This is the second and last part of my tips to help you with the order/position of adjectives in a sentence. Remember that French language is full of exceptions and subtleties, which is what makes it so fascinating! In this episode I’ll show you how some adjectives can change meaning depending on whether they’re placed before or after the noun they describe. As usual, I'll give you examples to make these rules clear and easily memorable. Make sure you’ve listened to episode 71 of this podcast before listening to this episode.

Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode

ancien, ancienne

un livre ancien = an ancient book

l’ancien président = the former president

Mon ancien appartement était un appartement ancien = My former apartment was an ancient apartment

cher, chère

un collier très cher = a very expensive necklace

Ma très chère amie = my very dear friend

dernier , dernière

la semaine dernière = last week

c’est la dernière fois que je te le dis! = It’s the last (and final) time I’m telling you !

grand, grande

Pasteur était un grand homme = Pasteur was a great man

même

la même chose = the same thing

Ma fille Lili est la gentillesse même = My daughter Lili is kindness itself

Pauvre

Un homme pauvre n’a pas d’argent = a poor man doesn’t have money

Un pauvre homme n’a pas de chance = an unfortunate man has no luck

prochain, prochaine

la semaine prochaine, j’irai en Italie = next week I’ll go to Italy

la prochaine fois, j’irai en Italie = next timeI’ll go to Italy

propre

est-ce que tu as les mains propres ? = Are your hands clean ?

en mains propres = personally, in person

Je lui ai remis un chèque en mains propres = I personally handed a cheque over to him.

Il a son propre restaurant = he’s got his own restaurant

seul, seule

une personne seule = a lonely person

moi seule = me alone

une seule personne = a single person, only one

simple

un exercice simple = a simple/easy exercise

c’est une simple visite de routine = it’s just a routine check up

vrai, vraie

Le Titanic est une histoire vraie = the Titanic is a true story

C’est un vrai diamant = It’s a real diamond

Une vraie histoire d’amour = a true/genuine love story

LINKS and RESOURCES

Position of adjectives (PART 1): “voiture rouge” or “rouge voiture”? : www.frenchyourway.com.au/podcast71

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