Study Spanish - Adjectives

Adjectives

Many adjectives of nationality end in -o. These adjectives follow the same rules as other adjectives ending in -o. That is, they have four forms.

el muchacho mexicano
la muchacha mexicana

los muchachos mexicanos
las muchachas mexicanas

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Many other adjectives of nationality end in a consonant. These adjectives do not follow the same rules as other adjectives ending in a consonant, rather, they have a distinct feminine form ending in -a.

el muchacho español
la muchacha española

los muchachos españoles
las muchachas españolas

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There is another group of adjectives that does not follow the normal rules. Adjectives ending in -or, -án, -ón, or -ín also have a feminine form.

el chico hablador
la chica habladora

los chicos habladores
las chicas habladoras

el hombre trabajador
la mujer trabajadora

los hombres trabajadores
las mujeres trabajadoras
Note: Adjectives ending in "-erior" do not have a feminine form.
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Adjectives that are descriptive usually follow the noun they describe.

el chico alto
la chica alta
los libros pequeños
las plumas rojas

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Adjectives of quantity almost always come before the noun. Such adjectives tell how much or how many.

pocos libros
mucha energía
mucho trabajo
pocas casas

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Sometimes, a descriptive adjective can precede the noun. If the adjective is descriptive, but speaks of a quality that is inherent and usually taken for granted, the adjective comes first.

la blanca nieve
the white snow (snow is inherently white)

los altos picos
the tall peaks (peaks are inherently tall)

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Let's review the last two lessons.

Adjectives that end in -o have four forms

alto
alta
altos
altas

Adjectives of nationality ending in -o are no different from other such adjectives

guatemalteco
guatemalteca
guatemaltecos
guatemaltecas

Adjectives that end in -e have two forms

inteligente
inteligentes

Most adjectives ending with a consonant have two forms

popular
populares

Adjectives of nationality ending in a consonant have four forms

español
española
españoles
españolas

Adjectives ending in -or, -án, -ón, or -ín have four forms

hablador
habladora
habladores
habladoras

Adjectives that are descriptive usually follow the noun they describe

casa blanca
chica alta

When an adjective speaks of a quality that is inherent and usually taken for granted, the adjective precedes the noun

la blanca nieve
los altos picos

Adjectives of quantity usually come before the noun

pocos libros
muchos libros