neuf and nouveau

Question

hi,

I was wondering for the mini quiz I took the question was Tom a achete une _______ maison I had put neuf but it was wrong. Wouldn't nouvelle and or neuf be used here since it doesn't specify?

thanks

nicole

Accepted Answer

Bonjour Nicolle,
"La maison" is feminine and takes either "nouvelle" or "neuve", which are the feminine forms of the adjective.
"Nouveau" and "neuf" are the masculine forms.
The lesson is about the use of "nouvelle" vs. "neuf" and "nouvelle" vs. "neuve".
Since the adjective in your sentence is placed before the noun it would then be, "nouvelle" since, as the lesson explains, "nouveau" and "nouvelle" always precede the noun.
Hope this helps.
Bonne continuation.