Adjective Plural Agreement: Add -s

French nouns and adjectives are a package deal. They must agree in number. This means if the noun is plural, the adjective is plural. In English, we say "blue cars" and "blue car." The word "blue" never changes for us. French is much more stylish than that. It demands that the adjective reflects the quantity. If you have one chat (cat), he is noir (black). If you have two chats, they are noirs. The adjective follows the noun's lead. It is like a shadow that grows when the object grows. You can think of the noun as the leader. The adjective is the loyal follower. It simply copies the plural status of the noun. Most of the time, this is purely a visual change. You will see the -s, but you won't hear it. It is a secret code for readers.

1. 1Making an adjective plural is a quick three-step process.
2. 2Start with the singular form of the adjective.
3. 3Identify if the noun it describes is plural.
4. 4Add an -s to the very end of the adjective.
5. 5For example, take the word grand (tall/big).
6. 6Singular: un grand chien (one big dog).
7. 7Plural: des grands chiens (some big dogs).
8. 8It works the same for feminine adjectives too.
9. 9Singular: une petite table (one small table).
10. 10Plural: des petites tables (some small tables).
11. 11Notice how the -s appears on both the noun and adjective. It is a double-check system for your brain. Just remember: Singular + S = Plural. It is simpler than choosing what to watch on Netflix. Most adjectives follow this exact pattern without any drama.

You use this rule whenever you describe multiple things. Imagine you are at a French bakery. You want to buy three croissants. You want them to be chauds (hot). You must add that -s to chaud.

• "Je voudrais trois croissants chauds, s'il vous plaît."

Use it when talking about your friends.

• "Mes amis sont intelligents" (My friends are smart).

Use it when describing your belongings.

• "J'ai des chaussures bleues" (I have blue shoes).

Use it in professional settings too.

• "Nous avons des nouveaux projets" (We have new projects).

Basically, if you can count it and there is more than one, use it. It applies to colors, sizes, and personality traits. If you are describing a group of people, the -s is mandatory. Even if the group is a mix of genders, the plural -s stays. It is the universal sign for "more than one."

There are a few times when you should leave the -s alone. First, never add an -s if the noun is singular. That sounds obvious, but it happens! Second, some adjectives are already finished with their "uniform." If an adjective already ends in -s or -x, don't add more.

• un film français -> des films français (No change!).
• un homme heureux -> des hommes heureux (Still no change!).

Adding an extra -s would be like wearing two hats. It is just unnecessary. Also, watch out for specific color adjectives derived from fruits.

• des chemises orange (Orange shirts).

Words like orange or marron (brown) are rebels. They never take an -s. They like to stay exactly as they are. Think of them as the cool kids who don't wear uniforms. But for 90% of adjectives, the -s is your best friend.

The biggest mistake is the "Silent S" trap. In French, you usually do not pronounce the final -s. Because you don't hear it, you might forget to write it. It is a very common slip-up for beginners. Your brain thinks: "I said grand, so I write grand." But your eyes need to see grands.

Another mistake is adding -s to the wrong word. Make sure the adjective is the one getting the extra letter. Sometimes people forget the noun needs an -s too. They must both match!

Don't forget about the feminine form. If the noun is feminine plural, you need -es.

• ✗ des filles contents
• ✓ des filles contentes

Yes, even native speakers mess this up in text messages sometimes. Don't beat yourself up over it. Just think of it like a grammar traffic light. Red means stop and check for that -s. Green means you are good to go!

In English, adjectives are very lazy. They never change. "Red car" and "Red cars" use the same "red." This makes French feel a bit more high-maintenance. But compare this to French verbs. Verbs change their endings constantly based on the person. Adjectives are much kinder than verbs. They only care if it is singular or plural.

Also, compare this to irregular plurals. Some French words change completely, like œil (eye) to yeux (eyes). Compared to that, adding an -s is a walk in the park. It is the most predictable part of the language. It is the "easy mode" of French grammar. Once you master the -s, you have conquered a huge part of the language.