Tu marches seul.
Who is walking? = YOU => tu marches.
Elle a une petite fille.
Who is small? = la fille => the adjective has to agree with the noun (feminine singular).
For this case, please refer to the following lesson: Agreement of the past participle.
The rules that apply to compound nouns are special: in some cases both nouns agree, in some other cases only one word agrees.
des choux-fleurs
EN: cauliflowers (= cabbages that look like flowers)
If noun (2) complements noun (1) with a preposition (written or inferred), THEN noun (1) agrees.
des crocs-en-jambe, des timbres-poste
EN: tackles, stamps (= stamps for the post office)
IF noun (1) is not abbreviated (i.e. ending in 'o' ou 'i'), THEN noun (2) agrees.
des tragi-comédies
EN: tragi-comedies
| Adjective + Noun |
Both agree. des coffres-forts des plates-bandes EN: chests, flowerbeds |
|---|---|
| Adjective + Adjective |
Both agree. des sourds-muets EN: deaf people |
| Verb + Noun |
Noun = direct complement: the noun agrees depending
on the meaning but the verb does not. des touche-à-tout EN: all-rounders |
| Verb + Verb |
No agreement. des savoir-vivre EN: manners |
| Verbs + Adverbs |
No agreement. des passe-partout EN: master keys |
Adjectives of color agree like any other adjectives.
un arbre vert, une maison verte, des pins
verts, des balles vertes
EN: a green tree, a green house, green pines, green balls
Je suis jalouse de ses belles chaussettes
bleues
EN: I am jealous of her beautiful blue socks.
There are some special cases.
The reason is that even if they are used as adjectives, they are still considered as nouns.
We write: des robes lavande (EN: lavender dresses).
We think: des robes de la couleur de la lavande (EN:
dresses the color of lavender).
When you are using an adjective of color, ask yourself the following question: "Is there a noun associated with that color?"
orange => the orange tree fruit :
des nuages orange (EN: orange clouds)
marron => the chestnut tree fruit :
des feuilles marron (EN: brown sheets of paper)
We say: des voitures rouge vif (EN: bright-red cars).
We think: des voitures d'un rouge vif (EN: cars the color
of a bright red).
This rule is often used for the following adjectives:
clair / foncé, vif / pâle (EN: light / dark, bright
/ pale).
Be careful when you see them.
Elle a les yeux vert clair.
EN: She has light-green eyes.
Ses cheveux sont brun foncé.
EN: Her hair is dark-brown.
J'ai vu passer deux voitures rouge vif.
EN: I saw two bright-red cars pass by.
Sa veste bleu pâle semble encore plus délavée qu'avant.
EN: His pale-blue jacket seems even more faded than before.