Adjectives which are irregular in the masculine
The adjectives vieux, nouveau, and beau change their masculine singular forms if followed by a noun which begins with a vowel or a silent 'h'. This helps pronunciation.
Un vieux chien → Un vieil homme → Deux vieux hommes. An old dog → An old man → Two old men.
Un nouveau bateau → Un nouvel ami → Trois nouveaux amis. A new boat → A new friend → Three new friends.
Un beau garçon → Un bel arbre. → Deux beaux arbres. A beautiful boy → A beautiful tree → Two beautiful trees.
Un nouveau bateau → Un nouvel ami → Trois nouveaux amis. A new boat → A new friend → Three new friends.
Un beau garçon → Un bel arbre. → Deux beaux arbres. A beautiful boy → A beautiful tree → Two beautiful trees.
The masculine forms (vieil, nouvel, and bel) are pronounced the same as the feminine forms (vieille, nouvelle, and belle).
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