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<div class="pg_page_title">[[Language/Spanish|Spanish]]  → [[Language/Spanish/Grammar|Grammar]] → [[Language/Spanish/Grammar/0-to-A1-Course|0 to A1 Course]] → Adjectives → Descriptive Adjectives</div>
__TOC__
== Introduction ==
In this lesson, we will explore the world of descriptive adjectives in Spanish. Adjectives are an essential part of any language as they allow us to describe and provide more information about people, places, things, and ideas. By learning how to use descriptive adjectives correctly, you will be able to express yourself more precisely and vividly in Spanish. So, let's dive into the fascinating world of descriptive adjectives and discover how to match them with nouns!
== Understanding Descriptive Adjectives ==
Descriptive adjectives, or "adjetivos descriptivos" in Spanish, are words that describe or modify nouns. They provide additional information about the noun they accompany, such as its size, color, shape, origin, or characteristics. For example, in the phrase "the big house," the word "big" is the descriptive adjective that tells us more about the size of the noun "house."
In Spanish, adjectives must agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify. This means that if the noun is feminine, the adjective must be feminine as well, and if the noun is plural, the adjective must also be plural. This agreement ensures grammatical correctness and clarity in Spanish sentences.
Let's explore some examples to better understand how descriptive adjectives work in Spanish.
=== Gender Agreement ===
In Spanish, most nouns are either masculine or feminine. The gender of a noun determines the form of the descriptive adjective that accompanies it. Let's look at some examples:
{| class="wikitable"
! Spanish !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| casa grande || /ka-sa gran-de/ || big house (feminine noun)
|-
| libro interesante || /lee-bro in-te-re-san-te/ || interesting book (masculine noun)
|-
| película emocionante || /pe-lee-ku-la e-mo-see-o-nan-te/ || exciting movie (feminine noun)
|}
In these examples, the adjectives "grande" (big), "interesante" (interesting), and "emocionante" (exciting) agree in gender with the nouns "casa" (house), "libro" (book), and "película" (movie). Notice how the adjective changes its ending to match the gender of the noun.
=== Number Agreement ===
In addition to gender, adjectives in Spanish also need to agree in number with the nouns they describe. If the noun is singular, the adjective must be singular as well. If the noun is plural, the adjective must also be plural. Let's see some examples:
{| class="wikitable"
! Spanish !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| perro pequeño || /pe-rro pe-ke-nyo/ || small dog (singular noun)
|-
| perros pequeños || /pe-rros pe-ke-nyos/ || small dogs (plural noun)
|-
| casa antigua || /ka-sa an-tee-gwa/ || old house (singular noun)
|-
| casas antiguas || /ka-sas an-tee-gwas/ || old houses (plural noun)
|}
In these examples, the adjectives "pequeño" (small) and "antiguo" (old) change their endings to match the number of the nouns "perro" (dog) and "casa" (house). The singular noun requires the singular form of the adjective, while the plural noun requires the plural form.
=== Position of Descriptive Adjectives ===
In Spanish, descriptive adjectives generally come after the noun they modify. This is different from English, where adjectives often come before the noun. Let's look at some examples:
{| class="wikitable"
! Spanish !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| casa blanca || /ka-sa blan-ka/ || white house
|-
| libro interesante || /lee-bro in-te-re-san-te/ || interesting book
|-
| película emocionante || /pe-lee-ku-la e-mo-see-o-nan-te/ || exciting movie
|}
In these examples, the descriptive adjectives "blanca" (white), "interesante" (interesting), and "emocionante" (exciting) follow the nouns "casa" (house), "libro" (book), and "película" (movie). This is the typical word order for descriptive adjectives in Spanish.
However, there are some exceptions where the adjective can come before the noun for emphasis or stylistic purposes. This is more common in literary or poetic expressions. For example:
{| class="wikitable"
! Spanish !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| hermosa flor || /er-mo-sa flor/ || beautiful flower
|-
| gran ciudad || /gran see-o-dad/ || great city
|-
| pequeño pueblo || /pe-ke-nyo pwe-blo/ || small town
|}
In these examples, the adjectives "hermosa" (beautiful), "gran" (great), and "pequeño" (small) are placed before the nouns "flor" (flower), "ciudad" (city), and "pueblo" (town) for emphasis and poetic effect.
== Forming Descriptive Adjectives ==
In Spanish, most descriptive adjectives follow a predictable pattern for changing their endings to agree with the gender and number of the nouns they modify. Let's explore the different forms that descriptive adjectives can take based on gender and number:
=== Masculine Singular ===
In their basic form, most adjectives in Spanish end in -o in the masculine singular. Here are some examples:
{| class="wikitable"
! Spanish !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| alto || /al-to/ || tall
|-
| inteligente || /in-te-li-hen-te/ || intelligent
|-
| divertido || /di-ver-tee-do/ || fun
|}


<div class="pg_page_title">Spanish Grammar → Adjectives → Descriptive Adjectives</div>
In these examples, the adjectives "alto" (tall), "inteligente" (intelligent), and "divertido" (fun) are in their masculine singular form.


__TOC__
=== Feminine Singular ===


As a Spanish language teacher with 20 years of experience, I have seen many students struggle with the use of adjectives in Spanish. This can be particularly challenging for English speakers since the adjective usually comes after the noun in Spanish. However, mastering adjectives is crucial for communicating effectively in Spanish. In this lesson, I will introduce descriptive adjectives and provide examples of how to use them correctly.
To change an adjective from masculine singular to feminine singular, the -o ending is replaced with -a. Here are some examples:


{| class="wikitable"
! Spanish !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| alta || /al-ta/ || tall (feminine)
|-
| inteligente || /in-te-li-hen-te/ || intelligent (feminine)
|-
| divertida || /di-ver-tee-da/ || fun (feminine)
|}


<span link>Once you've mastered this lesson, take a look at these related pages: [[Language/Spanish/Grammar/Orientación-sobre-el-uso-de-Articulos|Orientación sobre el uso de Articulos]] & [[Language/Spanish/Grammar/El-tiempo-presente|El tiempo presente]].</span>
In these examples, the adjectives "alta" (tall), "inteligente" (intelligent), and "divertida" (fun) are in their feminine singular form.
== Descriptive Adjectives ==


Descriptive adjectives are used to describe nouns, and they agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. For example, if we are describing a feminine noun in the singular, the adjective must also be feminine and singular. In the plural, it must also agree in gender and number with the noun. Here are some examples:
=== Masculine Plural ===


* El libro rojo (The red book)
To change an adjective from masculine singular to masculine plural, the -o ending is replaced with -os. Here are some examples:
* La casa grande (The big house)
* Los perros negros (The black dogs)
* Las flores bonitas (The pretty flowers)


As you can see, the adjective always comes after the noun. In Spanish, the order is always: article + noun + adjective. Another important point to remember is that adjectives that end in -o have different endings depending on whether they modify a masculine or feminine noun.
{| class="wikitable"
! Spanish !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| altos || /al-tos/ || tall (plural)
|-
| inteligentes || /in-te-li-hen-tes/ || intelligent (plural)
|-
| divertidos || /di-ver-tee-dos/ || fun (plural)
|}


If we are modifying a masculine noun, the adjective ends in -o. For example:
In these examples, the adjectives "altos" (tall), "inteligentes" (intelligent), and "divertidos" (fun) are in their masculine plural form.


* El chico alto (The tall boy)
=== Feminine Plural ===
* El gato negro (The black cat)


But if we are modifying a feminine noun, the adjective changes to -a. For example:
To change an adjective from masculine singular to feminine plural, the -o ending is replaced with -as. Here are some examples:


* La chica alta (The tall girl)
{| class="wikitable"
* La gata negra (The black cat)
! Spanish !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| altas || /al-tas/ || tall (feminine plural)
|-
| inteligentes || /in-te-li-hen-tes/ || intelligent (feminine plural)
|-
| divertidas || /di-ver-tee-das/ || fun (feminine plural)
|}


In the plural, the masculine form ends in -os, and the feminine form ends in -as. For example:
In these examples, the adjectives "altas" (tall), "inteligentes" (intelligent), and "divertidas" (fun) are in their feminine plural form.


* Los chicos altos (The tall boys)
It's important to practice and memorize the different forms of descriptive adjectives to ensure grammatical accuracy in your Spanish sentences.
* Las chicas altas (The tall girls)


Now, let's see how to use descriptive adjectives with a few examples.
== Irregular Descriptive Adjectives ==
 
While most descriptive adjectives in Spanish follow a regular pattern for changing their endings, there are some adjectives that are irregular and do not follow the usual rules. Here are some common irregular adjectives:


=== Examples ===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Spanish !! Pronunciation !! English
! Spanish !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| El coche amarillo || El koh-che a-ma-REE-yoh || The yellow car
| bueno || /bwe-no/ || good
|-
| malo || /ma-lo/ || bad
|-
| grande || /gran-de/ || big
|-
| pequeño || /pe-ke-nyo/ || small
|-
| viejo || /vyeh-ho/ || old
|-
|-
| La casa limpia || La KA-sa leem-pya || The clean house
| nuevo || /nwe-vo/ || new
|-
|-
| Los perros grandes || Los PE-rros GRAN-des || The big dogs
| bonito || /bo-nee-to/ || beautiful
|-
|-
| Las flores rojas || Las FLO-res RO-has || The red flowers
| feo || /fe-o/ || ugly
|}
|}


In addition to the basic agreement of descriptive adjectives with the noun, there are a few other rules to follow. For example, if there are two or more adjectives modifying the same noun, they usually come in a fixed order. The order is usually:
These irregular adjectives have unique forms that do not follow the regular pattern. It's important to memorize these irregular forms to use them correctly in your Spanish conversations.
 
== Using Descriptive Adjectives in Sentences ==
 
Now that we have learned about the different forms of descriptive adjectives, let's see how they are used in sentences. Here are some examples:
 
=== Example 1 ===
 
English: The red car is fast.
Spanish: El coche rojo es rápido.
 
In this example, the adjective "rojo" (red) agrees in gender and number with the masculine singular noun "coche" (car). The adjective comes after the noun, following the typical word order in Spanish.


1. Quantity or number
=== Example 2 ===
2. Quality
3. Size
4. Age
5. Shape
6. Color
7. Origin or nationality
8. Material
9. Purpose


For example, we would say:
English: The tall buildings are modern.
Spanish: Los edificios altos son modernos.


* Cuatro grandes mesas negras (Four big black tables)
In this example, the adjective "altos" (tall) agrees in gender and number with the masculine plural noun "edificios" (buildings). The adjective also comes after the noun, as is typical in Spanish.
* Dos pequeñas cajas rojas (Two small red boxes)
* Tres enormes casas nuevas (Three huge new houses)


Remember that these rules are not set in stone and can be flexible in certain circumstances. But they provide a useful guide for beginners.
=== Example 3 ===


== Conclusion ==
English: The small dog is cute.
Spanish: El perro pequeño es lindo.


Descriptive adjectives are an essential part of communicating in Spanish. By following the rules outlined in this lesson, you will be able to use adjectives correctly and make your Spanish sound more natural. Remember to pay attention to gender and number agreement, as well as the order of adjectives when there are multiple ones.
In this example, the adjective "pequeño" (small) agrees in gender and number with the masculine singular noun "perro" (dog). The adjective follows the noun, as is common in Spanish.


I hope this lesson has been helpful to you. Don't forget to practice, practice, practice!
By practicing with these examples and creating your own sentences, you will become more comfortable using descriptive adjectives in Spanish.


<span class='maj'></span>
== Conclusion ==
==Sources==
* [https://spanishdictionary.cc/common-spanish-descriptive-adjectives Common Spanish descriptive adjectives | SpanishDictionary]
* [https://study.com/academy/lesson/adjective-agreement-in-spanish-grammar.html Adjective Agreement in Spanish Grammar - Video & Lesson ...]
* [https://www.fluentu.com/blog/spanish/common-spanish-adjectives/ Starter List of 50 Common Spanish Adjectives for Beginners ...]


Congratulations! You have completed the lesson on descriptive adjectives in Spanish. You have learned how to use descriptive adjectives to provide more information and details about nouns. Remember to pay attention to gender and number agreement between adjectives and nouns to ensure grammatical correctness in your Spanish sentences. Keep practicing and incorporating descriptive adjectives into your everyday conversations to improve your Spanish skills. ¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)


<span link>Impressive work on finishing this lesson! Explore these additional pages to enhance your understanding: [[Language/Spanish/Grammar/Eso-Esto-Aquello|Eso Esto Aquello]] & [[Language/Spanish/Grammar/Los-Articulos|Los Articulos]].</span>
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|title=Spanish Grammar → Adjectives → Descriptive Adjectives
|keywords=Spanish, grammar, descriptive adjectives, gender, number agreement, order of adjectives
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==Sources==
* [https://spanishdictionary.cc/common-spanish-descriptive-adjectives Common Spanish descriptive adjectives | SpanishDictionary]
* [https://study.com/academy/lesson/adjective-agreement-in-spanish-grammar.html Adjective Agreement in Spanish Grammar - Video & Lesson ...]
* [https://www.fluentu.com/blog/spanish/common-spanish-adjectives/ Starter List of 50 Common Spanish Adjectives for Beginners ...]


==Other Lessons==
==Other Lessons==
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* [[Language/Spanish/Grammar/Present-Tense-Verbs|Present Tense Verbs]]
* [[Language/Spanish/Grammar/Present-Tense-Verbs|Present Tense Verbs]]
* [[Language/Spanish/Grammar/El-tiempo-presente|El tiempo presente]]
* [[Language/Spanish/Grammar/El-tiempo-presente|El tiempo presente]]


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Latest revision as of 16:27, 16 June 2023

◀️ Reflexive Verbs — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Demonstrative Adjectives ▶️

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Spanish → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Adjectives → Descriptive Adjectives

Introduction[edit | edit source]

In this lesson, we will explore the world of descriptive adjectives in Spanish. Adjectives are an essential part of any language as they allow us to describe and provide more information about people, places, things, and ideas. By learning how to use descriptive adjectives correctly, you will be able to express yourself more precisely and vividly in Spanish. So, let's dive into the fascinating world of descriptive adjectives and discover how to match them with nouns!

Understanding Descriptive Adjectives[edit | edit source]

Descriptive adjectives, or "adjetivos descriptivos" in Spanish, are words that describe or modify nouns. They provide additional information about the noun they accompany, such as its size, color, shape, origin, or characteristics. For example, in the phrase "the big house," the word "big" is the descriptive adjective that tells us more about the size of the noun "house."

In Spanish, adjectives must agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify. This means that if the noun is feminine, the adjective must be feminine as well, and if the noun is plural, the adjective must also be plural. This agreement ensures grammatical correctness and clarity in Spanish sentences.

Let's explore some examples to better understand how descriptive adjectives work in Spanish.

Gender Agreement[edit | edit source]

In Spanish, most nouns are either masculine or feminine. The gender of a noun determines the form of the descriptive adjective that accompanies it. Let's look at some examples:

Spanish Pronunciation English
casa grande /ka-sa gran-de/ big house (feminine noun)
libro interesante /lee-bro in-te-re-san-te/ interesting book (masculine noun)
película emocionante /pe-lee-ku-la e-mo-see-o-nan-te/ exciting movie (feminine noun)

In these examples, the adjectives "grande" (big), "interesante" (interesting), and "emocionante" (exciting) agree in gender with the nouns "casa" (house), "libro" (book), and "película" (movie). Notice how the adjective changes its ending to match the gender of the noun.

Number Agreement[edit | edit source]

In addition to gender, adjectives in Spanish also need to agree in number with the nouns they describe. If the noun is singular, the adjective must be singular as well. If the noun is plural, the adjective must also be plural. Let's see some examples:

Spanish Pronunciation English
perro pequeño /pe-rro pe-ke-nyo/ small dog (singular noun)
perros pequeños /pe-rros pe-ke-nyos/ small dogs (plural noun)
casa antigua /ka-sa an-tee-gwa/ old house (singular noun)
casas antiguas /ka-sas an-tee-gwas/ old houses (plural noun)

In these examples, the adjectives "pequeño" (small) and "antiguo" (old) change their endings to match the number of the nouns "perro" (dog) and "casa" (house). The singular noun requires the singular form of the adjective, while the plural noun requires the plural form.

Position of Descriptive Adjectives[edit | edit source]

In Spanish, descriptive adjectives generally come after the noun they modify. This is different from English, where adjectives often come before the noun. Let's look at some examples:

Spanish Pronunciation English
casa blanca /ka-sa blan-ka/ white house
libro interesante /lee-bro in-te-re-san-te/ interesting book
película emocionante /pe-lee-ku-la e-mo-see-o-nan-te/ exciting movie

In these examples, the descriptive adjectives "blanca" (white), "interesante" (interesting), and "emocionante" (exciting) follow the nouns "casa" (house), "libro" (book), and "película" (movie). This is the typical word order for descriptive adjectives in Spanish.

However, there are some exceptions where the adjective can come before the noun for emphasis or stylistic purposes. This is more common in literary or poetic expressions. For example:

Spanish Pronunciation English
hermosa flor /er-mo-sa flor/ beautiful flower
gran ciudad /gran see-o-dad/ great city
pequeño pueblo /pe-ke-nyo pwe-blo/ small town

In these examples, the adjectives "hermosa" (beautiful), "gran" (great), and "pequeño" (small) are placed before the nouns "flor" (flower), "ciudad" (city), and "pueblo" (town) for emphasis and poetic effect.

Forming Descriptive Adjectives[edit | edit source]

In Spanish, most descriptive adjectives follow a predictable pattern for changing their endings to agree with the gender and number of the nouns they modify. Let's explore the different forms that descriptive adjectives can take based on gender and number:

Masculine Singular[edit | edit source]

In their basic form, most adjectives in Spanish end in -o in the masculine singular. Here are some examples:

Spanish Pronunciation English
alto /al-to/ tall
inteligente /in-te-li-hen-te/ intelligent
divertido /di-ver-tee-do/ fun

In these examples, the adjectives "alto" (tall), "inteligente" (intelligent), and "divertido" (fun) are in their masculine singular form.

Feminine Singular[edit | edit source]

To change an adjective from masculine singular to feminine singular, the -o ending is replaced with -a. Here are some examples:

Spanish Pronunciation English
alta /al-ta/ tall (feminine)
inteligente /in-te-li-hen-te/ intelligent (feminine)
divertida /di-ver-tee-da/ fun (feminine)

In these examples, the adjectives "alta" (tall), "inteligente" (intelligent), and "divertida" (fun) are in their feminine singular form.

Masculine Plural[edit | edit source]

To change an adjective from masculine singular to masculine plural, the -o ending is replaced with -os. Here are some examples:

Spanish Pronunciation English
altos /al-tos/ tall (plural)
inteligentes /in-te-li-hen-tes/ intelligent (plural)
divertidos /di-ver-tee-dos/ fun (plural)

In these examples, the adjectives "altos" (tall), "inteligentes" (intelligent), and "divertidos" (fun) are in their masculine plural form.

Feminine Plural[edit | edit source]

To change an adjective from masculine singular to feminine plural, the -o ending is replaced with -as. Here are some examples:

Spanish Pronunciation English
altas /al-tas/ tall (feminine plural)
inteligentes /in-te-li-hen-tes/ intelligent (feminine plural)
divertidas /di-ver-tee-das/ fun (feminine plural)

In these examples, the adjectives "altas" (tall), "inteligentes" (intelligent), and "divertidas" (fun) are in their feminine plural form.

It's important to practice and memorize the different forms of descriptive adjectives to ensure grammatical accuracy in your Spanish sentences.

Irregular Descriptive Adjectives[edit | edit source]

While most descriptive adjectives in Spanish follow a regular pattern for changing their endings, there are some adjectives that are irregular and do not follow the usual rules. Here are some common irregular adjectives:

Spanish Pronunciation English
bueno /bwe-no/ good
malo /ma-lo/ bad
grande /gran-de/ big
pequeño /pe-ke-nyo/ small
viejo /vyeh-ho/ old
nuevo /nwe-vo/ new
bonito /bo-nee-to/ beautiful
feo /fe-o/ ugly

These irregular adjectives have unique forms that do not follow the regular pattern. It's important to memorize these irregular forms to use them correctly in your Spanish conversations.

Using Descriptive Adjectives in Sentences[edit | edit source]

Now that we have learned about the different forms of descriptive adjectives, let's see how they are used in sentences. Here are some examples:

Example 1[edit | edit source]

English: The red car is fast. Spanish: El coche rojo es rápido.

In this example, the adjective "rojo" (red) agrees in gender and number with the masculine singular noun "coche" (car). The adjective comes after the noun, following the typical word order in Spanish.

Example 2[edit | edit source]

English: The tall buildings are modern. Spanish: Los edificios altos son modernos.

In this example, the adjective "altos" (tall) agrees in gender and number with the masculine plural noun "edificios" (buildings). The adjective also comes after the noun, as is typical in Spanish.

Example 3[edit | edit source]

English: The small dog is cute. Spanish: El perro pequeño es lindo.

In this example, the adjective "pequeño" (small) agrees in gender and number with the masculine singular noun "perro" (dog). The adjective follows the noun, as is common in Spanish.

By practicing with these examples and creating your own sentences, you will become more comfortable using descriptive adjectives in Spanish.

Conclusion[edit | edit source]

Congratulations! You have completed the lesson on descriptive adjectives in Spanish. You have learned how to use descriptive adjectives to provide more information and details about nouns. Remember to pay attention to gender and number agreement between adjectives and nouns to ensure grammatical correctness in your Spanish sentences. Keep practicing and incorporating descriptive adjectives into your everyday conversations to improve your Spanish skills. ¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)

Table of Contents - Spanish Course - 0 to A1[edit source]


Introduction to Spanish


Verbs


Adjectives


Pronouns


Common Words and Phrases


Food and Drink


Travel and Directions


Spanish-Speaking Countries


Celebrations and Festivals


Hispanic Heritage Month


Sources[edit | edit source]



Other Lessons[edit | edit source]



◀️ Reflexive Verbs — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Demonstrative Adjectives ▶️

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