Question 1

Why is ancien placed before collègue in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

Placement changes the meaning of ancien. When placed before the noun, it has a figurative meaning: "former" (a former colleague). If it were placed after the noun (un collègue ancien), it would have its literal meaning: "ancient" or "very old."

Question 2

Doesn't the adjective grand usually go before the noun? Why is it un homme grand?

Accepted Answer

You're right that grand is a "size" adjective that typically goes before the noun. However, when describing people, its meaning changes based on position. Un grand homme means a "great man" (like a highly respected historical figure). To say a man is physically "tall," you must place grand after the noun: un homme grand.

Question 3

If ancien before the noun means "former," how would I say "my old (elderly) colleague"?

Accepted Answer

To say "old" in the sense of age, you wouldn't use ancien at all. You would use vieux (or vieil before a vowel sound): mon vieux collègue. Using ancien after the noun specifically means "ancient" (like a historical artifact), which sounds very strange when talking about a living person!

Question 4

How would this sentence change if the former colleague were a woman?

Accepted Answer

It would become: Mon ancienne collègue est une femme grande. Both adjectives change to their feminine forms (ancienne, grande). Notice that we still use the masculine possessive mon instead of ma because ancienne starts with a vowel sound; this rule prevents the vowels in "ma" and "ancienne" from clashing.

Mon ancien collègue est un homme grand.

Breakdown of Mon ancien collègue est un homme grand.

Questions & Answers about Mon ancien collègue est un homme grand.

Learn Mon ancien collègue est un homme grand and more in French