Adjective Position - BAGS

Most French adjectives are long or specific. These go after the noun. BAGS adjectives are different. They are usually short and very frequent. They describe broad qualities like size or beauty. When you use a BAGS adjective, place it first. You say une belle fleur for a beautiful flower. You do not say une fleur belle. That would sound very strange to a local. It is like saying "the cat black" in English. It is technically understandable but sounds quite clunky. The BAGS rule acts like a filter. If the adjective fits a BAGS category, move it. If it does not fit, leave it behind. This covers about 90% of common adjective placements. Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes. Do not sweat the small stuff yet. Just focus on the four main categories.

1. 1Identify the noun you want to describe.
2. 2Choose the adjective that fits your meaning.
3. 3Check if the adjective belongs to BAGS.
4. 4Place BAGS adjectives before the noun.
5. 5Place all other adjectives after the noun.
6. 6Match the adjective gender with the noun.
7. 7Match the adjective number with the noun.

Use BAGS when describing four specific things. First is Beauty. Words like beau or joli go first. Imagine you are on a date in Paris. You see a belle vue of the Eiffel Tower. Second is Age. Words like vieux, jeune, or nouveau go first. You might talk about your nouvel appartement. Third is Goodness. This includes bon, mauvais, or meilleur. At a restaurant, you order a bon vin. Finally, use it for Size. Words like grand, petit, or gros go first. You might ask for a petit café at a bistro. These four categories cover the most frequent descriptions. They are the bread and butter of French conversation. You will hear them in every shop and street. They make your French feel smooth and rhythmic.

Do not use BAGS for colors. Colors always go after the noun. You say un vélo rouge, not un rouge vélo. This is a very common trap for beginners. Do not use it for nationalities either. You say un film français. Shapes also stay after the noun. Une table ronde is the correct way. Religion and politics also follow the noun. Un livre catholique or un débat politique. If an adjective is very long, it stays after. Technical or scientific words also stay after the noun. If you are unsure, put it after. Most adjectives in French prefer the back seat. Only the BAGS elite get the front seat. Think of BAGS as the exception, not the rule. Most of the dictionary stays behind the noun.

Many people put colors before the noun. This happens because English always puts adjectives first. Your brain wants to say le vert gazon. You must fight that urge and say le gazon vert. Another mistake is forgetting gender agreement. A beau boy becomes a belle girl. The position changes, but the agreement rules stay. Some people forget that nouveau has a special form. Before a vowel, it becomes nouvel. This prevents a clunky sound in your speech. It is like a grammar traffic light. It keeps the flow of the sentence moving. Also, watch out for adjectives that change meaning. Un grand homme means a great man. Un homme grand just means a tall man. This is a sneaky trap for many learners. Always double-check your meaning before you speak.

English is very simple with adjective positions. We put almost every adjective before the noun. French is much more decorative and flexible. In French, the position can change the emphasis. Putting an adjective after makes it more objective. Putting it before makes it feel more emotional. This is why BAGS adjectives are so common. They often describe subjective feelings like beauty or goodness. Other languages like Spanish follow similar rules to French. However, French is more strict about the BAGS list. In Italian, you might have more freedom with placement. French likes its specific categories and clear rules. It is like a well-organized French bakery shelf. Everything has its proper place for a reason.