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Questions & Answers about Paul est flexible.
What does the adjective flexible mean in this sentence?
Flexible in French can be used much like in English. It may refer to someone being physically limber or, in certain contexts, adaptable and open to change. The meaning usually depends on context, but in many cases, it implies that Paul is capable of bending easily or is versatile in his approach.
What is the role of est in this sentence?
Est is the third-person singular form of the verb être (to be). It functions as a linking verb that connects the subject Paul with the predicate adjective flexible, much like the English word is in the sentence "Paul is flexible."
Why isn’t there an article before the name Paul?
Paul is a proper noun (a name), and in French, like in English, proper names do not require an article when used as the subject of a sentence.
How does adjective placement in this sentence compare to English?
In both French and English, when using a linking verb like être/to be, the predicate adjective follows the verb. So, flexible comes after est just as flexible comes after is in English, making the structure very similar in both languages.
Does the adjective flexible change form when describing different genders or numbers?
While many French adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify, flexible is one of those adjectives that remains the same in both masculine and feminine forms. Since Paul is masculine singular, no change is necessary, and indeed it would be flexible even if the referenced person were feminine.