ADJECTIF QUALIFICATIF ET SES CRITÈRES DÉFINITIONNELS
Adjectif parmi les parties du discours
Every living language has its own grammatical system that distinguishes it from others The study of foreign languages largely involves recognizing the system that governs their functioning Each language presents a set of regularities that guide the construction, usage, and interpretation of statements Speakers learn and apply these organizational principles, which form the inherent grammar of the language This encompasses the intrinsic properties of a language, often referred to as its system.
Since antiquity, philosophers have sought to analyze human language, leading to various proposals over time, including the recognition of syntactic categories or parts of speech The earliest research emerged between the 3rd century BCE and the 2nd century CE, beginning with the works of Plato and Aristotle, who proposed analyzing sentences into two main components: subject and predicate Following this, the Stoics introduced the concept of dividing language into different parts of speech.
The classification of parts of speech is based on various criteria, either semantic or morphological By the end of the 2nd century BC, Denys the Thrace provided a well-known list distinguishing eight parts of speech: noun, verb, participle, article, pronoun, preposition, adverb, and conjunction This classification, inherited from Greco-Latin traditions, is also adopted in the French language, although it remains unstable Notably, Denys the Thrace's list omits the adjective, indicating its uncertain recognition as a part of speech Gilles Siouffi observes that the origins of classifying these categories date back to early linguistic developments.
2 RIEGEL Martin et al , Grammaire mộthodique du franỗais, Paris: P.U.F, 2009, 4 e ộdition (1 re ộdition : 1994), p
Historically, grammarians have used a single term to describe what we now differentiate as nouns and adjectives During the era of Port-Royal grammar, authors viewed adjectives as a subset of nouns, categorizing them as words that denote objects of thought Aristotle's early ideas on adjectives included concepts of quality and the notion of an epithet as an added element The definition of adjectives in French emerged from the continuators of Port-Royal grammar, who, like their ancient Greek and Latin predecessors, did not distinguish between nouns and adjectives, similar to how we differentiate between common and proper nouns today In Indo-European languages, adjectives lacked their own inflection, adopting that of nouns, leading to a long-standing grammatical terminology that grouped both under the generic label of "noun." It was only in the late 18th century, following a gradual emancipation from the nominal category, that adjectives gained recognition as a distinct part of speech in the general grammars of Port-Royal's successors Over time, French parts of speech began to stabilize, with Maurice Grevisse identifying nine categories in the eleventh edition of "Le Bon usage": noun, article, adjective, pronoun, verb, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection However, adjectives were often treated as secondary by grammarians, as reflected in Riegel's "Grammaire méthodique du français," which dedicates only a brief section to them, highlighting their perceived marginal status.
4 GOES Jan, L’adjectif entre nom et verbe, Bruxelles: Duculot, 1999, p 12
5 RIEGEL Martin et al., op cit., p 600
Maurice Grevisse's "bon usage" primarily addresses morphology and includes notable orthographic observations In the introduction to her work "The Paradox of the Adjective," Adriana Orlandi highlights that, despite advancements in research on adjectives, several significant issues remain unresolved Notably, throughout the extensive classification of noun subclasses proposed by ancient Greco-Latin grammarians, the adjective often does not consistently appear as a distinct category, leading to overlaps among subclasses.
Following the death of Maurice Grevisse in 1980, his son-in-law André Goosse, also a grammarian, continued Grevisse's work and published subsequent editions with notable changes In the fourteenth edition of "Le Bon Usage," Goosse introduced a new classification for word categories, merging the article with the determiner, doubling the conjunction, adding a new tenth class, and redefining the interjection as a phrase-word.
Here is a list of 11 parts of speech: noun, determiner, adjective, pronoun, verb, adverb, preposition, subordinating conjunction, coordinating conjunction, introducer, and phrase word Marc Wilmet illustrated this evolution through the following table.
Tableau 1 Liste des parties du discours de Maurice Grevisse et d’André Goosse
7 GREVISSE Maurice et GOOSSE André, Le bon usage, Paris : Duculot, 2015, 14 e édition (1re édition : 1936), pp 701-731
8 ORLANDI Adriana, Le paradoxe de l’adjectif, Louvain-la-Neuve : De Boeck supérieur, 2020, pp 9-13
9 COLOMBAT Bernard, L'adjectif: perspectives historique et typologique, Histoire Épistémologie Langage [en ligne], tome 14, fascicule 1, 1992, p 10, disponible sur ô www.persee.fr/doc/hel_0750- 8069_1992_num_14_1_2338 ằ, [consultộ le 02 janvier 2023]
10 WILMET Marc, Grammaire critique du franỗais, Bruxelles : Duculot, 1998, 2 e ộdition (1 re ộdition : 1997), p
Maurice Grevisse presents a broader concept of adjectives compared to André Goosse, as Grevisse includes determinative adjectives within the adjectival category, while Goosse treats them as a separate category Currently, it's notable that adjectives, recognized as a distinct category in French, were often integrated into other parts of speech.
Adjectif et nom
ô Ce n’est qu’au XVIII e siốcle que l’adjectif sort de l’ombre du nom pour acquộrir sa place dans la famille des parties du discours ằ 11
From the early discoveries of parts of speech, the study of adjectives has been closely linked to that of nouns, particularly in terms of morphosyntax For a long time, adjectives were considered synonymous with nouns Michèle Noailly, a specialist in adjectives, emphasizes the fundamental connections between adjectives and nouns in French Notably, the authors of the Port-Royal grammar distinguished between two types of nouns: "substantive nouns," which denote substances, and "adjective nouns," which signify accidents, indicating the subject to which these accidents pertain.
11 GOES Jan, L’adjectif entre nom et verbe, p 12
In her work, Michôle Noailly explores the fundamental connection between adjectives and nouns in the French language, highlighting the limited interest in relating adjectives to verbs She emphasizes the significance of adjectives in French and their role across various languages.
Jacques Franỗois, ộd Caen : Presses Universitaires de Caen, 2004, p 151
Antoine Arnauld and Claude Lancelot's "Grammaire générale et raisonnée" highlights the convergence between nouns and adjectives, as noted in the 1964 Larousse Grammar, which states that the grammatical class of nouns includes both substantives and qualifying adjectives, categorized by gender and number This observation reveals a morphological similarity, with both categories sharing flexional morphemes such as -e for feminine and -s for plural forms Additionally, Martin Riegel identifies a syntactical resemblance, as both classes fulfill common functions in sentences, including attribute, epithet, and apposition.
Tableau 2 Points communs entre le nom et l’adjectif à propos des fonctions
Madame Levy est professeur d'anglais
L’enfant paraissait contente (Grammaire expliquée du franỗais – Intermộdiaire, p.105) Épithète Une femme enfant
Le drapeau rouge flotte au haut du mât
Apposition Chacun redoute le cri du lion, terreur des forêts
Jeune, elle marchait d’un pas vif
However, there is also a distinction between the two classes based on semantics On one hand, nouns refer to objects in the world (such as a table or a painting), while on the other hand, adjectives are dependent elements that describe characteristics associated with these objects (like large or beautiful).
However, the boundary is not distinctly clear The adjective is closely related to property nouns that cannot directly refer to a real object Examples include terms like ardor, goodness, and roundness, which do not identify a specific class.
14 CHEVALIER Jean-Claude et al., Grammaire Larousse du Franỗais Contemporain, Paris : Larousse, 1964, p
The French language presents challenges in distinguishing between adjectives and nouns, particularly with words that serve dual functions, such as nationality terms like "Vietnamese." According to Robert Dixon, French adjectives exhibit noun-like characteristics, blurring the lines between the two categories Michèle Noailly argues that the distinction between nouns and adjectives is often unclear and operationally problematic She suggests referring to words that function as both nouns and adjectives as "terms leading a double career."
Adjectif et déterminant
According to the Methodical Grammar of French, a determiner is defined as the word that must precede a common noun to form a well-structured noun phrase Determiners can be categorized into two main types: articles and determinative adjectives André Goosse states that the minimal determiner is the article, as other determiners provide additional information, such as location (demonstrative), relationship to a person or thing (possessive), quantity (numerical), imprecise quantity (indefinite), questioning the noun (interrogative), or expressing strong feelings about the reality denoted by the noun (exclamatory).
1 (Article) Les spectateurs sont mộcontents (Grammaire expliquộe du franỗais –
2 (Adjectif démonstratif) Ce film est passionnant ! (Ibid.)
3 (Adjectif possessif) Votre fille est actrice ? (Ibid.)
16 NOAILLY Michốle, L'adjectif en franỗais, Paris : Ophrys Editions, 1999, p 10
18 RIEGEL Martin et al., op cit , p 276
19 GREVISSE Maurice et GOOSSE Andrộ , Le bon usage : Grammaire franỗaise, p 738
4 Il me semble que (Adjectif indéfini) quelques films racontent la même histoire (Ibid.)
5 (Adjectif interrogatif) Quel film veux-tu voir aujourd'hui ? (Ibid.)
Previously, there was some ambiguity between adjectives and determiners Until the end of the 20th century, the term "adjective" referred to both qualifiers and determinative adjectives In 1998, the Ministry of National Education officially changed this terminology, replacing "adjective" with "determiner" for terms like numerical determiner, possessive determiner, demonstrative determiner, indefinite determiner, interrogative determiner, and exclamatory determiner.
Linguists and grammarians are increasingly interested in the phenomenon of determinative adjectives In the fourteenth edition of "Le Bon Usage," André Goosse specifically addresses the term "ô dộterminant ằ." He focuses solely on the qualitative adjective within the adjectival category Similarly, Martin Riegel and his colleagues separate determinative adjectives from the adjectival category, incorporating them into the broader classification of determiners.
Detachment is well-founded, as both adjectives and determiners share common features, such as their addition to nouns and agreement in gender and number However, they differ significantly in function: the qualifying adjective, when used as an epithet, serves as an optional expansion of the noun, while the determiner is essential for activating the noun in discourse and forming a grammatical noun phrase In contrast, the adjective cannot fulfill this role.
6 Elle contemplait ses lys (L’adjectif qualificatif, p 14)
7 *Elle contemplait grands lys blancs (Ibid.)
When comparing the two examples, it is evident that example (6) is grammatically correct despite lacking precision regarding the aesthetics of the lilies, whereas example (7) does not maintain grammatical accuracy.
20 LECHENAULT Régis et al., Terminologie grammaticale, Paris : Centre national de documentation pédagogique, 1998, p 22
Determiners, unlike qualifying adjectives, cannot perform functions such as attributive or appositive roles This highlights a fundamental difference in the way determiners operate compared to adjectives.
Catégories adjectivales
Adjectives and their properties represent a vast field of research in both syntax and semantics The term "adjective" is derived from the Latin "adjectivum," meaning "that which is added," highlighting that adjectives are non-autonomous elements that complement other words As noted by Martin Riegel, adjectives can be further categorized The Linguistic Dictionary defines adjectives as words that modify nouns to express qualities (qualifying adjectives) or to actualize nouns within a sentence (determining adjectives) Examples of qualifying adjectives include low, black, fragile, small, ugly, icy, superb, and spiritual In contrast, the list of determining adjectives is relatively limited, encompassing numerical, possessive, demonstrative, relative, interrogative, exclamatory, and indefinite adjectives, each with specific usage constraints, such as fixed positions in French sentences and functions related to localization and quantification.
In our research, we focus on the syntactic and interpretative properties of adjectives as proposed by Martin Riegel and his colleagues This allows us to identify three subclasses of adjectives: the qualitative adjective, the relational adjective, and the third type of adjective.
21 RIEGEL Martin et al., op cit., p 598
22 DUBOIS Jean et al., Dictionnaire de linguistique et des sciences du langage, Paris : Larousse, 2001, p 16
The Belgian grammarian Maurice Grevisse defines the adjective as a word that varies in gender and number, reflecting the agreement with the noun (or sometimes the pronoun) it modifies It can function as an epithet or an attribute Semantically, the adjective conveys a manner of being or a quality of the entity indicated by the noun it relates to.
According to Jean Dubois and Renộ Lagane, the adjective is an optional component of the noun phrase or a constituent of the verb phrase when used with verbs like être (to be), sembler (to seem), paraître (to appear), devenir (to become), and rester (to remain) Michôle Noailly emphasizes that, from a syntactic perspective, the two adjectival functions—epithet and attribute—are fundamental, with one relating to the noun phrase and the other to the verb phrase.
The qualifying adjective plays a crucial role in conveying meaning and number in the French language This type of adjective is central to our discussion, as it is not autonomous but rather depends on the noun it modifies Understanding the contribution of the adjective to the noun is essential, as it serves to characterize the noun To grasp this adjectival variety effectively, it is important to comprehend the concept of qualification.
The term "qualifier," as defined by Ressources Textuelles et Lexicales (CNRTL), refers to the action of attributing a quality to someone or something In a nominal phrase, it highlights inherent characteristics such as properties or states, exemplified by phrases like "an oval ball," "an irascible man," "a sunny day," "an interesting book," "a drunken man," and "a still green apple." The concept of "inherent," as discussed by Martin Riegel, is akin to "intrinsic," meaning what belongs specifically to someone or something Therefore, qualifying adjectives do not alter the noun but rather characterize it.
23 GREVISSE Maurice et GOOSSE Andrộ, Nouvelle Grammaire franỗaise, Paris-Gembloux : Duculot, 1989, 2 e édition (1 re édition : 1980), p 180
24 DUBOIS Jean et al., La nouvelle grammaire du franỗais, Paris : Librairie Larousse,1973, p 104
Adjectives, such as red, fast, and joyful, denote properties and states of the nouns they modify They typically vary in degree and can be attributed to the subject or object of a verb Additionally, these adjectives are often associated with a corresponding noun that represents the property, such as redness, speed, and joy.
This type of adjective deserves careful study in any language, as it is nearly impossible to discuss the world without attributing properties to it Regardless of what one wishes to convey, there is always a specific word to express it, a verb to animate it, and an adjective to qualify it.
Au niveau syntaxique, les adjectifs qualificatifs sont : ô ộminemment susceptibles d’emplois prédicatifs (…) mais ces monèmes s’emploient fréquemment comme ộpithốtes c'est-à-dire en tant qu’expansions de monốmes non prộdicatifs ằ 29
8 Il est tranquille (Précis de grammaire pour les concours , p 110)
9 J’ai un manteau rouge (Précis de grammaire pour les concours , p 307)
The qualifying adjective can be linked to the noun it modifies in two ways The first method is direct attachment, where the adjective is placed directly before or after the noun without any intermediary This is known as the epithet in grammar The second method is indirect attachment, which involves an element between the adjective and the noun, typically using attributive verbs such as "to be," "to seem," "to appear," and "to look." Among these, the verb "to be" is the most commonly used.
26 RIEGEL Martin et al., op cit., p 598
27 CHARAUDEAU Patrick, Grammaire du sens et de l’expression, Paris : Hachette, 1992, p 37
28 DE MAUPASSANT Guy, Pierre et Jean, Collection À tous les vents, La Bibliothèque électronique du Québec, Volume 356 : version 1.01, p 30
29 MARTINET Andrộ, Grammaire fonctionnelle du franỗais, Paris : Didier-CRẫDIF, 1979, p 141
The qualifying adjective serves to characterize a noun by revealing an inherent property of it This property cannot be expressed through a group formed by a preposition and a noun, which is exemplified by relational adjectives.
Relational adjectives are termed as such because they denote a relationship with the noun from which they are derived, exemplified by terms like "university" in "university-related" or "presidential" from "president." These adjectives are inherently non-gradable, meaning phrases like "very municipal" are incorrect Additionally, there is a connection between the adjacent noun and the noun from which the adjective is derived Consequently, relational adjectives can serve synonymous or complementary roles to noun complements introduced by "of." In everyday usage, "clothing stores" and "apparel shops" are considered synonymous.
In the noun phrase "a clothing store," the adjective "clothing" does not denote an intrinsic characteristic of the store At first glance, "clothing" may seem like a qualifying adjective rather than a relational one, as both categories share undeniable similarities, such as position and dependence on the noun However, their semantic characteristics and syntactic functions are categorically different.
In semantic terms, relational adjectives share the same semantic representation as their nominal base, meaning there is no additional meaning added to the derived adjective, unlike the suffix "-able," which introduces the notion of possibility Consequently, only prefixation alters the meaning of the derived word According to Bernard Fradin, the meaning of a relational adjective arises from the combination of the base lexeme and the prefix, rather than from the combination of the lexeme-suffix and the prefix For instance, the term "antigovernmental" is defined in the CNRTL as one that opposes or combats government policy, illustrating this phenomenon.
30 RIEGEL Martin et al., op cit., p 633
In "Nouvelles approches en morphologie," Bernard Fradin discusses the semantic instruction of prefixation rules, focusing on the governing base of relational adjectives These adjectives denote a relationship between the entity represented by their base noun and the modified entity, highlighting the significance of relational adjectives in morphological analysis.
From a syntactic perspective, relational adjectives differ significantly from qualitative adjectives Alain Bosredon, in his article "An Adjective Too Many: The Relational Adjective," confirms that relational adjectives are distinct in several ways: they do not allow for attributive construction, degree variation, noun pre-positioning, or coordination with qualitative adjectives These four characteristics serve as effective tools for distinguishing between these two types of adjectives.
Formation de l’adjectif qualificatif
In linguistics, morphology is typically divided into two branches: derivational morphology and inflectional morphology Derivational morphology focuses on creating new words from existing bases, while inflectional morphology involves modifying words, such as altering nouns and adjectives based on number and gender In French, there are simple words, which cannot be broken down further, and complex words that consist of multiple elements Morphologically, adjectives can be categorized into two types: simple, unanalyzable forms and complex, analyzable forms Adjectives are formed through derivation by adding affixes like -able or -ible, or through composition and conversion, alongside a significant number of primary adjectives such as grand, rouge, beau, and jeune Additionally, French qualifying adjectives are well-organized into large derivational families Inflectionally, adjectives depend heavily on nouns, thus adhering to gender and number rules This study will focus solely on qualifying adjectives.
Researchers examining adjective inventories across various languages, particularly Indo-European languages, have identified a limited yet widely used subset known as "basic adjectives" in English or "adjectifs primaires" in French These adjectives are easily recognizable as they convey universal characteristics such as size, time/age, evaluation, color, and physical property Consequently, primary adjectives are typically regarded as the semantic prototypes of the adjectival category.
In terms of form, simple words are those that reduce to a morphologically unanalysable root, directly combined with gender and number markers These words are not necessarily composed of a single syllable; they can include examples like "possible," "serious," and "useful." Some simple-form adjectives appear to be derivational, as seen in "serious," which contains the suffix "-eux," similar to other adjectives like "costly" and "unfortunate." This phenomenon occurs because these adjectives belong to the old core of the language and have lost their derivational bases.
According to CNRTL, derivation is a process that involves creating new words by modifying the morpheme in relation to a base This modification typically occurs through the addition of affixes to the root of the word The root serves as a lexical element corresponding to an existing word, while affixes are non-autonomous elements that attach to a base to form a new word In French, we distinguish between two types of affixes: prefixes, which are placed before the root, and suffixes, which are added at the end of the root.
Au sein de la dérivation affixale, il existe trois sous-types : la suffixation, la préfixation et la formation parasynthétique
Prefixed formation involves the use of a prefix, which is a derivational morpheme placed before a base to create new lexical units This process plays a significant role in semantics, as the introduction of a new word with a prefix typically results in a change of meaning Martin Riegel highlights this in his definition of prefixes, describing them as elements that operate on a base to construct a new meaning through various relational connections.
The distinction between prefixes and suffixes lies primarily in their position relative to the root word, with prefixes never altering the grammatical class of the word For instance, the adjective "impossible" is derived from the adjective "possible" through the addition of the prefix "im-," indicating that both words remain within the adjectival category This process is known as intracategorial prefixation.
Le schéma suivant va expliciter ce procédé :
Schéma 1 Processus de la préfixation Tableau 3 Principaux préfixes servant à former des adjectifs qualificatifs
Privation refers to the abnormal lack or absence of something essential The term "mal" indicates a negative condition, while "non-voyant" describes individuals who are visually impaired "Anti" signifies opposition, and "in" suggests negation or absence, as seen in "inoubliable," meaning unforgettable Prefixes like "im-" indicate incapacity before certain letters, while "il-" denotes limitations "Ir-" implies irresponsibility, and "dé-" relates to unreasonable actions The prefix "dés-" is used before radical terms, and "archi-" emphasizes an extreme state.
Intensité archiconnu extra- extraordinaire hyper- hyperactif
42 LECA-MERCIER Florence, op cit., p 52 super- superlourd sur- surexcité ultra- ultramoderne
Suffixation is a derivational process used to create new words by adding suffixes According to Hélène Hugot, suffixation refers to everything related to the derivation of words formed by adding an affix to the root or base of a word.
Nous schématisons cette définition à travers l’image suivante :
Schéma 2 Processus de la suffixation
Ces derniers se placent derrière une base quelconque Le tableau suivant présente une liste des principaux suffixes 44 servant à former des adjectifs qualificatifs
Tableau 4 Principaux suffixes servant à former des adjectifs qualificatifs
Suffixe Sens Exemple oble, -ble possibilité aimable, audible
-ossse, -ard péjoratif fadasse, faiblard
-âtre diminutif et péjoratif bleuâtre, douceâtre
43 HUOT Hộlốne, La morphologie : forme et sens des mots du franỗais, Paris : Armand Colin, 2005, p 63
44 DUBOIS Jean et al., Grammaire franỗaise, Paris : Larousse, 1961, p 9
-et, -elet diminutif propret, aigrelet
-eux dérivé d’un nom peureux, valeureux
-in diminutif et péjoratif blondin, polisotin
-ot diminutif et péjoratif pâlot, vieillot
Unlike prefixes, suffixes often change the grammatical category of a word According to Choi-Jonin Injoo and colleagues, suffixes are placed after a lexical base and typically determine the grammatical category of the term they help form This mechanism is known as transcategorical Each suffix within a word can convey dual information: one at the semantic level and the other at the grammatical level As a result, suffixes frequently serve as class indicators, signaling the morphosyntactic class of the derived word they help create For example, the adjective "aimable" is formed from the verbal base "aim-" and the suffix "-able," which adds the meaning of "possibility" and indicates the adjectival nature of the entire word.
Parasynthesis is viewed as a simultaneous combination of prefixation and suffixation processes This derivation involves the concurrent addition of both a prefix and a suffix to a base word It is essential to emphasize the simultaneity of these affixations for the word to exist.
45 CHOI-JONIN Injoo et al., Introduction à la mộthodologie en linguistique : application au franỗais contemporain, Strasbourg : Presses universitaires de Strasbourg, 1999, p 81
In the context of linguistic structure, certain words must be formed simultaneously at the base level; otherwise, they may not exist in a free state A prime example of this is the adjective "inusable," which combines the prefix "in-" and the suffix "-able." If we remove the prefix "in-," the term "usable" is not recognized This deletion test proves useful for examining parasynthesis, indicating that the adjectives involved in this process are less numerous compared to the previously mentioned categories.
1.5.3 Conversion ô La conversion est un procộdộ de formation de nouvelles unitộs lexicales sans adjonctions d’affixes dérivationnels mais par changement de classe grammaticale ằ 47
Conversion, also referred to as improper derivation, contrasts with proper derivation, which utilizes derivational affixes in lexical formation This means that lexical units from different syntactic categories can attain the status of qualifying adjectives.
Les cas principaux de conversions en adjectifs qualificatifs sont liés, en général, aux noms, aux verbes, au participe, voire aux adjectifs relationnels : ô noms (vache, cochon,
(un effet) bœuf, limite, zen, etc.), participes présents devenus adjectifs verbaux
The article discusses the use of past participles and relational adjectives that denote specific states or qualities, such as "frustrated," "surprised," or "popular." These terms often reflect resultant conditions and can describe various characteristics, including "sulfurous remarks," "a popular air," or "a royal gift."
Participles, whether present or past, play a crucial role in both quantity and quality within the adjectival category They function as both verbs and adjectives, creating a nuanced distinction that can be challenging to define, particularly regarding past participles used as verbs versus those used adjectivally Ultimately, both present and past participles have the ability to transform into qualifying adjectives.
47 CHOI-JONIN Injoo et al., op cit., p 82
48 RIEGEL Martin et al., op cit., p 617
The distinction between the present participle (used purely as a verb) and the verbal adjective (used purely as an adjective) is clearer This relevant distinction is based on two criteria: invariability in gender and number, and sentence construction The present participle is invariable and can receive complements from the conjugated verb, which a verbal adjective cannot accept In contrast, the verbal adjective functions as a qualifying adjective.
Nous examinons deux exemples ci-dessous :
11 L’enfant obéissant à ses parents manifeste sa disponibilité (La Grammaire expliquée, p 80)
12 On aime les enfants obéissants (Ibid., p 99)
Identification de l’adjectif qualificatif
In summary of the previous sections, we establish criteria that help, to some extent, differentiate the descriptive adjective from the other two types While these distinguishing features do not provide a definitive separation among the three categories, they are useful in guiding our analysis.
Tableau 6 Distinction des trois types d’adjectifs au niveau sémantique
Adjectif qualificatif Adjectif relationnel Adjectif du troisième type
Caractérisant du nom Complément du nom Modalisateur du nom
Tableau 7 Distinction des trois types d’adjectifs au niveau morphologique
Adjectif qualificatif Adjectif relationnel Adjectif du troisième type
Dérivation à partir des bases nominales
Les adjectifs de forme simple
Tableau 8 Distinction des trois types d’adjectifs au niveau syntaxique
Fonction Épithète Attribut Apposition Épithète Épithète
Place de l’adjectif en fonction épithète
Conclusion partielle
The classification of adjectives, particularly qualifying adjectives, has long been a contentious issue among grammarians due to varying perspectives on their role within the parts of speech Distinguishing adjectives from other categories, such as nouns and determiners, has proven challenging Historically, adjectives were categorized under nouns as "adjectival nouns." Following the redefinition of the nominal category, confusion remains at the intersection of determiners and adjectives, as both belong to the noun phrase Determiners are governed by strict syntactic rules as essential components, while adjectives enjoy greater flexibility in their usage Currently, advancements in research allow linguists and grammarians to establish clearer criteria for identifying adjectives.
Adjectives, like nouns and verbs, can be subcategorized, with the most well-known pair being "qualitative" and "relational." A qualitative adjective characterizes an intrinsic property of the noun, while a relational adjective acts as a nominal determinative complement and can be replaced by a prepositional phrase In this case, the property is not intrinsic but relational However, the semantic scope of these two types of adjectives does not encompass all adjectives There exists a third category of adjectives that serve a dual purpose (qualitative and modal), possessing two meanings, and their placement often indicates a change in usage.
Morphologically, we will focus solely on the descriptive adjective In this context, adjectives are derived through various processes such as suffixation, prefixation, or conversion Additionally, adjectives exhibit inflection, varying in gender and number.
FONCTIONNEMENT DE L’ADJECTIF QUALIFICATIF
Fonction épithète
ô On appelle ộpithốte toute unitộ qui dộtermine sans mot de liaison un substantif ou un équivalent du substantif […] la nomenclature traditionnelle a rộservộ le terme à une des fonctions de l’adjectif […] ằ 61
60 MAHMOUDIAN Mortộza, Pour enseigner le franỗais, Paris : P.U.F, 1976, p 365
61 DUBOIS Jean et al, Dictionnaire de linguistique et des sciences du langage, p 184
The term "epithet" originates from the Greek word meaning "that which is added to a name or pronoun to qualify it," according to the CNRTL Consistent with this etymology, the qualifying adjective serves an epithetic function when placed directly within the noun phrase, either immediately before or after the noun Additionally, there are instances where the epithet appears in an indirect construction, particularly with indefinite pronouns such as "nobody," "nothing," "someone," and "something."
17 Non, rien de nouveau (Nouvelle grammaire du franỗais, p 61)
According to Mortọza Mahmoudian, the appositive function is subordinate to the noun In reality, the appositive adjective is considered an expansion of the noun, similar to a noun complement Among all expansions, the adjective is the most closely associated with the noun, making it a priority over other modifiers when multiple modifiers are present For instance, "Sophie’s red dress" is more acceptable than "Sophie’s dress red."
Despite their close relationship, attributive adjectives are not strictly necessary in a noun phrase, both grammatically and semantically From a grammatical perspective, this has been analyzed in the comparison between adjectives and determiners Semantically, while adjectives significantly characterize the noun they qualify, their removal does not render the statement invalid For instance, in the phrase "He is a serious man," omitting the adjective "serious" only results in a lack of information about the man's qualities.
The attributive adjective can sometimes be indispensable when it contributes to the identification of the noun's referent within context Marc Wilmet, in "La détermination nominale," provides a broad definition of this function, indicating that the epithet primarily denotes a determinative role.
63 WILMET Marc, La détermination nominale Quantification et caractérisation, Collection Linguistique nouvelle, Paris : Presses universitaires de France, 1986, p 78
18 Les enfants malades doivent rester à la maison, ceux qui étaient en forme vont à l’école comme d’habitude (L’adjectif qualificatif, p 115)
In this example, the adjective distinguishes a subgroup within the larger group of children, identifying those who are allowed to refrain from attending school Removing the adjective "sick" does not render the example ungrammatical, but it does lead to a vague meaning and reduced communicative effectiveness However, it is not the adjective itself that determines the noun; rather, it is the context that imparts this significance to the adjective For instance, in a different sentence such as "He is a sick child," the adjective loses its determinative value.
The placement of adjectives in the role of epithets presents a significant challenge, as establishing a fixed rule is quite difficult Generally, there are two options: anteposition and postposition In Germanic languages like English and German, adjectives typically precede the nouns they modify However, according to Gérard Jacquin, the situation is considerably more complex in French, which is influenced by a mix of Vulgar Latin, Germanic, and Frankish languages.
In Old French, the position of qualifying adjectives was predominantly pre-nominal due to Germanic influence Today, postposition of adjectives is generally seen as the standard order This shift indicates that preposition is governed by specific factors According to Martin Riegel and his collaborators in their "Grammaire méthodique du français," 50% of adjectives are postposed in literary texts, while this figure rises to 90% in scientific articles Additionally, two-thirds of attributive adjectives are postposed in spoken language Overall, there are few absolute constraints that necessitate the preposition of adjectives before nouns, suggesting that this phenomenon is largely explainable by contextual factors.
The emergence of the French language is primarily linked to the interaction between vulgar Latin and Celtic, followed by Germanic dialects This evolution illustrates a direct lineage from Latin to French, showcasing the vitality of classical vocabulary alongside the significant contributions from vulgar Latin, including neologisms and diminutives The linguistic transformation was influenced by contact with other languages, leading to the identification of a substrate (the languages spoken in Gaul) and a superstrate (the languages of later invaders) The Celtic language, primarily oral and lacking a distinct writing system, left a notable imprint on French, especially in place names and vocabulary related to nature and agriculture As Latin spread through Gaul, it resulted in a bilingual environment, with the Romanized elite adopting Latin for political and social advantages This gradual Latinization ultimately overshadowed the Celtic language, which persisted in rural areas for centuries The influence of Germanic languages became prominent during the invasions, introducing approximately 300 words into French Thus, the development of French is marked by a rich tapestry of linguistic encounters and transformations.
65 RIEGEL Martin et al., op cit., p 629
Speakers often default to postposition when there is no specific intention involved, highlighting that it is the preposition that requires justification The choice of preposition is influenced by various factors and can lead to semantic changes in the adjective depending on the specific context.
19 Un brave garỗon (= gentil) ou Un garỗon brave (= courageux) (Grammaire expliquộe du franỗais – Intermộdiaire, p 106)
20 Une soirée magnifique ! ou C’est une magnifique soirée ! (Nouvelle grammaire du franỗais, p 31)
In sentence (19), the adjective "ô brave" loses its meaning when its position changes The postposition highlights a person's courage, which is the literal meaning of the adjective, while the anteposition conveys kindness However, this phenomenon does not occur with all adjectives For instance, in sentence (20), the meaning remains the same in both positions, but the nuance differs.
The hesitation between two options is a significant topic in linguistics Harald Weinrich suggests that postposition allows an adjective to fully integrate its lexical meaning with the lexical traits of the noun it modifies In contrast, the preposition of adjectives in French is considered unique; while postposition influences the referent, preposition directly affects the definition of the noun Michel Arrivô also emphasizes that the preposed adjective qualifies the conceptual content of the word Therefore, the choice of placement may be governed by semantic criteria.
In the following section, we will explore the factors that determine the placement of qualitative adjectives We will not discuss relational adjectives, which are consistently placed after the noun Additionally, we will analyze third-type adjectives that can function both as qualifiers and as modalizers.
68 ARRIVÉ Michel et al., La Grammaire d'aujourd'hui Guide alphabétique, Paris : Flammarion, 1986, pp 37-38
Participles that transform into adjectives are always positioned after the noun they modify, as they function like simplified relative clauses This rule also applies to adjectives ending in [-able], [-ible], and [-uble], which can similarly be substituted with a relative clause.
21 La fenêtre ouverte (Grammaire et analyse, p 86)
22 Une fille capable (L’adjectif qualificatif, p 124)
The adjective "open" in (21) can be replaced by a relative clause, such as "a window that is open." Similarly, the adjective "capable" in (22) can be substituted with a relative clause like "a girl who has abilities."
This factor is based on the number of syllables in the adjective In French, the usual word order places shorter words before longer ones This pattern can also be observed in the inversion of relative subordinate clauses.
Fonction attribut
ô Pour la grammaire, l’attribut est la maniốre d’ờtre ou la qualitộ dont l’ộnoncộ reconnaợt l’appartenance à quelqu’un ou à quelque chose par le moyen d’un verbe exprimộ […] ằ 76
The position of adjectives is not limited to noun phrases; they can also appear outside of these structures Unlike the attributive function, which is found in noun phrases, the predicate adjective operates within a verbal phrase However, semantically, when functioning as a subject complement, the adjective maintains the same relationship in meaning with the noun it modifies, just as it does when it acts as an attributive adjective.
From a syntactic perspective, André Martinet notes that the attributive adjective is a moneme within the class of adjectives used as a predicate with a copula In this context, adjectives and verbs that serve as copulas (acting as a link) form the sentence's predication These verbs are commonly referred to as attributive verbs There are two types of attributes: subject attribute and object attribute The list of attributive verbs is not stable for each function, which is why we will explore appropriate attributive verbs while analyzing each type of attribute.
76 DUBOIS Jean et al., Dictionnaire de linguistique et des sciences du langage, p 58
En général, la construction de la phrase se forme comme dans le schéma suivant :
Schéma 3 Construction de la phrase avec l’adjectif attribut
In terms of syntax, while the removal of an attributive adjective does not lead to ungrammaticality, the predicative adjective is an essential component that is necessary for the grammaticality of the sentence Consider the following examples:
46 Nous avons fait un beau voyage en Italie cet été (Nouvelle grammaire du franỗais, p.97)
47 Mon canif est beau (La grammaire expliquée, p.51)
In example (46), the adjective "ô beau" functions as an epithet within the nominal phrase, and its removal does not affect the grammaticality of the sentence However, in example (47), "ô beau" serves as an attribute, and its elimination renders the sentence grammatically incorrect This point is emphasized by Marie-Madeleine De Gaulmyn, who notes that "the adjective, as a morpheme of the verb or an expansion of the verbal phrase, is a necessary component of the predicate."
Ensuite, nous mentionnerons des verbes attributifs pour mieux comprendre cette structure Ces verbes se sous-divisent principalement en deux groupes : verbes essentiellement attributifs et verbes occasionnellement attributifs
Among the essential attributive verbs, "être" is the quintessential attributive verb Its semantic meaning has weakened over time, no longer conveying the sense of existence or presence Instead, it serves a singular function in predication: to connect two lexical groups, marking only a relationship Other attributive verbs belong to well-defined semantic classes, such as verbs of change (like "devenir"), permanence (like "rester"), or appearance (like "sembler" and "paraître"), which can be interpreted as variations of the verb "être."
78 DE GAULMYN Marie Madeleine et al., À la recherche de l’attribut, Paris : G.N.R.S, 1991, p 177
Accidentally attributive verbs, as their name suggests, are not inherently attributive Their functioning differs both syntactically and semantically These verbs, whether transitive or intransitive, only occasionally take on attributes.
48 Je suis rentrée très fatiguée de mes vacances (L’adjectif qualificatif, p 141)
49 Il a vécu tranquille (Précis de grammaire pour les concours, p 110)
Observing these two examples, we find that these verbs are semantically unrelated to the verb "to be." However, they do not experience semantic weakening and retain their usual meaning and construction when functioning as attributive verbs The attributive value adds to their standard construction Unlike attributive verbs, the omission of the adjectives "fatiguée" and "tranquille" does not render the sentence ungrammatical from a syntactic perspective.
Each of these examples contains two key pieces of information In example (48), the statement reveals that "I returned" and "I was tired." Similarly, example (49) combines two pieces of information: "he lived" and "he was calm." These examples illustrate that the presence of a secondary piece of information from the adjective creates a new proposition Therefore, an adjective paired with an occasionally attributive verb constitutes a secondary predication.
In sentences where an occasional attributive verb appears, the adjective impacts both the noun and the verb This occurs because the attributive adjective relates to the noun or pronoun through agreement, modifying the verbal process In such instances, it functions similarly to an adverb or a manner complement, which can be used interchangeably For example, the sentence "I returned from my vacation with fatigue" can be rephrased to highlight that the adjective "fatigued" is replaced by a manner complement made up of the preposition "with" and an abstract noun.
79 MAINGUENEAU Dominique, Précis de grammaire pour les concours - Capes et Agrégations de Lettres, Paris : Armand Colin, 2015, 5 e édition (1 re édition : 1991), p 110
2.2.2 Attribut de l’objet À part le sujet, le COD peut être également accompagné d’un adjectif attribut Pour Mortộza Mahmoudian : ô L’adjectif attribut de l’objet se caractộrise du fait qu’il présuppose non seulement un verbe – comme le fait un quasi-prédicat- mais aussi un objet avec lequel, il entretient une relation analogue à celle d’un prédicatọde nominal ằ 80 L’attribut de l’objet dộsigne une relation entre deux complộments du mờme verbe À propos de l’adjectif, il s’agit de la relation qui s’établit entre un syntagme nominal et un syntagme adjectival
50 J’ai trouvé les dessins amusants (Précis de grammaire pour les concours, p
This type of attribute is named for its semantic relationship, which mirrors that between the subject and the attribute, as exemplified by the sentence: "This dress is beautiful."
Attributive verbs, as defined by Maurice Grevisse, are action verbs that implicitly associate with the idea of the verb "to be." These verbs can express judgment or evaluation, such as "to judge" or "to find," and they also indicate a change in the direct object, exemplified by verbs like "to render."
C’est la raison pour laquelle, la relation de l’adjectif attribut au COD et au verbe correspond à des interprétations variées Nous présentons les deux situations les plus rencontrées :
● L’adjectif attribut est l’ộquivalent d’une complộtive : ô Je crois Paul intelligent ằ = ô Je crois que Paul est intelligent ằ ; (Prộcis de grammaire pour les concours, p 112)
● Le rộsultat d’une transformation du COD : ô Il a rendu Jules malade ằ.(Ibid.)
One significant challenge in this function is distinguishing between the attributive adjective and the predicative adjective in similar constructions that can be misleading For instance, the example provided serves as a clear illustration of this issue, where the adjective "amusing" plays a crucial role.
81 GREVISSE Maurice, Prộcis de grammaire franỗaise, Paris-Gembloux : Duculot, 1969, 28 e ộdition (1 re ộdition :
The function of the adjective "amusing" and the noun phrase "the drawings" in the context of the verb "to find" depends on the specific meaning of the verb used If "to find" is interpreted as "to discover," then "amusing" serves as an attributive adjective, modifying "the drawings" and forming the direct object of the verb Conversely, if the verb is understood as synonymous with "to judge" or "to estimate," then "amusing" functions as a predicative adjective, adding a characteristic to the direct object without being part of it.
Pronominalization serves as an effective test to differentiate between two cases In example (50), replacing "the amusing drawings" with the direct object pronoun "them" indicates that it is a predicative adjective Conversely, if only the phrase "the drawings" is substituted with "them," it signifies an attributive adjective Therefore, it is essential to note that the context of communication is the most reliable criterion in this analysis.
Fonction appositive
Etymologically, apposition derives from Latin, meaning "position next to." The adjective in apposition typically follows its noun, similar to an attributive adjective, but it remains distinct from the noun phrase This distinction is marked by a pause in speech or a comma in writing, highlighting its stylistic function Apposition is associated with written language and carries a literary connotation As Michèle Noailly notes, the information provided by the adjective is not central to the main idea, and the dependency on the noun is indicated through morphological agreement This relationship is established without a mediating verb, with the pause—often represented by a comma—serving as its marker Since apposition is primarily a feature of written language, it rarely appears in spontaneous speech.
82 RIEGEL Martin et al., op cit., p 354
83 NOAILLY Michốle, L'adjectif en franỗais, p 24
51 Impatiente, Ariane a pris le tộlộphone pour… (Maợtriser la grammaire franỗaise, p 64)
In (51), the adjective "impatiente" is positioned at the beginning of the sentence, providing information about the proper noun "Ariane." The dependence between these two elements is evident through the inflectional morpheme "-e," which denotes femininity, indicating that the adjective agrees with the noun.
D’ailleurs, à propos de la place de l’adjectif apposé, cette fonction favorise une grande mobilité pour les adjectifs Autrement dit, il est susceptible d’être mobile dans la phrase
52 Les promeneurs, fatigués, s’arrêtent un moment (Grammaire expliquée du franỗais – Intermộdiaire, p 105)
52a Fatigués, les promeneurs s’arrêtent un moment
The examples (52) and (52a) illustrate the flexibility in the positioning of adjectives in apposition, although they are not synonymous Syntactically, apposition acts as a secondary predicate without a verbal intermediary, functioning as a reduced clause that retains only the adjective A pause in speech or a comma in writing indicates a propositional link between the noun and the adjective Apposition introduces a new predicate, distinguishing it from the epithet function and differentiating between juxtaposed and apposed adjectives The position of the adjective can convey different meanings; when placed after the noun, it is more descriptive and resembles a relative clause, separated from the antecedent by a pause For example, (52) can be rewritten as "The walkers, [who are] tired, stop for a moment." Conversely, when positioned before the noun, the predicate takes on various circumstantial nuances, such as causal value, as seen in (52a): "Since they are tired, the walkers stop for a moment."
53 *Il, fatigué, est allé se coucher (L’adjectif qualificatif, p 147)
In the study of French grammar, it is observed that the nature of a linguistic element's support affects its mobility Specifically, when an adjective is in apposition, it demonstrates greater flexibility with a noun than with a pronoun Notably, when a subject pronoun is involved, the apposed adjective must always precede its supporting element.
Joëlle Gardes Tamine presents an intriguing perspective on the function of appositive adjectives, viewing them as part of the category of "floating constituents" within a sentence due to their flexibility She refrains from analyzing apposition in terms of coherence or secondary predication, suggesting that it is merely a form of insertion that differs from adverbials primarily by its lexical choices, which naturally lead to nuanced meanings Consequently, it can be argued that an appositive adjective acts as a detached epithet, relating to its noun without an intermediary verb Similar to the epithetic adjective, the appositive adjective is not syntactically essential to the sentence structure.
The Dictionnaire Didactique de Langue Française suggests that it is preferable to refer to a detached epithet instead of an apposition when a qualifying adjective is positioned away from the noun in some manner, such as being placed at the beginning of a sentence or isolated between commas like an incise clause.
Autres comportements syntaxiques
Lorsque l’adjectif est employé sans support, il pourrait se convertir en une autre catégorie grammaticale D’ailleurs, il est également possible de participer à la formation des noms composés
A significant number of adjectives, forming a closed class, can transition into nouns when preceded by a determiner This phenomenon is easily understood, as both nouns and adjectives originally belong to the same class Michèle Noailly acknowledges this linguistic feature.
85 GARDES TAMINE Joởlle, Pour une grammaire de l’ộcrit, Paris : Belin ộducation, 2004, p 162
In his work, Michel Pougeoise highlights the close relationship between adjectives and nouns, noting that their interchangeable roles are so common that they often go unnoticed Morphologically, this phenomenon is characterized by conversion, where adjectives can take on the functions of a noun within a noun phrase Consequently, the main information and semantic weight are often carried by the adjective rather than the noun As Michèle Noailly points out, adjectives absorb the semantic features of the nouns they are associated with and adopt their grammatical gender.
54 Il aime le moderne (Nouvelle grammaire du franỗais, p 33)
55 L'important c'est qu'il réussisse son examen (Ibid.)
En revanche, tout adjectif n’a pas la possibilité de se substantiver : un pauvre est possible mais ce n’est pas le cas pour un fragile
The adjective can replace an adverb that either does not exist or has a somewhat different meaning For instance, phrases like "see red" and "laugh yellow" illustrate the first case, while a well-known example often used to conclude fairy tales is "live happily." Clearly, the adjective "happy" leads to the adverb "happily"; however, the adverb does not retain the same meaning as its corresponding adjective.
An adjective can become a component in the formation of a compound noun, losing its status as an independent adjective and no longer allowing for degrees of intensity or comparison A clear illustration of this characteristic is found in the phrase "ô les grandes personnes" from the work "Le Petit Prince," where the function of "ô grand" can easily be misinterpreted.
87 NOAILLY Michốle, Sur une place vide ằ Ellipse et effacement : du schốme de phrases aux rốgles discursives, Actes du colloque international de linguistique, Université de Saint-Etienne, 2008, p 36
88 Ibid puisque l’adjectif se place avant le nom comme un épithète antéposé Pourtant, il s’agit plutụt d’un nom composộ qui signifie ô une personne adulte ằ dans le langage enfantin
It is impossible to fully grasp the phrase "ô les grandes personnes" as its semantic meaning is not merely the sum of its individual components "grande" and "personne." This highlights the complexity of language and the nuances that can be lost when analyzing words in isolation.
Degrés de l’adjectif
Adjectives serve to characterize nouns and can also refine that characterization A book can be described as interesting, somewhat interesting, very interesting, or more interesting than another When a quality is assessed independently at varying levels of intensity, this is referred to as the degree of intensity Additionally, when a quality is measured against another standard for comparison, it is known as the degree of comparison.
There are three levels of intensity ranging from low to high: low intensity, medium intensity, and high intensity These levels are expressed through various means, with the most common being modification by adverbs.
Tableau 9 Principaux adverbes exprimant les degrés d’intensité
Type d’adverbes Intensité faible Intensité moyenne Intensité élevée
Des adverbes en [-ment] : légèrement faiblement médiocrement moyennement quasiment presque extrêmement complètement absolument sacrément vachement
D’autres adverbes un peu peu a peine assez plutôt pas mal quasi très tout à fait si bien
Degree assessment relies on a standard that may be either explicit or implicit In cases of intensity degrees, the norm is typically implicit, as there is often no clear element within the phrasing to establish the standard.
56 Tu es trop timide (Grammaire et analyse, p 60)
In example (56), the norm of the adjectival phrase "too shy" is implicitly defined and can be understood from various perspectives Firstly, it reflects an internal standard related to the object, suggesting a "medium degree" of shyness; any level beyond this is deemed as "exceeding the limits." Secondly, an individual's shyness can be assessed through the speaker's value system and subjectivity.
La mờme personne peut ờtre jugộe ô trop timide ằ par des gens extrovertis ou ô normale ằ par des individus introvertis
La gradation constitue aussi l’un des critères fiables pour isoler l’adjectif qualificatif des autres types d’adjectifs puisqu’ils ne sont pas en mesure d’être gradables
Degrees of comparison are expressed through adverbs placed before adjectives Traditionally, these degrees are divided into comparative and relative superlative forms In the case of relative degrees, a reference point is identified, which serves as the standard and is no longer implicit.
57 Pierre est plus prudent que Paule (Les indispensables, p 41)
A reference point is often clarified by a complement, as seen in example (57), where "ô Paule" serves as the comparative complement However, it can also be implicit, as illustrated in example 57a, "Pierre is more cautious."
When comparing example (57a), it appears similar to the sentence "Pierre is very careful." However, this is misleading, as the latter is syntactically complete while example (57a) is not To grasp the meaning of this example, we must rely on anaphoric or memory mechanisms, drawing on the context of the utterance or previous sentences.
D’aprốs Martin Riegel, au comparatif, ô la propriộtộ est simplement mise en rapport avec un ou plusieurs ộlộments de rộfộrence ằ 89
58 Le café est plus chaud que le thé / chez Yvonne / qu’hier (Grammaire mộthodique du franỗais, p 622)
Cette propriété est mise en comparaison avec : a la même propriété attribuée à un autre référent :
59 Pierre est moins vif que Paule
(Les indispensables, p 41) b la même propriété, attribuée au même référent mais dans une autre circonstance :
60 Pierre est plus sympathique que l’année dernière (L’adjectif qualificatif, p 97) c une autre propriété du même référent : 61 Elle est plus intelligente que belle (Grammaire et analyse, p
141) d un système de croyances dont le locuteur se distancie et que la comparaison vient rectifier :
62 Ce documentaire est plus/moins intéressant que je (ne) le pensais
Au sein du comparatif, en général, nous distinguons trois degrés : infériorité, égalité et supériorité Chaque degré est marqué par un adverbe correspondant : moins, aussi et plus
63 Nana est moins sage que lui, elle fait beaucoup de bêtises (Grammaire expliquộe du franỗais – Intermộdiaire, p 341)
64 Cet employé n'est pas aussi compétent qu'il le dit (Nouvelle grammaire du franỗais, p 291)
89 RIEGEL Martin et al., op cit , p 622
65 Les tempộratures sont plus ộlevộes qu’hier (Maợtriser la grammaire franỗaise, p 68)
The comparative forms in French are primarily analytical, but there are three synthetic comparatives of superiority that originate from Latin: meilleur (better), pire (worse), and moindre (less) According to Martin Riegel, these forms have different roots from their corresponding positive adjectives "Pis" relates to a neuter pronoun and can be used as an adverb While these synthetic forms exist, they are often overshadowed by analytical comparatives formed with "plus," such as "plus bon" and "moins bien," which are more commonly accepted in conjunction with other adjectives The term "plus mauvais" alternates with "pire" but is mostly reserved for fixed expressions Additionally, "plus petit" is the only form that accurately conveys concrete dimensions, as in "Pierre est plus petit que Paul."
The relative superlative involves a comparison with other elements sharing the same property, similar to the comparative However, it assesses not just a single element but an entire class, placing the property at either the upper or lower limit of a reference set This leads to the relative superlative of superiority and inferiority, where equality is inherently excluded The formation of the relative superlative uses the adjective in its comparative form of superiority or inferiority, preceded by a definite article or a possessive determiner.
66 Voici l'ordinateur portable le plus léger et le plus performant que nous ayons
90 RIEGEL Martin et al., op cit , p 623
67 Paul est le moins courageux du bataillon (Précis de grammaire pour les concours, p 112) À travers ces deux exemples, nous voyons que le superlatif suit le nom qualifié avec l’adjectif postposé comme en (66) et peut également le précéder comme en (67)
L’ensemble de référence dont se détache le nom support de la propriété constitue le complộment du superlatif qui est habituellement introduit par la prộposition ô de ằ à valeur partitive
68 Le Nil est le plus long fleuve du monde (Nouvelle grammaire du franỗais, p
This construction is prominently featured in a well-known phrase by Voltaire from his novel "Candide," as cited by Martin Riegel: "In this best of all possible worlds, the castle of my lord the baron was the most beautiful of castles, and Madame the best of all baronesses."
Compléments de l’adjectif
Similar to nouns and verbs, adjectives can have complements and can form an adjectival phrase with the adjective as the head These complements typically appear in an indirect construction, except when introduced as a conjunctive clause Commonly, these complements are introduced by prepositions, with "à" and "de" being the most frequent Additionally, these prepositions are often constrained, as some adjectives require a complement, limiting the speaker's choice However, not all adjectives can accept complements; the semantic aspect of the word provides clues to determine the ability to take complements Some adjectives, such as "intelligent," "round," and "comfortable," are semantically incapable of this type of complementation, while others, like "apte à," "enclin à," and "exempt de," necessarily require a complement.
91 RIEGEL Martin et al., op cit , p 626 d'autres enfin admettent les deux constructions (fier (de), content (de), fidốle (à), etc.) ằ 92
Les compléments de l’adjectif sont de natures différentes :
● soit des infinitifs occupant une fonction nominale
● soit des propositions conjonctives en ô que ằ
69 Vous êtes contents de votre nouvel appartement (Nouvelle grammaire du franỗais, p 79)
70 Il est capable de lire la musique (Grammaire et analyse, p 84)
71 C'est dommage que Luc ne soit pas avec nous (Nouvelle grammaire du franỗais, p 119) À côté de ces prépositions, nous pouvons rencontrer d’autres prépositions : en, pour
72 Le chocolat est riche en magnésium et bon pour le moral
73 Jean est très doué pour les langues Il parle l'anglais, l'allemand et mờme le chinois (Nouvelle grammaire du franỗais, p 175)
D’ailleurs, nous nous rendons compte que la présence ou l’absence des compléments pourraient amener au changement de sens des adjectifs Nous examinons les exemples suivants :
74 Pierre est fier de son fils (Grammaire mộthodique du franỗais, p 612)
75 Et puis, si j’étais l’Bon Dieu
Je crois qu’je s’rais pas fier (Maợtriser la grammaire franỗaise, p 101) À première vue, ces deux exemples se différencient par le manque de complément En
In sentences (74) and (75), the adjective "proud" serves the same attributive function, leading to the assumption that its meaning remains consistent in both contexts However, this assumption is not entirely accurate The first instance of "proud" in (74) reveals a different nuance that distinguishes its meaning from that in (75).
In the work of Riegel et al., the expression of satisfaction for Pierre regarding his son highlights a profound sense of honor Specifically, the adjective "proud," when used in its negative form without any complement, characterizes the subject pronoun "I," suggesting a lack of such sentiment.
Conclusion partielle
The qualifying adjective has a limited number of functions, including epithets, attributes, and appositions It can be introduced within the noun phrase, where the position of the qualifying adjective as an epithet raises ongoing questions among linguists and learners The choice between anteposition and postposition is influenced by morphological, syntactic, and volumetric factors, as well as the speaker's communicative intent in a given context Additionally, the adjective also operates outside the noun phrase as an attribute or in apposition.
One of the unique features of the adjective is its ability to not only characterize the referent of a noun but also to add nuance to that characterization through varying degrees of intensity and comparison Additionally, adjectives can enhance their meaning by incorporating nominal, verbal, and propositional complements.
ANALYSE DU CORPUS
Choix du corpus
The entire narrative unfolds in a childlike tone, characterized by the simplicity and clarity of its language These qualities significantly enhance our analysis and validate our selection.
Since its release in 1943, "The Little Prince" has achieved worldwide success, with over 100 million copies sold This timeless tale has been translated into 253 languages and dialects, making it the second most sold and translated literary work in the world, following the Bible.
Présentation du corpus
In our study, we recorded a total of 227 qualifying adjectives, which are presented based on their frequency of occurrence The adjectives listed in the inventory below are in the masculine singular form.
Tableau 10 Inventaire des adjectifs dans Le Petit Prince
The article highlights the frequency of various qualifying adjectives in the French language The most common adjective is "petit," occurring 171 times, followed by "grand" with 29 occurrences Other notable adjectives include "sérieux" (18), "seul" (17), and "bon" or "important" (13) Additionally, adjectives such as "vieux," "beau," and "triste" appear 11 times, while "content" and "éteint" are mentioned 9 times each The list continues with adjectives like "vrai," "heureux," "drôle," and "gros" at 8 occurrences, and "joli" and "mauvais" at 7 Other adjectives such as "fermé" and "unique" occur 6 times, while "surpris," "difficile," and "raisonnable" appear 5 times The article also includes less frequent adjectives like "absurde," "différent," and "extraordinaire" at 4 occurrences, alongside others like "jeune," "long," and "magnifique," which emphasize the richness of descriptive language.
Abandoned and confused, one may feel lost and fatigued, yet favorable and faithful moments can emerge The landscape, adorned with fresh blooms, presents a majestic view, contrasting with feelings of sadness and threat Despite the ordinary and forgotten aspects of life, powerful and rare experiences can arise, often in vibrant hues of yellow and red While one may encounter ephemeral and strange occurrences, a sense of tranquility and security can prevail Embracing the grandiose and sweet moments, even amidst melancholy and vexation, reveals the beauty of life's possibilities.
The article presents a diverse array of adjectives that capture a wide range of emotions, states, and characteristics These terms include "new," "calm," "capable," "curious," "dangerous," "discreet," and "intelligent," reflecting various human experiences and perceptions The list also features contrasting qualities such as "light" and "heavy," "happy" and "sad," as well as "beautiful" and "ugly." This compilation illustrates the complexity of language and the nuances of expression, highlighting the importance of descriptive vocabulary in effective communication By incorporating these adjectives, one can enhance their writing, making it more vivid and engaging for readers.
The corpus includes a total of 227 qualifying adjectives, with "little" and "big" being the most frequently used The adjective "little" is particularly prominent in the narrative, appearing 171 times in the noun phrase "the little prince," reflecting the main character's size The second most recurrent adjective, "big," appears 29 times, primarily in the phrase "the grown-ups." This childlike term is used to refer to adults in a simple and straightforward language intended for children, making the frequent use of the expression "the grown-ups" quite reasonable.
Analyse générale
Dans cette partie, nous analyserons notre corpus de manière générale sur le plan morphologique et syntaxique et démontrerons la tendance des adjectifs recensés
The pie chart above, based on data from Table 1 in Appendix 2, illustrates that two-thirds of the adjectives in the corpus are presented in a simple form Among these simple words, primary adjectives are the most frequent, with "petit" appearing 221 times, followed by "grand" (29), "seul" (17), "bon" (13), and "beau" (11) As discussed in section 1.5.1 of Chapter 1, these adjectives are ubiquitous and constitute a significant part of the everyday vocabulary in the French language.
Jacques Franỗois and his colleagues presented the work of Marc Wilmet, who compiled a list of adjectives from 80 contemporary novels and the first 50 pages of various works This study resulted in a ranking of the most frequently used adjectives in contemporary literature Here are the top 20 adjectives from his findings.
TYPE DES MOTS ô Grand (1304 occurrences), petit (1139), bon (479), jeune (452), beau
(447), vieux (388), blanc (350), long (300), gros (249), seul (247), noir
(242), nouveau (221), pauvre (205), rouge (185), bleu (170), plein (155), mauvais (152), haut (148), vert (145), vrai (142), [ ] ằ 93
Similarly, these adjectives are extensively used in "The Little Prince." This can be attributed to the language of the work, which, along with the use of such vocabulary, allows it to reach a broad audience.
Diagramme 4 Répartition des opérations dérivationnelles
Considering complex words, we observe three derivational processes: prefixation, suffixation, and conversion, illustrated in the diagram above (derived from data table 2 in appendix 2) This analysis reveals that the adjectives used in this novel are formed through two of the three mentioned formation processes in sections 1.5.2 and 1.5.3 (Chapter 1), specifically affixal derivation and conversion.
In affixation, suffixation significantly outnumbers prefixation Prefixation is primarily used to create antonyms, with prefixes such as [in-], [im-], and [mal-] playing a key role in this process.
In the book "L’adjectif en français et à travers les langues," edited by Jacques François, the proceedings of the international conference held in Caen are presented This work, published by Presses universitaires de Caen, focuses on the role of adjectives in the French language and examines their significance across various languages The research highlights the interlingual perspectives on meaning in context, contributing to a deeper understanding of adjectives' functions.
In the majority of cases, specifically 10 out of 13, conversion through prefixation and suffixation is utilized to avoid cumbersome negative structures The only exception is the prefix [extra-] found in the adjective [extraordinary] While suffixes may appear more numerous in terms of quantity, there are only two main suffixes: [-able] and [-eux], which account for 36 out of 43 instances The suffix [-able] denotes possibility, while [-eux] indicates a characteristic Other suffixes include [-if], [-et], [-ent], [-ant], and [-u].
76 Mais j’attendrai, dans ma science du gouvernement, que les conditions soient favorables.(Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 23)
77 Et la grande personne ộtait bien contente de connaợtre un homme aussi raisonnable (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 25)
78 Car on peut être, à la fois, fidèle et paresseux (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o
Parmi les cas de ce procộdộ, la formation de l’adjectif ô malheureux ằ suscite notre réflexion en raison de sa formation qui pourrait provoquer une confusion
79 Et il se sentit très malheureux (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 531) À première vue, nous nous doutons que ce mot soit créé par la préfixation En fait, nous reconnaissons la base [-heureux] et le préfixe [mal-], ce qui répond aux critères de la préfixation mentionnés dans la partie 2.2.2.1 (chapitre 2) Pourtant, nous trouvons la réponse en consultant le CNRTL ó la suffixation est attestée Effectivement, l’adjectif ô malheureux ằ est dộrivộ du nom ô malheur ằ et formộ par l’adjonction du suffixe ô- eux ằ à la base ô malheur- ằ
The conversion in the French language reaches twice the proportions, primarily involving past and present participles that take on an adjectival role As discussed in section 2.2.3 of chapter 2, these participles serve as a significant category of adjectives widely utilized in French.
Tableau 11 Nombre des cas des adjectifs de nature participiale
Verbal adjectives typically end in [-ant], similar to present participles As discussed in section 2.2.3 of chapter 2, the phenomena of agreement and the refusal to accept complements are two key factors that help differentiate between the two categories.
80 Alors elle s’étire, et pousse d’abord timidement vers le soleil une ravissante petite brindille inoffensive (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 147)
81 Les camarades qui m’ont revu ont été bien contents de me revoir vivant (Annexe
In sentences (80) and (81), the two bolded present participles do not accept object complements and function similarly to adjectives: one acts as an epithet, while the other serves as an attribute These criteria support their adjectival usage.
En outre, nous pouvons reconnaợtre l’emploi adjectival du participe prộsent grõce aux adverbes indiquant des degrộs d’intensitộ comme ô si ằ
82 Le petit prince devina bien qu’elle n’était pas trop modeste, mais elle était si émouvante ! (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 232)
However, it is also wise to be cautious of optical illusions, as some adjectives ending in [-ant] are not verbal adjectives but rather true qualitative adjectives.
83 L’astronome refit sa démonstration en 1920, dans un habit très élégant (Annexe
84 Les serpents, c’est méchant (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 728)
Les cas de ô ộlộgant ằ en (83) et de ô mộchant ằ en (84) illustrent bien ce phộnomốne
In reality, despite the convergence in the endings related to verbal adjectives, the adjectives "ô ộlộgant ằ" and "ô mộchant ằ" are not categorized under the same label, as there are no corresponding verbs for them.
Il faudrait, d’ailleurs, faire attention aux modifications orthographiques qui surviennent dans certains cas comme celui de ô fatiguant ằ (participe)/ô fatigant ằ (adjectif) :
85 et c’est fatigant, pour les enfants, de toujours et toujours leur donner des explications (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 14) À propos des participes passés il n’est pas facile de les identifier en emploi adjectival ou verbal Pour ceux qui sont mis à côté du nom pour former un syntagme nominal, ils jouent sûrement le rôle adjectival
86 les dessins de serpents boas ouverts ou fermés (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 9)
87 les dessins de serpents boas ouverts ou fermés (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 10)
88 Le premier soir je me suis donc endormi sur le sable à mille milles de toute terre habitée (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 29)
Comme dans la partie théorique 2.2.2.3 (chapitre 2), l’histoire se complique grandement dans la construction attributive avec le verbe ô ờtre ằ
89 La planốte d’ú il venait est l’astộrọde B 612 ằ alors elles seront convaincues, et elles vous laisseront tranquille avec leurs questions (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 106)
90 Il était vraiment très irrité (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 193)
91 Cette fleur est bien compliquée (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 241)
92 Toutes les étoiles sont fleuries (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 714)
En (90), il n’est pas difficile de remarquer le statut adjectival du mot ô irritộ ằ grõce à l’adverbe ô trốs ằ qui modifie essentiellement l’adjectif ou l'adverbe mais pas le verbe
The adverb "ô bien ằ" can modify both adjectives and verbs For instance, the phrase "ô compliquộe ằ" might suggest a passive construction, as it derives from the transitive verb "ô compliquer ằ," which is necessary for forming the passive voice However, semantically, complicating a flower seems illogical Thus, the context helps us determine the adjectival use of "ô compliquộe ằ." In the novel, this phrase appears when the little prince speaks to a flower, where Saint Exupéry personifies the flower and imbues it with character through the adjective "ô compliquộe ằ."
Analyse détaillée
Nous entrons dans les détails de l’analyse en vue d’expliquer l’emploi de quelques adjectifs qui s’avèrent, à nos yeux, problématiques
128 Là il est trop petit (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 122)
129 Les baobabs, avant de grandir, ỗa commence par ờtre petit (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 135)
130 Mais pourquoi veux-tu que tes moutons mangent les petits baobabs ? (Annexe
131 Alors elle s’étire, et pousse d’abord timidement vers le soleil une ravissante petite brindille inoffensive (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 148)
132 Et si la planète est trop petite, (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 154)
133 Mais, sur ta si petite planète, il te suffisait de tirer ta chaise de quelques pas (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 172)
134 Et c’était bien commode pour faire chauffer le petit déjeuner du matin (Annexe
135 Évidemment sur notre terre nous sommes beaucoup trop petits pour ramoner nos volcans (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 255)
136 C’était la plus petite de toutes (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 401)
137 Mais sa planète est vraiment trop petite (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 424)
138 c’est tout petit (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 455)
139 On pourrait entasser l’humanitộ sur le moindre petit ợlot du Pacifique (Annexe
140 Tu n’es encore pour moi qu’un petit garỗon tout semblable à cent mille petits garỗons à cent mille petits garỗons (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 553)
141 Pour d’autres elles ne sont rien que de petites lumières (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 719)
One of the frequently used adjectives in this novel is "small." In terms of form, it is a simple word that agrees with nouns by adding the morpheme "-e" in the feminine and "-s" in the plural As an attributive adjective, it primarily precedes the noun, following traditional grammatical rules.
Among the phrases discussed, the term "le petit déjeuner" particularly interests us Initially, we hesitated to include it in our corpus, believing that the adjective "petit" did not qualify the noun "déjeuner," but rather that the phrase functioned as a compound noun Our perspective changed after conducting etymological research According to the CNRTL, "déjeuner" originates from the Latin "disjejunare," which literally means "to break the fast," referring to the first meal of the day The concept of "petit-déjeuner" is a relatively recent invention, emerging in the 19th century when the bourgeoisie created the "petit-déjeuner" or "breakfast," pushing lunch to noon and dinner to the evening Thus, the adjective "petit" is added to the noun "déjeuner" in its original sense In attributive function, it participates in constructions with the verb "être" and is reinforced by adverbs like "trop," "tout," "si," and even through double reinforcement with "vraiment trop" and "beaucoup trop." The relative superlative is also present In summary, the adjective "petit," as part of the everyday vocabulary of the French language, presents no anomalies.
In addition, a particular occurrence that may be grammatically incorrect is observed in (139) The adjectival phrase "ô le moindre petit" is considered a pleonasm, as "le moindre" serves as a synthetic expression of "ô le plus petit." Therefore, there is redundancy when the author places two adjectives "ô petit" next to each other However, this expression is justified and commonly used in informal language Furthermore, several novelists, including Stendhal, also employ it in their works.
142 Un état d'attendrissement et de sensibilité aux moindres petites choses (Lucien
De notre point de vue, l’expression pléonastique est employée à des fins expressives et permet à l’écrivain d’exprimer son émotion
143 J’ai montré mon chef-d’œuvre aux grandes personnes (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 6)
144 Ici le petit prince est trop grand (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 121)
I pointed out to the little prince that baobabs are not mere shrubs; they are towering trees, comparable in size to churches I emphasized that even if he brought an entire herd of elephants with him, they would not be able to overcome a single baobab.
146 La Terre est grande, dit le serpent (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 490)
147 ỗa ne fait pas de moi un bien grand prince… ằ (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 539)
The adjective "ô grand" signifies a high proportion, conveying both qualitative and quantitative values Its qualitative use draws attention to concrete objects or body parts that exceed standard dimensions, height, or length Examples illustrating this usage can be found in sentences (143) and (145).
In (143), the phrase "ô grandes personnes" serves as a way to refer to adults While not all adults are physically tall, the adjective "ô grand" within this expression is still regarded as a qualifying adjective.
This phrase is predominantly used by children and is a key element of child language To children, adults always appear to be taller than they are.
The adjective "ô grand" combines with the noun "ô personne" to form a compound word In example (145), it is evident that this adjective signifies the size of a tree Typically, such adjectives precede the noun, as illustrated in the CNRTL dictionary with the example "ô grand arbre." Therefore, we conclude that the postposition in (145) is syntactical, aimed at introducing a comparison between trees and churches.
Pour l’adjectif ô grand ằ, l’emploi qualitatif ou quantitatif ne repose pas systématiquement sur une différence de place C’est le nom qualifié qui nous permet de distinguer les deux emplois
148 Il avait fait alors une grande démonstration de sa découverte à un Congrès
International d’Astronomie (Le Petit Prince, p.18)
149 […] elle plongea le petit prince dans une grande mélancolie (Le Petit Prince, p.50)
The term "ô grand ằ" in the examples below, as noted by Jan Goes, signifies the quantification of properties It represents an object in numerical terms and, in this context, falls under the category of third-type adjectives.
96 GOES Jan, Types d’adjectifs et fonctions adjectivales : quelques réflexions, in Studii de lingvistică 5, Oradea,
150 J’avais ainsi appris une seconde chose très importante (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 90)
151 Je me tromperai enfin sur certains détails plus importants (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 123)
152 Je ne compris pas pourquoi il était si important que les moutons mangeassent les arbustes (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 130)
153 Ce n’est pas plus sérieux et plus important que les additions d’un gros
Monsieur rouge ? (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 201)
154 Le géographe est trop important pour flâner (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o
155 Elles se voient importantes comme des baobabs (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 482)
156 elle est plus importante que vous toutes, puisque c’est elle que j’ai arrosée
157 – C’est le temps que tu as perdu pour ta rose qui fait ta rose si importante (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 596)
158 elle devient très importante (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 616)
The adjective "important" in our corpus primarily serves an attributive role, often combining with the verbs "to be," "to become," and occasionally with "to be seen." A notable feature of this adjective is its degrees of intensity; the author frequently enhances it with adverbs such as "very," "too," "so," or through comparative constructions.
159 C’est triste d’oublier un ami (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 113)
160 Tu sais… quand on est tellement triste on aime les couchers de soleil… (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 173)
161 Le jour des quarante-trois fois tu étais donc tellement triste ? (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 174)
162 Et comme il se sentait un peu triste à cause du souvenir de sa petite planète abandonnée, il s’enhardit à solliciter une grâce du roi (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 300)
163 Je suis tellement triste… (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 545)
164 Ce n’est pas triste les vieilles écorces… (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 736)
165 J’ộtais triste mais je leur disais : ô C’est la fatigue… ằ (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 749)
166 Ça c’est, pour moi, le plus beau et le plus triste paysage du monde (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 759)
167 Ne me laissez pas tellement triste : (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 763)
Our first observation regarding the use of the adjective "sad" pertains to its position within the noun phrase According to the CNRTL, this adjective is typically found in a post-nominal position However, the only instance of it being used as an epithet occurs when it precedes the qualified noun This situation arises from the syntactic structure in relative superlatives, where the author intended to coordinate two adjectives enhanced by "the most." Generally, the placement of the superlative depends on the adjective's position, but it can also be placed after the noun by omitting the article In this case, we have two adjectives: "beautiful," which is primarily anteposed, and "sad," which is occasionally anteposed Therefore, the choice of anteposition appears more reasonable As a predicate, this adjective serves as both a subject complement (with verbs like "to be" and "to feel") and an object complement (with the verb "to leave") It is also modified by intensity adverbs such as "a little" and "so much." Notably, the frequent use of the adverb "so much" suggests a level of sadness that is quite profound.
97 DELATOUR Yvonne et al., Nouvelle Grammaire du Franỗais: Cours de Civilisation Franỗaise de la Sorbonne, Paris : Hachette, 2014, p 294
168 Et la grande personne ộtait bien contente de connaợtre un homme aussi raisonnable (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 24)
169 – Ils n’étaient pas contents, là ó ils étaient ? (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o
170 – On n’est jamais content là ó l’on est, dit l’aiguilleur (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 611)
171 Moi, je suis bien content d’avoir eu un ami renard… (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 627)
172 – Je suis content, dit-il, que tu sois d’accord avec mon renard (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 642)
173 Je suis content que tu aies trouvé ce qui manquait à ta machine (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 701)
174 Et quand tu seras consolé (on se console toujours) tu seras content de m’avoir connu (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 721)
175 Les camarades qui m’ont revu ont été bien contents de me revoir vivant
In our study, we only recorded adjectives used as attributes Most of these adjectives allow for complements that can be either a noun or a clause The author primarily employs the adverb "well" to enhance the meaning of this particular adjective.
176 Lorsque j’avais six ans j’ai vu, une fois, une magnifique image, dans un livre sur la Forờt Vierge qui s’appelait ô Histoires Vộcues ằ (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 4)
177 C’est ainsi que j’ai abandonné, à l’âge de six ans, une magnifique carrière de peintre (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 11)
178 Le petit prince chercha des yeux ó s’asseoir, mais la planète était toute encombrée par le magnifique manteau d’hermine (Annexe 1, adjectif qualificatif n o 281)
The corpus includes three occurrences of a simple three-syllable adjective Typically, based on the volumetric factor (Chapter 2: 2.1.3), this adjective is positioned after the noun it qualifies However, in all three instances where the adjective "magnificent" appears, it is placed before the noun This positioning, while unusual, seems to be common in these cases.
Bjửrn Larsson's study on the placement and significance of positive evaluative adjectives reveals that over 70% of the time, the adjective "magnificent" appears before the noun Notably, Saint-Exupéry is not the first to position it this way in a literary context; other authors such as Mathias Énard and Andrée Chedid also employ this structure.
179 Elia Mosseri [ ] propriétaire d’un magnifique palais Art déco à Garden City (Zone, p 108)
180 La mariée est si belle, les parents si émus, que de fleurs, quel magnifique buffet (Le message, p.19)
According to Cọdrick Fairon and his collaborators, the adjective "magnifique" can be positioned both before and after the noun without fundamentally altering the meaning of the statement This phenomenon can be clarified through semantic factors, as the adjective "magnifique" inherently conveys a positive, subjective judgment In literary contexts, the writer's emotions take precedence, allowing for an emphasis on beauty and positivity It is believed that emotion is the primary reason for the placement of adjectives in various positions.
98 LARSSON Bjửrn, La place et le sens des adjectifs ộpithốtes de valorisation positive, Lund : Lund University Press, 1994, p 38
99 FAIRON Cộdrick et al., Le petit Bon usage de la langue franỗaise – Grammaire, Louvain-la-Neuve : De Boeck Supérieur, 2018, p 375
100 BLINKENBERG Andreas, L'ordre des mots en franỗais moderne, premiốre partie, Copenhague :
ANDR.FRED, 1928, pp 53-54 franỗais 101 , les auteurs notent ộgalement que les adjectifs d’apprộciation dont ô magnifique ằ touchent une plus grande valeur expressive lors de l’antộposition