Premiers Adjectifs : Grand, Petit, Bon, Mauvais
big, small, good, bad avant les noms pour ajouter des détails rapides. C'est ton kit de survie pour describe things easily !
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'big', 'small', 'good', and 'bad' before a noun to describe its size or quality instantly.
- Place the adjective before the noun: 'a big house' (not 'a house big').
- Use 'is' or 'are' to link them: 'The cat is small.'
- These words never change for plural nouns: 'big dogs', not 'bigs dogs'.
Overview
good (bon) film ou un bad (mauvais) film ? Était-ce un big (gros) blockbuster ou un small (petit) film d'auteur ?Big, small, good et bad sont parmi les premiers adjectifs les plus utiles que vous apprendrez en anglais.good (bonne) ? Votre appartement est-il small (petit) ?big (gros) ? La circulation est-elle bad (mauvaise) ? Ces mots répondent à des questions de base et partagent des sentiments.How This Grammar Works
- 1Avant le nom : L'adjectif se place juste avant la chose qu'il décrit.
a big dog(un gros chien)a good idea(une bonne idée)a small car(une petite voiture)a bad day(une mauvaise journée)
a dog big. L'ordre correct est toujours a big dog.- 1Après le verbe
to be: Lorsque vous énoncez un fait sur quelque chose en utilisantis,amouare, l'adjectif vient après le verbe.
- The dog is
big. (Le chien est gros.) - The idea is
good. (L'idée est bonne.) - My car is
small. (Ma voiture est petite.) - The traffic is
bad. (La circulation est mauvaise.)
big. Simple, non ? C'est beaucoup moins stressant que d'essayer de décider quoi regarder sur Netflix.Gender & Agreement
- a
bigboy (un grand garçon) - a
biggirl (une grande fille) bigboys (de grands garçons)biggirls (de grandes filles)
Big ne change jamais. Pas de -s à la fin pour les pluriels. Rien. Comparez cela au français ou à l'espagnol, et vous verrez pourquoi les apprenants d'anglais ont de la chance ici. C'est un souci de moins, comme lorsque votre livraison de repas arrive pile à l'heure.Conjugation Table
| Form | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| --- | --- | --- |
big (nom singulier) |
I see a big cat. |
Je vois un gros chat. |
big (nom pluriel) |
I see big cats. |
Je vois de gros chats. |
small (nom singulier) |
She has a small problem. |
Elle a un petit problème. |
small (nom pluriel) |
She has small problems. |
Elle a de petits problèmes. |
good (nom singulier) |
That is a good book. |
C'est un bon livre. |
good (nom pluriel) |
Those are good books. |
Ce sont de bons livres. |
bad (nom singulier) |
He had a bad day. |
Il a eu une mauvaise journée. |
bad (nom pluriel) |
He had some bad days. |
Il a eu quelques mauvaises journées. |
Common Collocations
- Big:
bigcity,bigmistake,bigsurprise,bigdeal,bigbrother - Small:
smalltalk,smallworld,smallportion - Good:
goodmorning,goodjob,goodidea,goodluck,goodnews - Bad:
badday,badhabit,badmood,badnews,badtrip
small talk (bavardage) avec quelqu'un que vous ne connaissez pas bien. Vous félicitez un ami en disant good job (bon travail). Vous appelez un événement majeur de la vie un big deal (une grosse affaire). Apprendre ces paires, c'est comme obtenir un code de triche pour paraître naturel.Formation Pattern
a, an ou the).
big, small, good, bad).
a + good + book = a good book.
the + big + dog = the big dog.
to be (is, are, am).
The house + is + small. = The house is small.
The tacos + are + good. = The tacos are good.
Common Mistakes
répondre à tous sur un e-mail d'entreprise.- 1Mauvaise position : Placer l'adjectif après le nom.
- ✗ A car
small. - ✓ A
smallcar.
- 1Ajouter un
-spour les pluriels : Rappelez-vous, les adjectifs ne changent jamais.
- ✗ The dogs are
bigs. - ✓ The dogs are
big.
- 1Utiliser
Goodvs.Well: C'est un peu délicat.Goodest un adjectif ; il décrit un nom.Wellest un adverbe ; il décrit un verbe. Mais les gens les mélangent souvent dans la conversation !
- ✗ I speak English
good. - ✓ I speak English
well. (Décrit *comment* vous parlez) - ✓ My English is
good. (Décrit votre anglais)
Quick FAQ
R: Oui ! Vous pouvez dire
aNous aborderons les règles d'ordre des adjectifs plus tard, mais pour l'instant, sachez simplement que c'est possible.big,baddog.
big, small, good, bad ont des contraires ?R: Oui ! Le contraire de big est small. Le contraire de good est bad. Ils viennent en belles paires bien nettes.
Good. en réponse ?R: Totalement. Si quelqu'un demande, How are you?, une réponse très courante et normale est juste,
Good, thanks. You?
bad peut signifier good ? Comme dans l'argot ?R: Vous avez remarqué quelque chose de cool ! Oui, parfois dans l'argot très informel, vous pourriez entendre quelqu'un dire qu'une chanson est bad pour dire qu'elle est géniale. Mais c'est avancé et cela dépend du ton. Pour l'instant, utilisez simplement bad pour signifier quelque chose de négatif. Vous ne voulez pas dire accidentellement à votre professeur que son cours est bad !
Adjective Placement and Agreement
| Type | Singular Noun | Plural Noun | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Before Noun
|
A big house
|
Big houses
|
No 's' on 'big'
|
|
After Verb
|
The car is small
|
The cars are small
|
Adjective stays same
|
|
Negative
|
It is not good
|
They are not good
|
Use 'not' after verb
|
|
Question
|
Is it bad?
|
Are they bad?
|
Verb comes first
|
Common Contractions with Adjectives
| Full Form | Contraction | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
It is big
|
It's big
|
It's a big dog.
|
|
They are good
|
They're good
|
They're good people.
|
|
It is not small
|
It isn't small
|
It isn't a small room.
|
|
That is bad
|
That's bad
|
That's a bad idea.
|
Meanings
These four words are the foundational building blocks for describing the physical size and the inherent value or quality of objects, people, and ideas.
Physical Size
Using 'big' and 'small' to describe the dimensions or scale of an object.
“The elephant is big.”
“The mouse is small.”
Quality/Value
Using 'good' and 'bad' to express approval, satisfaction, or the lack thereof.
“This pizza is good.”
“That was a bad movie.”
Importance/Severity
Using 'big' to mean important or 'bad' to mean serious.
“This is a big mistake.”
“I have bad news.”
Reference Table
| Adjectif | Signification | Exemple (Adjectif + Nom) | Exemple (avec 'is') |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Big
|
Grande taille
|
a big house
|
The car is big.
|
|
Small
|
Petite taille
|
a small cat
|
The phone is small.
|
|
Good
|
Agréable, de bonne qualité
|
good coffee
|
This idea is good.
|
|
Bad
|
Désagréable, de mauvaise qualité
|
bad weather
|
The movie was bad.
|
|
Big
|
Important/Sérieux
|
a big problem
|
The news is big.
|
|
Small
|
Sans importance
|
a small detail
|
It's a small issue.
|
Spectre de formalité
The quality is exceptional. (Reviewing a product)
It is very good. (Reviewing a product)
It's great! (Reviewing a product)
It's fire! (Reviewing a product)
Premiers Adjectifs : Ta Boîte à Outils Descriptive
Taille
- big large in size
- small little in size
Qualité
- good positive, pleasant
- bad negative, unpleasant
Règle
- Placement before the noun
- Forme never changes (no plural)
Place de l'Adjectif : Anglais vs. (Erreur Courante)
Utiliser Tes Premiers Adjectifs : Un Guide Rapide
Veux-tu décrire un nom (personne, lieu, chose, idée) ?
Est-ce un nom singulier comptable (comme 'car', 'apple') ?
Places-tu l'adjectif avant le nom ?
Quand Utiliser Tes Premiers Adjectifs
Taille Physique
- • a big building
- • a small room
- • big hands
- • small feet
Qualité/Opinion
- • good food
- • bad movie
- • a good idea
- • bad weather
Importance
- • a big problem
- • a small detail
- • big news
- • small talk
Sentiments/Expériences
- • a good day
- • a bad mood
- • feel good
- • feel bad
Exemples par niveau
The cat is big.
The cat is big.
It is a small car.
It is a small car.
The coffee is good.
The coffee is good.
This is a bad day.
This is a bad day.
A big apple.
A big apple.
The shoes are too small.
The shoes are too small.
Is the movie good?
Is the movie good?
He is a very good student.
He is a very good student.
The weather is not bad today.
The weather is not bad today.
They have two big dogs.
They have two big dogs.
It was a big mistake to leave early.
It was a big mistake to leave early.
The good thing is that we are safe.
The good thing is that we are safe.
I had a bad experience at that hotel.
I had a bad experience at that hotel.
Small businesses need our support.
Small businesses need our support.
That is a good point.
That is a good point.
The company made a big push into the Asian market.
The company made a big push into the Asian market.
It's not a bad idea, but we need more time.
It's not a bad idea, but we need more time.
He's a good man at heart.
He's a good man at heart.
The small details make the difference.
The small details make the difference.
We are facing a big challenge.
We are facing a big challenge.
The sheer scale of the project was too big to comprehend.
The sheer scale of the project was too big to comprehend.
There is a bad smell coming from the basement.
There is a bad smell coming from the basement.
He has a good command of the English language.
He has a good command of the English language.
The small print in the contract is crucial.
The small print in the contract is crucial.
It's a big ask, but can you help me?
It's a big ask, but can you help me?
The inherent goodness of humanity is a central theme.
The inherent goodness of humanity is a central theme.
The 'Big Four' accounting firms dominate the industry.
The 'Big Four' accounting firms dominate the industry.
He was caught in a bad way after the accident.
He was caught in a bad way after the accident.
The small-mindedness of the committee was frustrating.
The small-mindedness of the committee was frustrating.
It's a big world out there, full of opportunities.
It's a big world out there, full of opportunities.
Facile à confondre
Learners use 'good' to describe how they do an action.
Learners use 'big' to describe a person's height.
These are very similar and often interchangeable.
Using the adverb form after a linking verb.
Erreurs courantes
The house big.
The big house.
They are bigs dogs.
They are big dogs.
It a good book.
It is a good book.
A smalls cat.
A small cat.
I am very good.
I am doing well.
The movie was badly.
The movie was bad.
It is a more big car.
It is a bigger car.
The good of the movie...
The goodness of the movie...
He is a big man (meaning tall).
He is a tall man.
A bad-quality product.
A poor-quality product.
Structures de phrases
The ___ is ___.
I have a ___ ___.
It is not a ___ ___.
Is the ___ ___?
They are ___ ___.
Real World Usage
This shirt is too small.
The food was very good.
He is a good driver.
Big day today! 🎓
I have good communication skills.
Bad weather expected.
I have a bad headache.
Is my bag too big?
L'ordre des adjectifs, c'est la clé !
a big house.Les adjectifs ne changent pas !
Connecte-le à ton monde
Un feedback poli
The report was not goodest plus gentil que
The report was bad.
Smart Tips
Use your hands! English speakers often use gestures while saying 'big' or 'small' to show exactly what they mean.
Use 'okay' or 'not bad'. It's a safe middle ground.
Check your adjective for an 's'. If you see one, delete it!
Remember that 'big' can describe events, not just objects.
Prononciation
Big
Short 'i' sound like 'sit'. Do not say 'beeg'.
Good
The 'oo' is short, like in 'foot'. Not long like 'food'.
Bad
The 'a' is wide, like in 'cat'.
Small
The 'a' sounds like 'aw' in 'law'. The 'l' is a 'dark l'.
Emphasis
It is a BIG dog.
Stressing the adjective adds extra emotion or surprise.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
B.S.G.B. - Big Stars Get Bright! (Big, Small, Good, Bad).
Association visuelle
Imagine a giant (Big) holding a tiny mouse (Small) while eating a delicious cake (Good) that has a fly on it (Bad).
Rhyme
Big or small, short or tall. Good or bad, happy or sad.
Story
A big giant lived in a small house. He was a good giant, but he had a bad cold.
Word Web
Défi
Look around your room. Find 3 things and describe them using these 4 words (e.g., 'Big bed', 'Small lamp', 'Good chair').
Notes culturelles
Americans often use 'good' to mean 'doing well' when asked 'How are you?'.
British speakers might use 'not bad' as a high compliment, meaning 'actually quite good'.
In international business, 'bad' is often replaced with 'challenging' to sound more professional.
Most of these words come from Old English or Old Norse, reflecting the Germanic roots of English.
Amorces de conversation
Is your city big or small?
What is a good movie?
Is the weather bad today?
Do you have a big family?
Tell me about a bad habit you have.
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
Test Yourself
She has a ___ cat.
Find and fix the mistake:
The movie was a good.
Translate into English: 'Ella tiene una idea pequeña.'
Answer starts with: ["S...
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Score: /4
Exercices pratiques
8 exercisesWhich one is correct?
The apples ___ good.
Find and fix the mistake:
They are smalls cats.
good / is / coffee / The
Big
A: Is the movie good? B: No, it is ___.
Pick the quality word.
Un perro grande.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesMy phone screen is very ___.
I like cat small.
Which sentence is correct?
Translate into English: 'Tenemos un día malo.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the items:
Don't make a ___ decision.
She drives a car big.
Which of these sentences is grammatically correct?
Translate into English: 'Nos gusta la música buena.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the adjectives with their opposites:
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
Yes! You can use `very` before any of these adjectives to make them stronger, like `very good` or `very small`.
They are mostly the same. `Big` is more common in daily speech, while `large` is a bit more formal.
Usually, yes. However, in some very old slang, it could mean 'cool', but you should always use it as a negative word at the A0 level.
You say `a good` because 'good' starts with a consonant sound. You only use `an` if the next word starts with a vowel sound.
Yes, but be careful. `A big man` usually means he is wide or strong. If you mean he is tall, use the word `tall`.
In modern English, especially in the US, `I am good` is the standard response to 'How are you?'. `I am well` is more formal.
Yes! Just remember the adjective doesn't change. `Big dogs`, `small cats`, `good books`.
Yes, they are very similar. `Small` is more about the actual size, while `little` can sound more cute or emotional.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
grande, pequeño, bueno, malo
Word order is reversed and English has no gender agreement.
grand, petit, bon, mauvais
French requires gender/number agreement.
groß, klein, gut, schlecht
German has complex adjective endings.
大きい (ookii), 小さい (chiisai)
Japanese adjectives conjugate like verbs.
كبير (kabir), صغير (saghir)
Adjective follows noun and matches definiteness.
大 (dà), 小 (xiǎo)
Chinese uses 'hěn' as a structural link.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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