A few French adjectives change their agreement rules based on whether they are placed before or after the noun. The most common are demi (half) and nu (bare).
Demi (Half)
When demi is placed before a noun, it is invariable (it never changes form) and is connected with a hyphen.
| We do the meditation with incense for a half-hour. | Nous faisons la méditation avec de l'encens pendant une demi-heure. |
When placed after the noun, it is linked by et (and). Here, demi agrees in gender with the noun (adding an -e for feminine nouns), but always remains singular.
| I listened to this mantra for an hour and a half. | J'ai écouté ce mantra pendant une heure et demie. |
Nu (Bare)
Nu follows a similar pattern. Before a noun, it is invariable and attached with a hyphen.
| We walk barefoot in the grass to refocus ourselves. | Nous marchons nu-pieds dans l'herbe pour nous recentrer. |
When nu is placed after the noun or used after the verb être, it follows normal adjective rules, agreeing in both gender and number.
| You have bare feet because it is soothing. | Tu as les pieds nus parce que c'est apaisant. |
| While my head is bare, yours is protected. | Alors que ma tête est nue, la tienne est protégée. |
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