Descriptive adjectives in Spanish are words that express qualities, characteristics, or states of people, places, things, or ideas. They provide more information about the noun and make sentences more vivid and precise. Unlike in English, Spanish adjectives must agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with the nouns they describe.
- Modify nouns by expressing attributes, emotions, or conditions.
- Must match the noun's gender: masculine or feminine.
- Must match the noun's number: singular or plural.
- Can be placed before or after the noun, with some nuances in meaning.
Descriptive adjectives describe qualities, characteristics, and states.
Agreement in Gender and Number
Gender
Most Spanish adjectives have two forms: one for masculine nouns (usually ending in -o) and one for feminine nouns (usually ending in -a).
| Masculine | Feminine |
|---|---|
| alto | alta |
| inteligente | inteligente* |
\* Adjectives ending in -e or a consonant are usually the same for both genders.
- Masculine: Used with masculine nouns (usually ending in -o).
- Feminine: Used with feminine nouns (usually ending in -a, or -e/-consonant forms remain the same).
Most change from -o (masc.) to -a (fem.); some remain the same for -e or consonant endings.
Number
Adjectives also change to match the number of the noun: add -s for vowels, -es for consonants.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| alto | altos |
| alta | altas |
| feliz | felices |
- Singular: Used for one item/person.
- Plural: Add -s (if adjective ends in a vowel) or -es (if it ends in a consonant).
Add -s if the adjective ends in a vowel; add -es if it ends in a consonant.
Examples
| Noun (with article) | English | Adj. (M/F, S/P) |
|---|---|---|
| el chico | the smart boy | inteligente (same both genders) |
| la chica | the smart girl | inteligente |
| los chicos | the smart boys | inteligentes |
| las chicas | the smart girls | inteligentes |
| el niño | the tall boy | alto |
| la niña | the tall girl | alta |
| los niños | the tall boys | altos |
| las niñas | the tall girls | altas |
'altas' (feminine plural) is correct for 'las niñas'.
Placement of Adjectives
Most descriptive adjectives come after the noun:
- Common placement: Noun + Adjective
el coche rojo (the red car)
Some adjectives can precede the noun for emphasis or stylistic reasons, sometimes changing the meaning:
- Before noun:
un gran hombre (a great man) vs. un hombre grande (a big man)
- Adjectives like bueno, malo, primero, último often appear before the noun, sometimes with a shortened form (buen, mal).
They usually go after the noun.
Common Descriptive Adjectives
| English | Masculine | Feminine |
|---|---|---|
| tall | alto | alta |
| short | bajo | baja |
| smart | inteligente* | inteligente* |
| happy | feliz* | feliz* |
| big | grande* | grande* |
| small | pequeño | pequeña |
| new | nuevo | nueva |
| old | viejo | vieja |
\* Adjectives ending in -e or -re often have one form for both genders.
Conclusion
Spanish descriptive adjectives are essential for adding detail and color to language. They must agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify and usually follow the noun.
- Adjectives express qualities and agree in gender/number with the noun.
- Typical endings: -o/-a for masc./fem., -os/-as for plurals; -e and consonant endings have special rules.
- Most adjectives follow the noun, but some can precede it for emphasis or style.
Its gender and number must match the noun.
'las profesoras altas' is correct.
Adjectives usually follow the noun.