How are adjectives positioned in relation to nouns in French?

In French, adjectives usually come after the noun they describe, unlike English where they generally precede the noun. However, there are some exceptions and cases where adjectives precede the noun. Here are the main rules regarding the position of adjectives in relation to nouns:

1- Most Common Rule: Adjectives Follow the Noun:

This is the default position for most adjectives.

Example: "une voiture rouge" (a red car).

2- Exceptions: Adjectives That Precede the Noun:

Some adjectives of beauty, age, goodness, size, and certain others commonly precede the noun.

Examples:

"une belle fleur" (a beautiful flower)

"un petit garçon" (a small boy)

"une vieille maison" (an old house)

3- BANGS Adjectives:

BANGS adjectives stands for Beauty, Age, Number, Goodness, and Size. These are categories of adjectives that often precede the noun they modify in French.

Examples:

"une jolie fille" (a pretty girl)

"trois grandes maisons" (three big houses)

4- Emphatic or Stylistic Placement:

Sometimes, adjectives are placed before the noun for emphasis or stylistic reasons.

Example: "un homme courageux" (a courageous man).

5- Compound Nouns:

In compound nouns, the adjective usually follows the first noun and precedes the second.

Example: "un arc-en-ciel" (a rainbow), where "arc" is the first noun and "en-ciel" is the second noun modified by the adjective "arc."

6- Certain Fixed Expressions:

Some fixed expressions have adjectives that precede the noun.

Example: "un grand-père" (a grandfather).

7- Noun-Adjective Agreement:

Adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify.

Example: "un chat noir" (a black cat), where "noir" agrees in gender and number with "chat."

Remembering these rules and exceptions will help in correctly positioning adjectives in relation to nouns in French sentences.