Position of Adjectives

Position of Adjectives

a) Descriptive adjectives that describe the qualities of a noun (what something or someone is like; such adjectives of color, size, etc.) generally follow the noun they modify

Clase aburrida
Casa grande

Libro rojo
Carpeta naranja

Hombre pobre
Paisajes tropicales

b) Quantitative or limiting adjectives, numerals, and demonstrative, possesive adjectives precede the nouns they modify

Mucha tarea
Cinco peras

Otro alumno
Cien pesos

Pocas oportunidades
Esta persona

c) The adjective comes first at the start of a letter

Example:
Estimado Sr. Carlos Dellini:

Queridos amigos

d) Adjectives denoting nationality follow the noun:

Estudiante ecuatoriano
Libro norteamericano

Alumna peruana
Escuela mexicana

e) The adjectives malo, bueno, primero, tercero, alguno and ninguno precede the nouns they modify.

Malo is shortened to mal and bueno is shortened to buen when placed before a masculine singular noun.

Primero is shortened to primer, tercero to tercer,alguno to algún, and ninguno to ningún when placed before a masculine singular noun.

Un mal auto
Tercer libro
Ningún cuaderno

Un buen libro
Primer semestre Algún mesero

f) When it follows a noun, grande means big or large but when it precedes a noun, it means great.

Un gran concierto
Una gran fiesta

Un auto nuevo
= a brand new car

Un nuevo auto
= a new, different car

Un hombre grande
= a big man

Un gran hombre
= a great man

g) Santo is shortened to San when it precedes proper masculine names.

San Cristobal
San Antonio

San Idelfonso
San Juan

Exceptions: Santo Tomás, Santo Toribio and Santo Domingo

h) Ciento is shortened to cien when it precedes a noun

Cien coronas
Cien pesos