FR: différent - place de l'adjectif (2025)

Hi,

I understand that the adjective 'différent' can be used before and after the noun in French. Can somebody explain to me what the difference in meaning is?

Thanks

Moderator note: Multiple threads have been merged to create this one.

I would say before the noun, it means "various", "diverse" and after the noun, it properly means "different".

J'ai vu différents modèles de jupes.
I saw various kinds of shirts.

J'ai choisi un modèle différent.
I choose a different model.

I'm afraid that's not always true, but more or less, (let's say 90 %) it is right.

Thanks, that makes sense.

SO what would be the difference between saying

de differents enfants

and des enfants differents?

Thanks

You need context to understand.

So, I take some examples :

J'ai besoin de l'avis de différents enfants pour savoir si ce livre leur plaira.
I need the opinion of several children ... (more than one or two...)

J'ai besoin de l'avis d'enfants différents...
I need the opinion of different childrent...(children coming from different contries, different social level, etc...)

Hi! I was wondering when the word "différent" is placed before or after nouns? I've seen different things in different cases, like ces différents besoins, les différentes raisons, but les cultures différentes. Is there a way to tell?

Thanks!

"il y a des raisons / besoins / cultures / différents (es) dans le monde"
and
"les différents (es) raisons / besoins / cultures qui expliquent cela ..."

is it clearer ?

Could it be that it's:

un/une/des + noun + différent

and

le/la/les + différent + noun

?

Hello,
To me, the meaning is not exactly the same when you change the position of "différent".
"Dans ce pays cohabitent des personnes de différentes cultures." the meaning is close to: "plusieurs cultures" ; "différent" could mean something as "several".

"Ces pays ont des cultures différentes." the meaning of "différent" is close to: "not the same".

But these differences between the two positions are quite small and certainly not always true...

I hope it helps...

Micia93 said:

I quite don't understand your question

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I was just wondering if différent went after the noun when the indefinite article is used, and before the noun when the definite article is used, as that's what your examples seem to show

But the other responses are probably more helpful

Différent(e)s is less likely to mean various/plusieurs after the indefinite article. Some various/several cultures? Quelques différentes/plusieurs cultures?

If you mean "different"/"not the same", I imagine you could say "les cultures différentes qu'on a mentionnées" (the [very] different cultures we were talking about).

N'est-ce pas?

I don't think the article plays a role :
"les différentes cultures que nous avons mentionnées..." = "the various cultures we were talking about..."
"les cultures différentes que nous avons mentionnées..." = "the (very) different cultures we were talking about..."

But the differences are really narrow, I guess...

Forero said:

Différent(e)s is less likely to mean various/plusieurs after the indefinite article.

Click to expand...

That's right. In fact, in such cases, différents functions as a determiner and the indefinite article is impossible:

See also the following thread:
de différents X / différents X

If you mean various, the adjective should precede the noun; if you mean different, it should follow it.

différentes époques = various eras
époques différentes = different eras

LorenD said:

I am writing a french oral and would like to know if you would say "bâtiments de différentes époques" or "bâtiments de époques différentes". Google translate says "bâtiments de différentes époques" but I don't trust this.

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Bâtiments de différentes époques, but anyway bâtiments d'époques différentes is also possible, provided you don't forget the elision of e in de before a word (here, époques) beginning with a vowel.

I'm so confused. I always thought the word "different" went after the noun. But I just saw this sentence:

"Ces sont les different parties de mon avion"

Is it before or after the noun?

Hi,

In this case, différentes is a determiner. It means various or different (These are the various/different parts of...)
When it comes after the noun, it means "dissimilar".

Oddmania said:

In this case, différentes is a determiner.

Click to expand...

It has the meaning you explained, but it can't be a determiner in this specific example (since it is preceded by les). Différent(e)s can only be used as an indefinite determiner, as in the examples given earlier in this thread.

Bonjour,

Est-ce que l'adjectif "différent" change de sens lorsqu'il est placé avant le verbe? Je crois avoir appris cela dans un cour il y a quelques ans, mais je ne réussis pas à le confirmer dans mon dictionnaire.

Par exemple: pour de différentes raisons/ pour des raisons différentes

Dans le premier cas, je croyais qu'il s'agissait de plusieurs raisons, lorsque dans le second, je croyais que l'emphase était sur la différence entre elles.

Mille fois merci.

Bonjour,

domaine d'application is a compound word, a set phrase.