Leurs maillots sont vert foncé, même si le logo est rouge.

Questions & Answers about Leurs maillots sont vert foncé, même si le logo est rouge.

Why isn't there an "s" on vert foncé to match the plural noun maillots?
This is the rule for compound color adjectives! Whenever a color is described by more than one word (like vert foncé for dark green, or bleu clair for light blue), the phrase becomes invariable. Neither word takes an -e or an -s, regardless of the noun they describe.
If the jerseys were just "green," would the adjective take an "s"?
Yes. If you remove foncé, the simple color adjective vert behaves normally and agrees with the masculine plural noun: Leurs maillots sont verts. It is specifically the combination of two words that freezes the agreement.
If we changed the singular le logo to the plural les logos, would rouge change?
Yes, it would become les logos sont rouges. Rouge is a standard color adjective, so it always agrees in number and gender with the noun it modifies, unlike compound colors or noun-derived colors (like marron or orange).
Why is même si followed by the indicative verb est instead of the subjunctive?
Although même si (even if / even though) introduces a contrast or concession, it is always followed by the indicative mood. This is a common trap for learners, because similar concessive expressions like bien que or quoique (although) strictly require the subjunctive.

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