Descriptive Adjectives in SpanishA1

Adjectives describe how a noun is. They add information about size, color, shape, age, character, state, origin or appearance. In a big house, big states a quality of house. In a red car, red indicates color. Without an adjective, the phrase names the thing; with an adjective, the phrase presents it with a concrete characteristic. They can also express a valuation, as in an boring movie or a kind boy.

The adjective agrees with the noun in gender and number. You say a white table and some white shoes, a difficult problem and some difficult classes. If the noun is feminine, the adjective takes the feminine form; if plural, it takes the plural. Many adjectives change only the ending: alto + a in feminine, alto + s in plural. Others use the same form for masculine and feminine and only change in plural, such as interesante and interesantes. This agreement also appears when the adjective functions with verbs like ser, estar or parecer: the soup is cold, the windows are cold. For more detail on these endings, it is worth seeing Concordancia Adjetival.

Basic agreement with the noun

Idea
The adjective must agree with the noun in gender when describing a person or thing.
The adjective must agree with the noun in number when talking about a single thing or several.

Show TranslationShow Questions

The normal thing in Spanish is to put the adjective after the noun: a new book, a quiet city, kind people. This position presents the quality as part of the description of the noun. In everyday language, this is the most common placement, especially with colors, sizes, shapes and clear traits. Therefore, in phrases like a blue shirt or a small dog, the adjective comes after. The same placement tends to appear when comparing with other elements, as in Adjectivos comparativos, because the quality is expressed about the already identified noun.

Common use of the postposed adjective

Usage	Explanation
Objective description	Used after the noun to describe a visible or neutral quality.
Simple classification	Used after the noun to say what kind of thing it is.

Show TranslationShow Questions

Some adjectives go before the noun. In that position they usually contribute a more general tone, more affectionate or more emphatic: a simple call, my dear friend, the own teacher. They also appear in front when they are part of fixed expressions or when the speaker wants to highlight the quality before naming the thing. Not all adjectives are used this way. Those of quantity, possession or demonstration usually go before the noun: two cars, my sister, this day. If you want to review that group, see Adjectivos Demostrativos and the relationship between position and nuance in Posición del adjetivo.

Nuances of the preposed adjective

Region	Variant	Definition	Example
Spain	gran	Used to add emphasis and usually express a special or affectionate value.	Encontré una gran sorpresa dentro del armario.I found a great surprise inside the wardrobe.
Mexico	nuevo	Used before the noun to highlight or emphasize the idea of novelty.	Tengo un nuevo plan para domar al cactus.I have a new plan to tame the cactus.
Argentina	puro	Used before the noun to intensify the quality and sound more expressive.	Fue un puro caos con confeti y llamas falsas.It was a pure chaos with confetti and fake flames.

ScrambleShow Translation

Not all adjectives change the same way. Some have a single form for masculine and feminine: a blue car, a blue shirt, some blue cars, some blue shirts. Others present special forms in masculine singular or in feminine. Bueno can appear as buen before a masculine singular noun: a good friend. Grande shortens to gran before a singular noun: a great project. There are also adjectives that change form irregularly in plural or in feminine, such as andaluz and andaluza, joven and jóvenes. The form of the adjective always depends on the noun it accompanies.

Adjectives with no change and irregular forms

Idea
Some adjectives are invariable and do not change with the gender of the noun.
Some adjectives have a special feminine form.
Some adjectives change their form in plural irregularly.

Show Translation

A single adjective can show an objective quality after the noun and a more subjective valuation before the noun. A poor man describes lack of money; a poor man expresses compassion. An old friend may mean the friend is of advanced age, while an old friend speaks of a long-standing friendship. A simple answer does not mean the same as a simple answer. After the noun, the adjective usually identifies the quality. Before the noun, it usually nuances it, highlights it or interprets it. This shift in position also appears with some adjectives used for comparison and valuation, as in Adjetivos superlativos.

Shade depending on the position of the adjective

Usage	Explanation
Objective sense	When it goes after the noun, the adjective usually describes a concrete quality.
Valuative sense	When it goes before the noun, the adjective can sound more emotional or subjective.

Show Translation

Some adjectives lose part of their form in front of a masculine singular noun. Bueno becomes buen: a good day. Malo becomes mal: a bad moment. Primero becomes primer: the first train. Tercero becomes tercer: the third floor. Grande becomes gran: a great museum. This short form appears only in front of the noun and serves to emphasize or fix the expression. If the adjective goes after the noun or if the noun is feminine or plural, the full form is used: a good day, a good idea, some good days.

Shortening before the noun

Idea
Some adjectives use a short form before the noun.
The apocopated form is used to highlight or identify the noun.

Show Translation