon • mignonne cute
-s -sse gros • grosse big, fat
-en -enne ancien • ancienne old
-et -ète secret • secrète secretive
-er -ère cher • chère dear, expensive
-eux -euse heureux • heureuse happy
-eur -euse trompeur • trompeuse deceptive
-teur -trice créateur • créatrice creative
-f -ve actif • active active
-c -che franc • franche frank
-ou -olle fou • folle crazy


Some adjectives have identical masculine and feminine forms. This is generally the case with adjectives ending in e in their masculine form and with foreign adjectives like 'snob', 'cool', etc. For example: Tex est un tatou imaginaire; Tammy aussi est imaginaire. Ils sont imaginaires. (Tex is an imaginary armadillo; Tammy too is imaginary. They are imaginary.) Here are a few of these adjectives:

audio
pauvre (poor) difficile (difficult) sensible (sensitive)
riche (rich) calme (calm) semblable (similar)
mince (slim) minuscule (tiny) ridicule (ridiculous)
propre (clean) ironique (ironic) imaginaire (imaginary)


number
The majority of adjectives are regular in the plural; that is, an -s is added to the singular masculine or feminine forms. There are two major exceptions to this rule:
1. Do not add an s to the masculine form of adjectives ending in s or x. The masculine singular and plural forms are thus identical: un animal heureux (a happy animal), des animaux heureux (happy animals). However, the feminine plural form of these adjectives is regular; it is formed by simply adding an s to the feminine singular form: une fille heureuse (a happy girl), des filles heureuses (happy girls).
2. Adjectives ending in al in the masculine singular form change to aux in the masculine plural form.

audio
Tex est un tatou international. Edouard et Tex sont des animaux internationaux.   Tex is an international armadillo. Edouard and Tex are international animals.

The feminine plural form of these adjectives is regular; it is formed by simply adding an s to the feminine singular form: Tex aime lire la presse internationale. Tex aime aussi les revues internationales. (Tex likes to read international papers. Tex also likes international magazines).

Listen to this dialogue:
what's wrong?
audio
Tex: Mais, qu'est-ce qui ne va pas?   Tex: But, what's wrong?
Tammy: C'est encore Bette! Elle n'est jamais sincère! Sois franc Tex. Tu ne la trouves pas capricieuse et cruelle?   Tammy: It's Bette again! She is never sincere! Be frank Tex. Don't you find her capricious and cruel?
Tex: Non! Elle est gentille! C'est une bonne amie! Qu'est-ce qu'elle a fait?   Tex: No! She is nice! She is a good friend! What did she do?
Tammy: Comme tu es naïf! Elle me raconte que tu me trouves ennuyeuse, que tu es amoureux d'une de tes étudiantes. C'est vrai?   Tammy: You are so naive! She tells me that you think I'm boring, that you are in love with one of your students. Is that true?
Tex: Tu es folle! C'est une fausse accusation!   Tex: You're crazy! It's a false accusation!
Tammy: Hmm ... Tu veux que je t'explique? C'est très clair. Elle est jalouse! C'est le complot classique. Elle essaie de nous séparer, nous des amis si loyaux!   Tammy: Hmm ... Do you want me to explain? It's very clear. She is jealous! It's the classic plot. She is trying to separate us, such loyal friends!
it's false

texercises

fill in the blanks
Give the correct form of the adjective indicated in parentheses.
1. Tammy a une voix ______. (doux, 'soft')


2. Tammy, quelle est ta chanson ______ ? (favori, 'favorite')


3. Bette et Tammy sont ___________ de la même personne. (amoureux, 'in love')


4. Tex et Tammy sont ________ d'amour. (fou, 'crazy')


5. Joe-Bob et Corey ne sont pas _______. (vif, 'quick, clever')


6. Fiona est très __________. (gentil, 'kind')


7. Tex et Edouard sont des animaux _________. (cosmopolite, 'cosmopolitan')


8. Les derniers poèmes de Tex sont _________! (génial, 'great')


9. Bette est une chatte _________. (sensuel, 'sensuous')


10. Tammy a de belles lèvres _________. (pulpeux, 'full, juicy')


11. Tammy et Bette sont __________ de peinture. (amateur, 'amateur')


12. Bette est ___________. (rancunier, 'resentful')