La vie de l'homme est courte. L'eau de la mer est salée. The water of the sea is salt. L'essor du génie. The soaring of genius. Une vie d'homme n'y suffirait pas. The life of any man would not suffice for it. Il prend des bains de mer. He takes sea baths. Un homme de génie. A man of genius. Observation 1.-The same distinction holds good with Nouns governed by other Prepositions: Le pot au lait. (See § 16, a, 3.) Il se battit avec le courage du désespoir. Un pot à lait, a milk jug. Il se battit avec courage. Observation 2.- Compare also the following examples, in which the use or omission of the Article altogether alters the sense :— Entendre la raillerie. To know how to joke. Demander la raison de Entendre raillerie. To know how to take a joke. To demand satisfaction. Any army (French, etc.) stationed in Italy. REPETITION OF THE ARTICLE. As a rule the Article is-contrary to English usage-repeated in French before (1) two or more Nouns following each other (except when they are so closely connected as to form but one idea); (2) two or more Adjectives, which, with the Noun they qualify, form as many different ideas; but if they qualify the same person or thing, or if they stand after the Noun, the Article is not repeated : The Article repeated. (1) Cette cause a la sympathie et (2) Il a éprouvé la bonne et la : The Article not repeated. Les courageux, mais vains, efforts B. THE NOUN LIMITED BY A QUALIFYING ADJECTIVE. RÉSUMÉ. I.-Agreement of Adjectives. General Rule. Special Rules :-(a) An Adjective referring to two or more Nouns ; II.-Place of Adjectives: Introductory and General Rule. Special Rules:-(a) Adjectives generally placed after the Noun, if (1) derived from a Proper Noun, (2) Participial, (3) originally a Noun, (4) denoting Physical or Accidental quality, (5) followed by a complement, or (6) much longer than the Nouns. (b) Exceptions to the above. (c and d) List of Adjectives changing their meaning before or after. 122 GENERAL RULE : I.-AGREEMENT OF ADJECTIVES. An Adjective (whether attributive or predicative) agrees in Gender and Number with the Noun or Pronoun it qualifies: as, Cette ancienne église est flan- De riches qu'ils étaient, ils devinrent pauvres. This ancient church is flanked with high square towers. From being rich as they were, they became poor. Observation.-Agreement by Synesis:-Madame, vous n'êtes guère polie. On n'est pas toujours jeune et belle. Monsieur, vous êtes servi. SPECIAL RULES: (a) If an Adjective refers to two or more Nouns, it is put in the Plural (unless they are synonymous), and if they happen to be of different Genders, it is put in the masc. plur.: as, La langue et la littérature latines. The Latin language and literature. He was bareheaded and barefooted. Nouns are Synonymous: The eagle cleaves the air with a prodigious swiftness and rapidity. (b) When two or more Adjectives limit the same Noun, the following different constructions are admissible :— La langue grecque et la langue latine. Les langues grecque et latine. La langue grecque et (la) latine. Observation 1.-The Adjectives demi, nu, and franc de port are (a) variable, if standing after the Noun :- Les "blue-coat boys" marchent tête nue. (b) invariable, if standing before the Ce gamin est toujours nu-tête et nu-pieds. Thus also the Participles ci-inclus, ci-joint, enclosed, agree or do not agree, according as they are used as Adjectives or Adverbs : Vous trouverez ci-jointe la copie. Notice also La feue reine; but, Feu la reine. Observation 2.-Cette femme a l'air bon. Vous trouverez ci-joint copie; or, The late queen. This woman has a good-natured look (see § 119, b 1). Cette proposition n'a pas l'air (= ne paraît This proposal does not seem to be serious. pas) sérieuse. 123 II. PLACE OF ADJECTIVES. Introductory, and General Rule.—It is a characteristic feature of the French language to place the qualifying (limiting) term after the term qualified, as— la plume d'acier, the steel pen; la salle à manger, the dining room, etc. Thus also French Adjectives are generally placed after the Noun they qualify; only a few are invariably placed before; nearly all, however, admit of being placed either before or after, according as meaning, emphasis, diction, or euphony may direct; in other words- the very same Adjective which in the language of reason, judgment, or experience, is regularly placed after the Noun, will, in the diction of poetry, imagination, or emotion, take its place before the Noun. Accordingly an Adjective is put (a) after the Noun, if used as an Attribute necessary for limiting the meaning of a Noun in the particular instance in question, and denoting an accidental or accessory quality which does not pertain to the whole class of beings expressed by the Noun ; (b) before the Noun, if used as an ornamental Epithet, intended for picturesque effect, and denoting a quality naturally associated or cognate with the whole class of persons or things spoken of. Compare : La couleur verte. Un chemin étroit. Un homme cruel. Une couleur sombre. Une action criminelle. - Sous la verte feuillée. Une étroite liaison (alliance). Le cruel tyran. Le sombre désespoir. Ce criminel attentat. Thus again, when we say the virtuous man, the retired captain, the Adjectives virtuous, retired, limit the Nouns man, captain, to distinguish them from those to which that attribute does not belong, hence- l'homme vertueux; le capitaine réformé. But in Virtuous Aristides, the gallant captain, the Adjectives are not used to distinguish Aristides or captain from other men of that name, but simply to characterise the men, hence le vertueux Aristide; le vaillant capitaine. Compare also L'Arabie heureuse (as distinguished from l'Arabie pétrée, or déserte), with— Heureuse enfance! (not to distinguish it from any other childhood—for childhood is the happy age--but expressing as it does an essential quality originating in the very nature of that age). On that principle we may correctly render— Un ami fidèle, by— a friend that is faithful. Un fidèle ami, by— a trusty friend, indeed! The Adjective in the latter case denoting a quality ascribed from a subjective point of view, i.e. as the expression of our personal emotion, be it love, hatred, admiration, indignation, etc. Observation. Compare also- J'ai reçu une nouvelle affligeante, with- Le ville de Carracas a été détruite par un tremblement de terre; l'affligeante nouvelle se répandit bientôt dans tout le pays; in the latter case the Adjective, on account of the already well-known intelligence, becomes a mere ornamental epithet. 124 SPECIAL RULES.-Subject to the general laws laid down above, an Adjective in French is placed (1) if derived from a Proper Noun: as, La langue grecque. (2) if Participial: as, Une nouvelle alarmante. (3) if originally a Substan tive: as, Un poète philosophe. (b) exceptionally, before the Noun: (1) in poetic diction: Les hirondelles sont des oiseaux Notre grand flandrin de vicomte. La vie de l'homme est courte. Une vie d' L'eau de la mer est salée. The soaring of gen SYNTHETIC FRENCH GRAMMAR. roon Introductory, and General Rule.-It is a characteristic feature of the Fr language to place the qualifying (limiting) term after the term qualified la plume d'acier, the steel pen; la salle à manger, the dining Thus also French Adjectives are generally placed after the N qualify; only a few are invariably placed before; nearly all, howe of being placed either before or after, according as meaning, emph or euphony may direct; in other words- the very same Adject the language of reason, judgment, or experience, is regularly pl Noun, will, in the diction of poetry, imagination, or emotion Accordingly an Adjective is put― (a) after the Noun, if used as an Attribute necessar meaning of a Noun in the particular instance in questi accessory quality which does not pertain e Noun, if used as an ornamental Epit ad denoting a quality naturally associa persons or things spoken of Compar Sous Une Le c Ce e say the virtuous red, limit the Nouns that attribute do ine réformé But i aves are not used to d name, but simply to c te vertueux Aristide -also- L'Arabie heure r déserte), with Heureu other childhood-for childhood does an essential quality originati may correctly Un ami fidele, Un fidèle am The Adjective in the latter c point of view, as the t admiration, y Compare to 74 44 |