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Adjectives accord their number with the number of the noun which they specify. Nevertheless, we don't consider that the
feature num applies to cardinal adjectives.
For a range of adjectives, the opposite of the values singular and plural is not marked for the masculine gender:
- un homme /pos=n & gen=m & num=sg soucieux /pos=n& gen=m & num=sg
- des hommes /pos=n & gen=m & num=pl soucieux /pos=n& gen=m & num=pl
A range of adjectives realize either the singular, or the plural-value. The adjective nombreux for example
has only the value num=p. Some morphological units with the type-value indefinite can realize a given num-value
if they are used as determiners, but not when they are used as adjectives:
- The indefinite adjective doesn't realize the value num=s. The morphological unit to which num=s applies
is categorized as determiner.
- Les quelques /pos=a & type=indf & num=s scandals, but *Le quelque scandal
- Quelque /pos=d & type=indf & n=s scandal
- Quelques /pos=d & type=indf & n=p scandals
- The The indefinite determiner and the indefinite adjective are complementary; the morphological
unit used as determiner realizes the plural form, and in adjectival distribution, it must be in singular
form.
- Une certaine /pos=a & type=indf & num=s chose
- Certaines /pos=d & type=indf & n=p choses