14 Describing Things and Talking About Events
MUST 
KNOW
Some adjectives can precede or follow a noun, taking on different meanings.
Don’t use a liaison with les hors-d’oeuvre (or make oeuvre plural), and don’t forget the hyphen!
Compound adjectives always remain singular and masculine.
Meilleur is an adjective, while mieux is an adverb.
Congratulations on making it to the last chapter! You have come quite a long way as a language learner. Now, you are ready to brighten up your world with vibrant adjectives. This final dialogue celebrates the flourishment of graphic novels, science fiction, digital technologies, and artificial intelligence, human achievements that promise thrilling adventures for the years to come. Join us for this final stop on our must know journey together.
Qualitative Adjectives
Adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. One common rule is to add an e to the feminine form.
If an adjective ends with an e in the masculine form, the feminine form remains the same.
Most adjectives are placed after the noun. However, some adjectives can sometimes be moved in front of the noun to stress an idea. Compare c’est un jeune femme charmante (she is a charming young woman) with c’est une charmante jeune femme. In the second example, charmante is stressed.
Be aware that the feminine of an adjective can take on several forms according to their endings. Here are a few examples:
Many adjectives are irregular and are often placed before the noun. You just need to memorize them.
In front of a vowel or a mute h, beau becomes bel and vieux becomes vieil.
Some adjectives change meaning when they precede or follow the nouns. For a literal meaning, the adjective is placed after the noun. In a figurative sense, it precedes the noun.
Most adjectives describing colors agree in gender and number with the noun they modify, and they are placed after the noun.
Adjectives that are also nouns of fruit, plants, or minerals remain in the singular masculine form. There is no agreement. Here are some examples you can easily identify:
Another exception: les adjectifs composés. When two adjectives are combined to provide more specificity, both adjectives remain in the masculine singular form.
Comparisons
In French, comparisons of adjectives take three forms, plus... que (more...than), moins... que (less...than), and aussi... que (as...as).
To compare quantities, plus de... que, moins de... que, and autant de... que are used.
Note that the stressed pronoun toi is used, whereas the subject pronoun is used in English. Il a moins de problèmes que moi, que toi, que lui, qu’elle, que nous, que vous, qu’eux, qu’elles.
Some comparatives have irregular forms.
When refering to situations or abstract concepts, pire que is used:
When the best player is on the court, she plays better than her opponents: elle joue mieux que ses adversaires. Mieux is the adverb that modifies the verb jouer. For regular adverbs, add -ment to the adjectives: il roule rapidement (he drives fast). For adjectives ending in -ent and -ant, the -emment and -amment endings are added to create an adverb: patiemment (patiently), élégamment (elegantly). Évidemment, you need to memorize the irregular adverbs!
To express the ideas of the most, the least, the best, the worst, etc., one uses the superlative. To form the superlative, simpy add the definite article to the comparative form. Note that de follows the superlative, while in is used in English.
Verbs Ending in –eindre and –aindre
Some verbs ending in -eindre or -aindre follow a specific conjugation.
Let’s conjugate the verb atteindre (to reach):
Se plaindre (to complain) follows a similar pattern.
Other verbs with this conjugation include:
L’Atelier des Lumières is a digital art exhibition in the 11th arrondissement offering an immersion in the paintings of great artists. Download their free app, www.atelier-lumieres.com, set it on French language, and explore the artistic world in French! Du bonheur à l’état pur.
DIALOGUE Rendez-vous à Comic Con Paris! Let’s meet at Comic Con Paris!
Alice is trying on her Batwoman costume for the Comic Con Paris, a European pop culture festival that has become a reference. Thousands of fans, geeks, and professionals meet at the Grande halle de la Villette in the 19th arrondissement.
The Parc de la Villette is one of the largest parks in Paris, home of cultural centers like la Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie; la Géode IMAX theater; la Cité de la musique; le Zénith, a rock and pop concert arena with more than 6,000 seats; la Philarmonie, a new symphony hall designed by Jean Nouvel and inaugurated in 2015; and la Grande halle de la Villette, a venue for concerts, music and film festivals, trade fairs, and events like Comic Con. If you are not in a rush, take a two-and-a-half-hour barge cruise on the Seine and Canal Saint-Martin, from the musée d’Orsay to la Villette.
If, like Alice, you decide to make a costume, here are some terms that may come in handy:
The marché Saint-Pierre, a five-story building in Montmartre, near the Sacré-Cœur basilica, is one of the largest fabric shops in the world. It offers a wide selection of classic fabric and exclusive prints for fashion or home design. Whether you are a fashion designer or a textile enthusiast, make a detour and visit the 18th arrondissement fabric district.
When buying fabric, you’ll have a wide range of choices:
Alice needs to dye her hair, do her makeup, and make sure she has all her accessories in order. Here is more vocabulary related to parts of the body, whether you’re having an everyday conversation or you’re transforming into a superhero!
The flea market of Saint-Ouen, located at Porte de Clignancourt, has become one of the most popular destinations for tourists in the Ile-de-France area, with millions of visitors a year exploring les Puces, as it is called. You’ll find high-end antiques, secondhand furniture, knickknacks, antique books, vintage clothing, and quaint restaurants. Do not hesitate to marchander
(to bargain), as it is part of the tradition.
Cela (ça) m’est égal can mean “it’s OK,” “it does not matter,” “it is all the same to me,” or “I don’t care.” It depends on the context and the tone of voice. Je m’en fiche is less formal.
The word “hero” in French is le héros in the singular, masculine form and les héros in the plural, without a liaison, as it is an h aspiré. On the contrary, in the feminine form, l’héroïne needs an elision. Les héroïnes involves a liaison pronounced with a z sound. We have already encountered other words with an h aspiré:
EXERCISES
EXERCISE 14.1
Complete the following sentences with the adjective in the appropriate form.
1. La péniche est trop (petit) _______________ pour notre groupe.
2. Ta ceinture est vraiment très _______________ (beau).
3. Cette salle de cinéma est la plus (vieux) _______________ de la ville.
4. Émilie est très (actif) _______________ dans le syndicat étudiant.
5. J’aimerais un verre d’eau (frais) _______________, s’il vous plaît.
6. Julien a besoin de peinture (blanc) _______________ pour repeindre sa salle de bain.
7. Madame Morel est (fier) _______________ de ses enfants.
8. Nous avons ressenti une (vif) _______________ émotion en entendant la nouvelle.
9. L’offre qu’ils nous ont faite n’est pas (sérieux) _______________.
10. Margot est aussi (ambitieux) _______________ que (généreux) _______________.
EXERCISE 14.2
Complete the following sentences using the nationality in the feminine form.
1. Le gagnant est indien. La gagnante est _______________.
2. Le gagnant est suédois. La gagnante est _______________.
3. Le gagnant est marocain. La gagnante est _______________.
4. Le gagnant est français. La gagnante est _______________.
5. Le gagnant est indonésien. La gagnante est _______________.
6. Le gagnant est sénégalais. La gagnante est _______________.
7. Le gagnant est américain. La gagnante est _______________.
8. Le gagnant est argentin. La gagnante est _______________.
9. Le gagnant est canadien. La gagnante est _______________.
10. Le gagnant est écossais. La gagnante est _______________.
EXERCISE 14.3
Turn the sentence into the feminine form.
L’avocat est français. → L’avocate est française.
1. L’ingénieur est intuitif.
2. Le boulanger est heureux.
3. Le pharmacien est occupé.
4. Le conseiller est européen.
5. Le traducteur est consciencieux.
6. Le vendeur est élégant.
7. L’illustrateur est fou de joie.
8. Le jardinier est franc et direct.
9. L’ouvrier est nouveau dans l’équipe.
10. Le danseur est talentueux.
EXERCISE 14.4
Translate the following sentences using vous and the est-ce que form when necessary.
1. It’s the last time I lend my comic books to my youngest brother!
2. Alice brought a pair of clean sneakers to walk in the parc de la Villette.
3. Loïc’s former girlfriend works in Finland.
4. Our dear friends Luc and Laurent will meet us in Normandy in May.
5. Céleste sold her antique books before going to Menton.
6. Are you going to launch your own company?
7. They sent me a picture of the deepest lake in the world.
8. Marguerite Duras became a woman of great prestige in the French literary world.
9. Why did you buy such an expensive mask just for one night?
10. His poor mother would like him to get married soon.
EXERCISE 14.5
Translate the adjectives in parentheses.
1. Sa veste (navy blue) _______________ est un cadeau de Florence.
2. La Renault Twingo (pistachio green) _______________ se vend très bien.
3. La peinture (mint green) _______________ du salon est apaisante.
4. Il portait une casquette (corn yellow) _______________.
5. Les rideaux (indigo) _______________ de la chambre sont très épais.
6. Les capes (orange) _______________ seront utilisées pour le film.
7. Nos chaussettes (white) _______________ sont sales.
8. Je crois qu’il a les yeux (light brown).
9. Sa combinaison (sky blue) _______________ est en viscose.
10. L’écharpe (mustard) _______________ du candidat est trop longue.
EXERCISE 14.6
Write full sentences with the elements provided.
Nola/Théo/méticuleux /+ → Nola est plus méticuleuse que Théo.
1. Nolan/Florent/ambitieux/-
2. Cécile/Victorine/impulsif/=
3. Josépha/Maria/sportif/+
4. Mila/Corinne/gentil/+
5. Christian/son benjamin/motivé/=
EXERCISE 14.7
Translate the following sentences using tu and the est-ce que form when necessary.
1. Did you wear your pale green jumpsuit?
2. This is the best hot chocolate in our town.
3. Did Alice make more costumes than Angèle?
4. Do you have as much homework as I do?
5. I doubt you have less chance to win than Estelle.
6. You have as much chance to win as she does.
7. Why did you use more silk and less linen to make your costume?
8. It is the best science-fiction novel we have ever read in our French class.
9. Judges take into account the quality of the work and they also want to see the best mix of colors.
10. You should have brought back some lace from Burano and some glass necklaces from Murano.
EXERCISE 14.8
Conjugate the following verbs in the appropriate tense depending on the meaning.
1. Elle (peindre) _______________ des tournesols après avoir visité l’Atelier des Lumières.
2. Les marathoniens (atteindre) _______________ des records de vitesse impressionnants.
3. Hier, elle (se teindre) _______________ les cheveux en gris argenté.
4. Je vous (plaindre) _______________. Votre situation est si difficile!
5. Méfiez-vous, ils (feindre) _______________ la tristesse.
6. La ville d’Essaouira, (ceindre) _______________ de remparts, est protégée contre les assauts de l’océan.
7. Les apprentis du Tintoret (peindre) _______________ les plafonds d’un palais à Venise.
8. Elle (être atteint) _______________ d’une maladie chronique.
9. Les circonstances économiques les (contraindre) _______________ à délocaliser leur entreprise en Asie du Sud-Est.
10. Elles (se plaindre) _______________ de ne pas comprendre les acronymes français comme mdr dans les emails.
If you want to read and write text messages, the SMS or texto, you need to learn the basic abbreviations: mdr means mort de rire, dying of laughter, the equivalent of LOL.
Other common abbreviations are:
LE COIN DES CRÉATEURS
French writers like Roland Barthes, Alain Robbe-Grillet, and François Bon have used inventories to reflect on society. You will easily find online the famous J’aime, je n’aime pas, by Roland Barthes. Following the example below, make your own inventaire with nouns, adjectives, verbs, and adverbs.
Le thème de l’eau:
J’aime les lacs, la mer, les cascades…
J’aime tout ce qui est bleu, éphémère, fluide…
J’aime nager, flotter, naviguer…
J’aime plonger agilement, profondément, fluidement…
Choisir un thème: le feu, la lumière, les animaux, les minéraux, la cuisine, etc.
Dresser un inventaire avec cinq ou dix noms, adjectifs, verbes, et adverbes.
À votre tour!
NOTE CULTURELLE
COMIC BOOKS, COSTUMES, AND CONVENTIONS
For U.S. comic book fans, the Francophone version known as the bande dessinée or BD (which can be translated as comic book, comic strip, or comics) is much closer to what we call a graphic novel. As in the United States, BDs were originally intended as fun entertainment, appearing in newspapers and magazines and often targeting younger readers. However, in France and Belgium, as the writing and artwork developed and became more sophisticated, so did their length and the intended audience. Unlike American comic books, which were usually limited to a maximum of 32 pages, they were often published as separate hardcover books or “albums.” Their readership also expanded, and today it is just as common to see adults in the BD section of bookstores as it is to see younger fans, stretched out on the floor reading the latest work by their favorite artists and authors. Classic francophone BD characters like Tintin, Titeuf, and Lucky Luke are known throughout the world. Traditionally considered to be more of interest to male readers, newer authors and artists are also working to broaden the gender appeal of the BD. There is Penelope Bagieu, whose webcomic My Quite Fascinating Life recounts tales from her own life and experiences through her fictional self, Zoe. A pioneer in the BD blog format, the title of her nonfiction album, Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World, tells it all. There is also Maud, the fictional heroine in Patricia Lyfoung’s series The Scarlet Rose. This empowered young woman relies on her wits and fighting ability, both of which are formidable, in equal measure. While a dashing prince would be nice, she is quite capable of handling even the most difficult situations.
Dressing up as one’s favorite BD character is as popular in France as it is elsewhere in the world. Cosplay (the word is the same in French), however, is more than just dress-up. It has developed into an artistic practice in its own right, one with its roots in popular culture, a phenomenon that now includes regional and international competitions. At these events, competitors have the option of participating solo, or in duos or trios in which all are required to wear costumes representing characters from the same source. Winners of national and regional competitions ultimately qualify for the annual world championships (WCS). These are serious events, and participants spend considerable time preparing for them. In 2019, participants from 24 countries and regions, all clad in elaborate handmade costumes, gathered in Nagoya, Japan, to compete. Contestants were judged by the quality of their costumes, the art direction, and their overall performance onstage. Team France proved itself to be a strong competitor, taking third place behind Australia and the USA in 2019.
For French BD fans not interested in competing, or even in cosplay, there are still conventions and festivals. Comic Con™ Paris is held annually and attracts fans of comics, cosplay, films, and TV series from the world of superheroes, science fiction, heroic fantasy, and the fantastic. Lasting three days, it is the largest such event in France and is akin to other Comic Con™ events held throughout the world.
More specifically France holds the Angoulême International Comics Festival, the third largest such festival in the world (after Lucca, Italy, and Tokyo, Japan) with more than two hundred thousand attendees each year. First held in 1974, the festival is a major showcase for exhibitors and presents awards for the best work of the year by established and newly discovered artists and authors, as well as a career prize given to a major figure in the world of BD. The festival has made Angoulême, in southwestern France, the comics capital of France.