Adjectives
Agreement, position, and buen and gran.
Adjectives agree with their noun in gender and number. Those ending in -o have four forms; most others have two.
| Ends in | Masculine | Feminine | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| -o | alto | alta | altos, altas |
| -e | grande | grande | grandes |
| a consonant | fácil | fácil | fáciles |
| -z | feliz | feliz | felices |
Adjectives of nationality ending in a consonant add -a for the feminine: español, española; inglés, inglesa. They're written without a capital, as are languages: Habla inglés "She speaks English".
- a red car
- a red house
- some black shoes
- The girls are very nice.
A mixed group takes the masculine: Juan y María son altos.
After the noun
Most adjectives come after their noun: un libro interesante, el vino blanco. Words of number and amount come before: muchos libros, poco tiempo, otra vez "again", dos casas.
A few common adjectives can go before the noun. bueno and malo drop their -o before a masculine singular noun, and grande becomes gran before any singular noun, meaning "great":
| After | Before |
|---|---|
| un día bueno | un buen día |
| un momento malo | un mal momento |
| una casa grande: a big house | una gran casa: a great house |
Some change meaning with their place:
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| un viejo amigo: an old friend, of long standing | un amigo viejo: an elderly friend |
| un pobre hombre: a poor man, to pity | un hombre pobre: a poor man, without money |
Very, and lo
muy "very" goes before an adjective: muy bueno. lo before an adjective makes a noun of it: lo bueno "the good thing", lo importante "what matters".
- The important thing is to take part.
Cards from this guide
10 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Nouns and describing words cards.
What's the feminine of alto (tall)?
alta
What's the feminine of grande (big)?
grande: it doesn't change.
What's the feminine of español (Spanish)?
española
Where does an adjective like rojo go: before or after the noun?
After: un coche rojo.
What does bueno become before a masculine singular noun?
buen: un buen día.
What's the difference between una gran casa and una casa grande?
una gran casa is a great house; una casa grande a big one.
What does un viejo amigo mean?
An old friend, one you've known for a long time.
What's the plural of feliz (happy)?
felices
What does lo importante mean?
'The important thing', 'what matters'.
Which form of the adjective goes with a mixed group, as in 'Juan and María are tall'?
The masculine plural: Juan y María son altos.