ADJECTIVES IN SPANISH
As a general rule, adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun or nouns that they describe. There are particular rules which govern the manner in which you allow an adjective to agree. These are: -
- The ‘O’ ending of most adjectives changes to ‘A’ in order to change gender, and an ‘S’ is added to alter number.
Example: rojo roja rojos rojas
- Adjectives that end in ‘E’ or any consonant usually have NO change for the feminine form.
Example: azul azul azules azules
verde verde verdes verdes
- When expressing a nationality in plural or feminine, an ‘A is added instead of leaving the feminine form as rule stated above.
Examples: inglés inglesa ingleses inglesas
- When a noun ends in ‘ÁN’, ‘ÓN’, ‘ÍN’ or ‘OR’, remove the accent when pluralizing the adjective.
Examples: mandón mandones
hablador habladores
- There are some adjectives that end in ‘A’ regardless of gender. These simply need the addition of ‘S’ to become plural.
Examples: belga belga belgas belgas
SHORTENED ADJECTIVES
There are some adjectives that drop the final letter(s) when used BEFORE the noun. These are: -
- Bueno => buen
- Malo => mal
- Primero => primer
- Tercero => tercer
- Alguno => algún
- Ninguno => ningún
POSITION OF ADJECTIVES
There are some adjectives which vary their meaning according to their position, that is, when in front of the noun, the meaning is different to when the adjective is placed after the noun.
|
ADJECTIVE |
MEANING BEFORE NOUN |
MEANING AFTER NOUN |
|
Antiguo |
Former |
Ancient |
|
Cierto |
Certain |
undoubted |
|
Medio |
Half |
Average |
|
Pobre |
Wretched |
Not rich |
|
Varios |
Several |
Assorted |
NOTE: ‘AMBOS’, ‘MUCHOS’, ‘OTRO’, ‘POCO’, ‘TANTO’, ‘CADA’ only
occur in front of the noun.