Les adjectifs qualificatifs
“Les adjectifs qualificatifs” or “descriptive adjectives are words that describe or qualify a noun (a person, animal, thing, or idea). They give more information about how something or someone is.
Examples in French:
- Un chat noir → A black cat
→ “noir” describes the cat = adjective qualificatif - Une maison grande → A big house
→ “grande” describes the house = adjective qualificatif - Un garçon intelligent → A smart boy
→ “intelligent” describes the boy = adjective qualificatif
Important:
In French, adjectives agree with the gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) of the noun.
Example:
- Un chien gentil (a nice dog – masculine singular)
- Une fille gentille (a nice girl – feminine singular)
- Des enfants gentils (nice children – masculine plural)
- Des filles gentilles (nice girls – feminine plural)
In English:
It’s simply called an adjective.
Just like in:
- A blue sky
- A happy child
- A delicious cake
But in French, we use the word “adjectif qualificatif” to talk about this kind of adjective that gives qualities.
Here’s an organized list of French qualifying adjectives, categorized for ease of use:
🌟 Personnalité / Caractère
Personality / Character
- gentil / gentille → kind
- généreux / généreuse → generous
- poli / polie → polite
- honnête → honest
- timide → shy
- curieux / curieuse → curious
- drôle → funny
- bavard / bavarde → talkative
- méchant / méchante → mean
- paresseux / paresseuse → lazy
- courageux / courageuse → brave
- jaloux / jalouse → jealous
Travail / Attitude
Work / Attitude
- organisé / organisée → organized
- ponctuel / ponctuelle → punctual
- ambitieux / ambitieuse → ambitious
- motivé / motivée → motivated
- responsable → responsible
- sérieux / sérieuse → serious
- distrait / distraite → distracted
- appliqué / appliquée → hardworking / diligent
- dynamique → energetic
- compétent / compétente → competent
Apparence physique
Physical Appearance
- beau / belle → handsome / beautiful
- grand / grande → tall
- petit / petite → small / short
- mince → slim
- gros / grosse → fat / large
- blond / blonde → blond
- brun / brune → dark-haired / brunette
- élégant / élégante → elegant
- séduisant / séduisante → attractive
- musclé / musclée → muscular
Émotions / Sentiments
Emotions / Feelings
- heureux / heureuse → happy
- triste → sad
- en colère → angry
- stressé / stressée → stressed
- fatigué / fatiguée → tired
- détendu / détendue → relaxed
- inquiet / inquiète → worried
- enthousiaste → enthusiastic
- amoureux / amoureuse → in love
- gêné / gênée → embarrassed
Descriptions générales
General Descriptions
- facile → easy
- difficile → difficult
- rapide → fast
- lent / lente → slow
- chaud / chaude → hot
- froid / froide → cold
- fort / forte → strong
- léger / légère → light (in weight)
- ancien / ancienne → old / former
- nouveau / nouvelle → new
Grammar Level 2 – List
1. French Reflexive verbs:
a) Only verbs: Verbes pronominaux (part 1) (part 2)
b) Sentences : Verbes pronominaux(Phrases)
c) Practice : Verbes pronominaux(Practice)
2. Word order for showing possession:
Ordre des mots pour montrer la possession
3. Adjectives:
a) Adjectives Endings : Types of adjectives
b) Describing Personality: Les adjectifs de la personnalité
c) Practice 1 : Flashcard of important adjectives
d) Practice 2 : Choosing the right answer
e) Practice 3 : 16 Sentences practice
4. IRREGULAR Verbs:
a) Only verbs: Verbes irréguliers(verbes)
b) Sentences: 15 verbes irréguliers (phrases)
c) Practice: 15 verbes irréguliers (practice)
d) To be able to – To want – To have to – To know:
Pouvoir, Vouloir, Devoir et Savoir (Test)
5. Compound Past (The preterit):
a) Definition: Le Passé composé
b) Dr Mrs Vandertramp: Dr Mrs Vandertramp
c) Auxiliary to be or to have: Auxiliaire être ou avoir (Test)
d) Sentences ER verbs passé composé: Phrases ER verbes passé composé
e) Sentences IR verbs passé composé: Phrases IR verbes passé composé
f) Sentences RE verbs passé composé: Phrases RE verbes passé composé
6. Imperfect tense (L’imparfait):
a) Definition: L’imparfait
b) Imparfait practice 1: La maison de mon enfance
c)
d) Sentences ER verbs imparfait: Phrases ER verbes imparfait
e) Sentences IR verbs imparfait: Phrases IR verbes imparfait
f) Sentences RE verbs imparfait: Phrases RE verbes imparfait
7. Prepositions: (verb to go and to come in passé composé):
Les prépositions et le verbe aller et venir au passé composé
8.French expressions with the verb to have (avoir):
Expressions françaises avec Avoir
9. 5 Most common French Grammar mistakes:
Les 5 erreurs de grammaire française les plus courantes
10. Quiz Game Level 2: Quiz
11. The use of “t” in French questions : L’utilisation du ‘t’ dans les questions en français
More French grammar? Practice here:
Explore More French Grammar Levels: Click on Your Level of Interest:
Grammar Level 1
Grammar Level 2
Grammar Level 3
Grammar Level 4
Grammar Level 5
Grammar Level 6
Grammar Level 7
Grammar Level 8
French Resources for Level 2:
Do you want to practice another Resource? Click on the image of your interest:
Qualifying adjectives – French Circles