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CHAPTER III.

THE ADJECTIVE.

DEFINITIONS.-The Adjective is either QUALIFICATIVE or DE

TERMINATIVE.

QUALIFICATIVE ADJECTIVES express a quality of nouns.

DETERMINATIVE ADJECTIVES, like the article, make the meaning of nouns more precise.

QUALIFICATIVE ADJECTIVES.

Rule 13.-QUALIFICATIVE ADJECTIVES agree in number and gender with the nouns which they qualify.

Formation of the Feminine.

Rule 14.-The feminine of qualificative adjectives is generally formed by the addition of e unaccented to the ending of the masculine.

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EXAMPLES.

un petit garçon.

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Rule 15.-Adjectives ending in e unaccented in the masculine

do not change for the feminine.

MASCULINE.

l'aimable monsieur.

EXAMPLES.

FEMININE.

the amiable lady,
l'aimable dame.

a wise answer,
une sage réponse.

Rule 16.-Adjectives ending in x in the masculine, change

the amiable gentleman,

a wise advice,

un sage conseil.

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Indicative Mood Present Tense of the Verb ÊTRE, to be.

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Les animaux domestiques sont utiles aux hommes.-Les mauvaises qualités du fils de l'avocat.-Le repos est nécessaire au travailleur.-L'amour et la haine sont des sentiments violents. -L'histoire des aventures de Robinson Crusoé est amusante.— La femme du banquier est généreuse. Le cheval du fermier est vieux.-Les jeunes gens paresseux et indolents sont des membres inutiles de la société.-La chatte du voisin est rousse.-Les livres poudreux de la bibliothèque.-Un petit chien et une petite chienne. La bonne du petit Charles est malheureuse.

Progressive Exercise 5.

N.B.-The plural of adjectives is generally formed in the same manner as the plural of nouns, Rules 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, except the adjectives referred to in Rules 26 and 27.

The camel is useful to the Arabs.-Bulls are strong and Arabes (art.)

utile

fort et

impetuous.-A naughty little girl.-A large house. The round

impétueux

méchant

fille

grand maison f.

rond 2

table.-The children of a happy mother.-The bold sailors of the

table f. 1

enfant

hardi marin

great admirals.-A generous friend f.-The she-ass is patient.

grand amiral

fidèle

amie

aîné 2, fils 1 et

-Dogs are faithful.-The eldest son and the
(art.)
-Sheep are timid.-The bad example of the

timide

(art.) neighbouring town.

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mauvais exemple

patient

eldest daughter. Rule 14 fille

children of the enfant

C

Rule 17.-Adjectives ending in f in the masculine, change f into ve for the feminine.

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Rule 18.-Adjectives ending in el, eil, en, et, and on in the masculine, double the final consonant and take e for the feminine.

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Rule 19.—The following adjectives also double the final consonant and take e for the feminine::

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Progressive Reading and Translation 6.
(The English is at page 200.)

Les coqs et les poules sont de différentes couleurs.- Les poussins sont jaunes.-Le canard est noir, gris, vert et blanc; la cane est grise.—Les canetons sont très-vifs.—L'oie est grasse.-L'hirondelle est gentille et active.—Un bon pâté de pigeonneaux.-Les jolis petits poussins de la grosse poule.-La petite Marie est lasse.La hauteur moyenne des collines de l'Écosse.-La corneille est noire. Il a eu une entrevue secrète avec le général ennemi.Le chapeau d'Émilie est pareil au chapeau de Clara, les robes sont pareilles aussi.- Les jeunes filles ont été discrètes.--Rosalie a été spirituelle, mais Sophie a été sotte.-Annie est une bonne petite fille.-La fille du médecin est coquette.—Elle est bellotte et mignonne.—Il a les lèvres épaisses et les joues vermeilles. Progressive Exercise 6.

The exclusive privileges of the rich merchants.-The swallow exclusif 2 privilége m. 1 riche négociant

has been tired.-The Indian army.-The formal reply of the formel 2 réponse 1

las

indien 2 armée f. 1

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lawyer. I have had some big walnuts.-The nice house of the

avocat

gentil maison f.

village doctor, (read) of the doctor of the village. He has had

médecin

a lucrative appointment.-She has been exposed to the secret lucratif 2 position f. 1

attacks of the stupid woment.-The

attaque f. are fat.

80t

* Pronounce pan, pane, paneau.

Rule 18

village m.

exposé f.

sparrows of the town

ville f.

+ The vertical lines indicate that the several words between them are to be trans

lated by one word in French.

Rule 20.-Adjectives ending in er in the masculine, change er into ère for the feminine.

MASCULINE.

a proud man,

un homme fier.

EXAMPLES.

FEMININE.

a proud answer,
une réponse fière.

Rule 21.-Adjectives ending in gu in the masculine, take ë for the feminine, and the pronunciation remains unchanged.

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Rule 22.-Adjectives ending in eur in the masculine, form their feminine in four different ways:

1stly, By adding e, according to Rule 14.
2dly, By changing eur into euse.
3dly, By changing eur into rice.
4thly, By changing eur into eresse.

MASCULINE.

EXAMPLES.

a superior man,
1stly, un homme supérieur.

a deceptive look,
2dly, un regard trompeur.

the inventive genius,
3dly, le génie créateur,

of an avenging hero,

4thly, d'un héros vengeur.

FEMININE.

a superior lady,
une femme supérieure.
a deceptive hope,

une espérance trompeuse.
the creative power,
la puissance créatrice.

of an avenging justice.
d'une justice vengeresse.

Rule 23.-The following adjectives have two forms of the masculine, and the feminine is formed by doubling the final of the second form and adding an e:

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The second form of the masculine is used before nouns masculine singular beginning with a vowel or h mute.

MASCULINE.

a handsome officer,
un bel officier.

an old friend,
un vieil ami.

EXAMPLES.

FEMININE.

a fine creature,
une belle créature.

the old mother,

la vieille mère.

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