propre maison vs maison propre

Question

If the adjective appears before the noun then its a subjective description and after is the objective description. To me, my own house sounds like an objective description and a clean house a subjective description. So can we say this is an exception?

Accepted Answer

Bonjour Radhika,
I think of the differences as being abstract before the noun but descriptive after the noun
So for example, we could write "Ma propre (own) chambre (abstract)" and "Ma chambre propre (clean descriptive / concrete)"
This is quite a tricky aspect of French grammar - I hope my input helps (although contradictory to your proposal) but I am interested in reading what others may wish to contribute.
Bonne journeé
Jim

Answer

Thanks Jim. Abstract and descriptive make sense. But i am still not clear what falls under what. Maybe i will just look up what abstract includes. For the time being i will take it as it is. Thanks again!

Answer

The distinction between general/objective and subjective meaning refers to adjectives that do NOT change meaning when they switch places with the noun. Since propre changes its meaning, that general/subjective-rule doesn't apply.

Answer

I agree with Chris.

This is an example of a word with distinctly different meanings, which depends sometimes on the position of the word, sometimes on the context. For example ‘ compte propre ‘ - own account, or ‘ capital propre ‘ - own money, are contextual situations in which ‘ propre ‘ translates as ‘own’ not clean, even though the adjective follows the noun.

Propre also can convey other meanings :

https://www.wordreference.com/fren/propre

https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/propre/64410

https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/propre/64408

Answer

Interesting. Thanks Maarten and Chris