Grasp Adjective Placement in Spanish: 15 Guidelines and Exceptions

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One of many methods language studying stretches your thoughts is by requiring you to consider grammar in new methods. Adjective placement in Spanish isn’t any exception. The foundations differ from these in English, since most adjectives get positioned after the noun. Nonetheless, it turns on the market are fairly a number of exceptions to this rule. 

The foundations and exceptions defined beneath will assist you to perceive Spanish adjective placement. Lots of the most typical adjectives in Spanish get positioned after the noun, however a number of don’t. Use these few easy adjective placement guidelines to information you in your journey!

Adjectives that go after the noun in Spanish

Relating to adjective placement in Spanish, most forms of adjectives are positioned after the noun, together with these broad classes.

Descriptive

Because the time period suggests, adjectives that describe are referred to as “descriptive,” and these kinds of adjectives are positioned after the noun in Spanish. Descriptive adjectives are sometimes used with literal language for concrete issues and concepts.

• los árboles hermosos = the attractive bushes
• el plomero profesional = the skilled plumber

Some broad subcategories of descriptive adjectives embody colours and classifications.

Colours

The names of colours can be utilized to explain nouns and are subsequently descriptive in nature. Colours get positioned after the nouns with a number of exceptions.

• un coche negro = a black automotive
• las flores blancas = the white flowers

Classifications

Adjectives that classify folks, animals, or issues are virtually all the time positioned after the noun:

• las hierbas comestibles = the edible herbs
• el terreno residential = the residential land
• la familia chilena = the Chilean household

Adjectives after the verbs ser and estar

A proof of adjective placement in Spanish wouldn’t be full with out mentioning that, as in English, Spanish adjectives are used after the verb “to be.” Ser and estar, referred to as copulative verbs, each imply “to be” in Spanish, and adjectives all the time comply with them. For instance:

• Estoy despierta. = I’m awake.
• Eres divertido. = You might be enjoyable.

Which Spanish adjectives come earlier than the noun? 

In contrast to in English, most adjectives in Spanish go after the noun. Whereas in English you’ll say “the clever woman,” in Spanish it might be la niña inteligente. Adjectives positioned earlier than the noun are the exception, however there are fairly a number of of those exceptions to the same old guidelines about adjective placement in Spanish.

A identified referent

If, inside a dialog, everybody is aware of who’s being spoken about, the adjective could go in entrance of the noun:

• nuestro estimado amigo = Our esteemed (male) buddy

Nonetheless, if the folks participating within the dialog don’t know the particular person being spoken about, then the adjective goes after the noun:

• las amigas queridas de la novia = The beloved mates of the bride

Adjectives recognized with the nouns they modify

Adjectives that are usually recognized with the phrase they modify, akin to la negra noche (the black evening) come earlier than the noun:

• el verde pasto = the inexperienced grass
• la famosa doctora Marie Curie = the well-known physician Marie Curie
• las curvosas calles de San Francisco = the curvy streets of San Francisco

Adjectives that state the plain

Quick adjectives or adjectives with little descriptive energy usually go earlier than the noun. Examples embody:

• la alta basquetbolista = the tall (feminine) basketball participant
• el musculoso luchador = the muscular wrestler

Figurative language

As in English, figurative language in Spanish can’t be taken at face worth. Moderately, it symbolically represents an idea. For example, su enorme corazón (her monumental coronary heart) doesn’t actually imply this girl’s bodily coronary heart is excessively giant. As a substitute, it refers to her generosity of spirit and capability to like.

Adjectives to emphasize innate qualities

These adjectives are used to emphasise the character of the factor or particular person, akin to:

• la bella Italia = lovely Italy
• los poderosos políticos = the highly effective politicians

Numbers

On a extra sensible aspect, numbers, whether or not cardinal or ordinal, all the time go earlier than the noun they describe:

• dos tigres = two tigers (cardinal quantity)
• la cuarta novela del escritor = the author’s fourth novel (ordinal quantity)

Adjectives that categorical place or uniqueness

Just a few adjectives describe a bodily or summary place akin to first or final. Equally, they might describe one thing that’s upcoming. These adjectives additionally go earlier than the noun.

• el último emperador = the final emperor
• la próxima semana = subsequent week

Quantifiers

Adjectives that categorical a amount like poco (little, few) and mucho (rather a lot) are referred to as quantifiers, and so they’re all the time positioned earlier than the noun. The phrase alguno (some, a) will get shortened earlier than masculine singular nouns. 

• Pocos hombres están a su nivel. = Few males are at her stage.
• Muchos jóvenes se distraen fácilmente. = Loads of younger folks get simply distracted.

This chart exhibits among the most typical quantifiers that go earlier than the adjective.

Adjectives that get shortened earlier than masculine singular nouns

Some adjectives have a brief kind solely when positioned earlier than masculine singular nouns. In contrast to the phrases within the following part, these phrases don’t change that means in the event that they’re in different types, akin to the female, which are positioned after the noun.

• Alguno
  • Algún día estaremos juntos. = Some day we’ll be collectively.
• Ninguno
  • Ningún niño debe ser maltratado. = No boy needs to be mistreated.
• Primero
  • ¡Gané primer lugar! = I gained first place.
• Tercero
  • Julio pasó al tercer grado. = Julio handed to third grade.
• Uno
  • Tenemos un gato y dos perros. = We’ve got one cat and two canines.

Demonstrative adjectives

Although it might not be apparent, demonstrative adjectives in Spanish like este, esta, estos, estas (“this” and “these” in singular and plural kind) and ese, esa, esos, esas (“that” and “these” in singular and plural kind) are additionally adjectives. They all the time get positioned earlier than the noun:

• Estos tamales están deliciosos. = These tamales are scrumptious.
• Esa chica es mi hija. = That younger girl is my daughter. 

Possessive adjectives

As their title suggests, possessive adjectives in Spanish—mi, tu, su, nuestro, vuestro (mine, yours, his/her/its, yours) and their plural counterparts—present possession of an object, however in addition they describe that object. Most of these adjectives additionally go earlier than the noun.

• Mi casa es su casa. = My home is your own home.
• Nuestro abuelo es cariñoso. = Our grandfather is affectionate.

Adjectives with totally different meanings earlier than or after the nouns

Just a few adjectives change that means relying on their location earlier than or after the noun. Take notice that phrases like bueno, grande, and malo (good, giant, and dangerous) change spelling earlier than single, masculine nouns:

• Es un buen perro. = He’s a good canine.
• Es un gran pianista. = He’s a nice pianist.
• Es un mal hombre. = He’s a dangerous man.

Key takeaways about Spanish adjective placement

Though Spanish adjectives often come after the noun, for correct adjective placement in Spanish, it’s vital to pay attention to sure guidelines and exceptions.

After the noun

• Descriptive adjectives like flojo (lazy)
• Classifying adjectives like colours and nationalities: bandera blanca (white flag)

Earlier than the noun

• A identified referent: nuestro querido amigo (our expensive buddy)
• Adjectives recognized with the noun or stating the plain: un divertido payaso (a enjoyable clown)
• Figurative: un tierno corazón (a young coronary heart)
• Adjectives describing an innate high quality: la suave almohada (the mushy pillow)
• Numbers: tres empleados (three staff)
• Place or uniqueness: la única mujer (the one girl)
• Quantifiers: mucha tarea (a number of homework)
• Demonstrative adjectives: esta leche (this milk)
• Possessive adjectives: su trabajo (her work)

A choose group of adjectives change in that means relying on in the event that they go earlier than or after the noun. To be taught extra about adjective placement in Spanish, try Rosetta Stone’s immersive classes, tutoring, TruAccent pronunciation assist, and extra to be taught Spanish and sound like a local speaker!