Question 1

Since the current lesson is on compound adjectives, how would the agreement change if we said newborn babies (bébés nouveau-nés) instead of premature babies (bébés prématurés)?

Accepted Answer

In bébés prématurés, prématurés is a standard adjective that takes a normal masculine plural agreement. However, if you used the compound adjective nouveau-nés (newborn), only nés takes the plural -s. This is because nouveau acts as an adverb here (meaning newly), and adverbs never agree. If it were an adjective + adjective compound like sourds-muets (deaf-mute), both words would take the plural marker.

Question 2

Could I say ces bébés dormants instead of using the relative clause qui dorment?

Accepted Answer

It is much more natural to use a relative clause (qui dorment) for an ongoing action. If you use the verbal adjective dormants, it describes a permanent state or characteristic (like a dormant volcano or standing water) rather than the temporary action of taking a nap.

Question 3

Why is the preposition dans used here for in the incubators instead of en?

Accepted Answer

You use dans when referring to being physically inside a specific, enclosed, tangible space like an incubator, and it is always followed by a determiner like les. En is typically used for more abstract locations, concepts, or directly before a noun without an article.

Question 4

Why does the adjective prématurés come after bébés?

Accepted Answer

It follows the standard French rule for descriptive placement: adjectives that objectively categorize or define a noun (such as medical, technical, or scientific classifications) almost always follow the noun. Only a specific group of frequent, short adjectives precede it.

Ces bébés prématurés qui dorment sont dans les couveuses.

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