Español 1: 1.2
1

 Adjectives : Words that modify nouns
 En español, most adjectives have either two or four forms
 When using adjectives in
Spanish, one must always consider
AGREEMENT .
2

ADJECTIVE AGREEMENT:
If an adjective ends in O, you need to change the ending to...
• OS when describing a masculine / plural noun.
• A when describinga a feminine / singular noun
• AS when describing a feminine / plural noun.
• Leave the O when describing a masc. / sing. noun
Thus, adjectives that end in o usually have four forms and the form that you use in any given sentence must agree with the noun that it modifies.
simpátco (m/s) simpática (f/s) simpáticos (m/p) simpáticas (f/p)
3

ADJECTIVE AGREEMENT:
If an adjective ends in DOR or DORA then it also usually has four forms and the form that you use in any given sentence must agree with the noun that it modifies.
Use...
• DOR for masc. / singular
• DORA for fem. / singular
• DORES for masc. / plural
• DORAS for fem. / plural trabajador (m/s) trabajadora (f/s) trabajadores (m/p) trabajadoras (f/p)
4

ADJECTIVE AGREEMENT:
If an adjective ends in something other than these (O , OR, ORA) then it will usually have only two forms – singular and plural. It is not gender specific.
To make the adjective plural add...
s if it ends in a vowel es if it ends in a consanent inteligente (s) inteligentes (p)
5

PLACEMENT OF ADJECTIVES
1. Descriptive adjectives
• placed after the noun
2. Nouns used as adjectives
• placed after the noun and separated by the word
“ de ” (i.e. Hombre de tacos = Taco man)
6

Exceptions to the rule…:
The adjectives good (bueno) and bad (malo) are descriptive adjectives but can be placed in front of the nouns they modify.
7

EXAMPLES: the nice girl la chica simpática a big book un libro grande three Spanish notebooks tres cuadernos de español
8

PRACTICE:
• some delicious french fries
• a big book
• five Spanish books
• two blond students
(feminine)
• a disorganized notebook
• four hard working boys
9

PRACTICA
• unas papas fritas deliciosas
• un libro grande
• cinco libros de español
• dos estudiantes rubias
• un cuaderno disorganizado
• cuatro chicos trabajadores
10