The adjective An adjective is a word which

The adjective An adjective is a word which describes a noun or pronoun n Different types of adjective are classified according to the way they describe a noun or pronoun: (1) Descriptive (4) Demonstrative (2) Possessive (3) Interrogative n

Which type of adjective in English? n His book is lost n She read an interesting book n What book is lost? n Our parents are away n This teacher is excellent n He has brown eyes n That question is appropriate

n In English, adjectives do not change their form, regardless of the noun or pronoun described n In French, adjectives change in order to agree in gender and number with the noun or pronoun they modify.

French descriptive adjectives n Most descriptive adjectives in French add an –e to the masculine form to make the feminine form and an –s to the masculine singular or feminine singular form to make it plural

French descriptive adjectives Most French descriptive adjectives come after the noun they modify n Translate: n She is reading an interesting book n Paul is a handsome boy and Mary is a pretty girl n

Review Identify the adjectives in the sentences below and state what type of adjective they are: n The young man was reading a French newspaper n She looked pretty in her new red dress n It is interesting n The old piano could still produce good music

French possessive adjectives n A possessive adjective is a word which describes a noun by showing who possesses that noun. In English: possessive adjectives are identified according to the person they represent. n A possessive adjective changes according to the possessor, regardless of the objects possessed. n

n In French, a possessive adjective changes according to the possessor, but unlike English it also agrees, like all French adjectives, in gender and number with the noun possessed.

Possessive adjectives n m (sing) f (sing) plural English my your (tu) his, her, its our your (vous) their

Possessive adjectives n m (sing) f (sing) plural English mon ma mes my ton ta tes your (tu) son sa ses notre nos his, her, its our votre vos leurs your (vous) their

Singular possessors: n my, your (tu form), his, her, its n In French, each of these possessive adjectives has three forms depending on the gender and number of the noun possessed. n

Translate Anne reads my book n Anne reads her book n Paul knows my friend n Paul reads my letter n John looks at his mum n

Plural possessors: n our, your (vous-form), their n In French, each of these possessive adjectives has only two forms, depending on the number of the noun possessed (i. e. whether it is singular or plural). n

Plural possessors noun possessed is singular: notre, votre, leur n Mary is our daughter n Paul reads your letter n They read their letter n

Plural possessors Noun possessed is plural: nos, vos, leurs n The parents are our friends n Anne reads your books n They read their letters n

Interrogative adjectives n An interrogative adjective is a word that asks for information about a noun. n In English: the words which and what are interrogative adjectives when they come in front of a noun and are used to ask a question about that noun.

Interrogative adjectives In French, there is only one interrogative adjective: quel n It changes to agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. n

Interrogative adjectives Noun modified is harder to identify when it is separated from the interrogative adjective; n What is your address? n Which are his favourite books? n

Careful! The word ‘what’ is not always an interrogative adjective. n e. g. ‘What is on the table’ it is an interrogative pronoun. n

Demonstrative adjectives A demonstrative adjective is a word use to point out a noun: n This book is interesting n In English, the demonstrative adjectives are: this and that in the singular and these and those in the plural. n

Demonstrative adjectives In French, there is only one demonstrative adjective: ce n It changes to agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. n Therefore, in order to say ‘that book’ or ‘this dress’, start by analysing the noun book or dress. n

Demonstrative adjectives (1) noun modified is masculine singular and starts with a consonant ce n This (or that) book is on the table n (2) noun modified is masculine singular and starts with a vowel cet n This (or that) appartment is large n

Demonstrative adjectives (3) noun modified is feminine singular cette n This (or that) dress is pretty n (4) noun modified is plural ces n These (or those) books are on the table n

Demonstrative adjectives n To distinguish between what is close to the speaker (this, these) from what is far from the speaker (that, those), -ci or -là can be added after the noun.

Translate the following These book are expensive, but those books are not expensive. n The beautiful gardens. n They read their letter. n What is your favourite city? n