Adjective position – meaning changes
Mon ancien professeur vs une maison ancienne
Some adjectives change meaning depending on whether they come before or after the noun. Generally, before = figurative or subjective, after = literal or objective.
The main ones
| adjective | before the noun | after the noun |
|---|---|---|
| ancien | former | old, antique |
| cher | dear | expensive |
| dernier | last (in a series) | last (the one just gone) |
| grand | great | tall |
| pauvre | poor (unfortunate) | poor (no money) |
| propre | own | clean |
| même | same | very, itself |
| seul | only | alone |
| brave | good, decent | brave |
| certain | certain, some | sure, definite |
| prochain | next (in a series) | next (coming) |
- mon ancien professeurmy former teacher
- un meuble ancienan antique piece of furniture
- Chers amisDear friends
- une voiture chèrean expensive car
- la dernière foisthe last time
- la semaine dernièrelast week
- un grand hommea great man
- un homme granda tall man
- le pauvre garçonthe poor (unfortunate) boy
- un garçon pauvrea poor (penniless) boy
- ma propre chambremy own room
- une chambre proprea clean room
- le même jourthe same day
- le jour mêmethat very day
- un seul hommea single man (only one)
- un homme seula man on his own
Prochain and dernier with time
With time expressions like semaine, mois, année, they go after: la semaine prochaine, l'an dernier. In a series, before: la prochaine fois, le dernier chapitre.
Practice
- my former bossOptions: mon ancien patron · mon patron ancien
Show the answer
mon ancien patron
- an expensive restaurantOptions: un restaurant cher · un cher restaurant
Show the answer
un restaurant cher
- I have my own room.Options: J'ai ma propre chambre. · J'ai ma chambre propre.
Show the answer
J'ai ma propre chambre.
- last week (the one just gone)Options: la semaine dernière · la dernière semaine
Show the answer
la semaine dernière
In the app, this lesson is taught one idea at a time with the examples read aloud, followed by questions that explain the rule when you get one wrong. It then comes back for review on later days until you've mastered it.