To describe something, we first ask a question:

• Il est comment ? – How is it? (for masculine objects)
• Elle est comment ? – How is it? (for feminine objects)

Colors (Les couleurs)

Sizes (Les tailles)

Shapes (Les formes)

Structure 1: C'est + noun + Il/Elle est + adjective

Use this to describe what an object is and its qualities.

Examples from your textbook:

• C'est un vélo. Il est jaune et noir.
• C'est une table. Elle est rectangulaire.

Structure 2: Il/Elle est + adjective

Use this when you already know what the object is.

Examples:

• Le short est rouge. (The shorts are red.)
• La robe est blanche. (The dress is white.)

In French, adjectives must match the gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) of the noun they describe.

Singular Forms

Plural Forms

Examples from the textbook

• Il est grand. (He is tall.) – masculine singular
• Elle est grande. (She is tall.) – feminine singular
• Ils sont grands. (They are tall.) – masculine plural
• Elles sont grandes. (They are tall.) – feminine plural

Let's describe this picture together:

Object: A car (une voiture)

Step 1: Identify the noun and its gender

• "Voiture" is feminine → use elle

Step 2: Choose your adjectives

• Red → rouge (feminine: rouge)
• Small → petit (feminine: petite)

Step 3: Form the sentence

• Elle est petite et rouge.

Try to describe these objects using the vocabulary above:

1. A yellow banana (une banane)
2. A black shirt (une chemise)
3. A round ball (un ballon)
4. Blue shoes (des chaussures)

Answers:

1. Elle est jaune.
2. Elle est noire.
3. Il est rond.
4. Elles sont bleues.

In Tanzania, you can use this skill when describing items at the market or in a shop. For example, if you are buying fruits at the market in Kariakoo or Mlimani City, you can say: "Je voudrais des bananes jaunes et des mangues vertes" (I would like yellow bananas and green mangoes). This helps you communicate clearly when shopping for fruits, vegetables, or clothes in French-speaking contexts or when learning French for travel and business.