Adjectives (AQA GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Spanish adjectives
Adjectives are descriptive words that provide information about nouns. In Spanish, understanding how to use adjectives correctly is essential for clear communication. Unlike English, Spanish adjectives must change their form to match the nouns they describe.
Understanding adjective agreement
The most important rule to remember is that Spanish adjectives must agree with their nouns in both gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural). This means the ending of the adjective changes depending on the noun it describes.
When you look up an adjective in a dictionary, you'll typically see the masculine singular form. You need to modify this form to match feminine nouns or plural nouns.
Dictionary Tip: Always remember that dictionaries show adjectives in their masculine singular form. This is your starting point for making all the necessary changes to match different nouns.
Basic agreement patterns
Understanding the basic patterns of adjective agreement will help you use Spanish adjectives correctly in most situations.
Worked Example: Adjective Agreement Patterns
Adjectives ending in -o:
- Masculine singular: alto (tall)
- Masculine plural: altos
- Feminine singular: alta
- Feminine plural: altas
Adjectives ending in -e:
- These stay the same for both masculine and feminine
- Masculine/Feminine singular: importante (important)
- Masculine/Feminine plural: importantes
Adjectives ending in a consonant:
- Usually the same for masculine and feminine
- Masculine/Feminine singular: azul (blue)
- Masculine/Feminine plural: azules
Important exceptions
Some adjectives have special patterns you need to watch out for. These exceptions are crucial to memorise as they appear frequently in Spanish.
Critical Exception Patterns:
Adjectives ending in -or:
- Masculine singular: trabajador (hardworking)
- Feminine singular: trabajadora
- Masculine plural: trabajadores
- Feminine plural: trabajadoras
Adjectives of nationality ending in -s:
- Masculine singular: inglés (English)
- Feminine singular: inglesa
- Masculine plural: ingleses
- Feminine plural: inglesas
These patterns are different from the basic rules, so pay special attention to them!
Position of adjectives
Most Spanish adjectives are placed after the noun they describe, which is opposite to English word order. This is a fundamental difference that students must remember.
Worked Example: Standard Adjective Position
- una falda azul (a blue skirt)
- las faldas amarillas (the yellow skirts)
Notice how the adjective comes after the noun, unlike in English where we say "blue skirt."
However, some common adjectives typically come before the noun:
- mucho (a lot) - Tengo muchos amigos (I have lots of friends)
- poco (a little)
- primero (first)
- segundo (second)
- tercero (third)
- próximo (next)
- último (last)
- alguno (some/any)
- ninguno (no)
Special case: grande
The adjective "grande" has a special meaning change depending on its position:
Position Changes Meaning:
- Before the noun: gran = great (quality)
- Fue una gran película (It was a great film)
- After the noun: grande = big (size)
- Es una casa grande (It's a big house)
Note that "grande" becomes "gran" before both masculine and feminine singular nouns.
Short forms of adjectives
Several adjectives are shortened when they appear before a masculine singular noun. This is another important pattern to master.
| Full form | English | Short form |
|---|---|---|
| bueno | good | buen |
| malo | bad | mal |
| primero | first | primer |
| alguno | some/any | algún |
| ninguno | no | ningún |
Worked Example: Short Forms in Use
- un buen día (a good day)
- el primer lugar (the first place)
Compare with: una buena idea (a good idea) - feminine form keeps the full adjective.
Using "lo" with adjectives
You can use "lo" + masculine singular adjective to express "the ... thing":
- lo bueno (the good thing)
- lo peor es que (the worst thing is that)
Useful vocabulary
| Spanish | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| alto/a | tall | un chico alto |
| bajo/a | short | una chica baja |
| grande | big/great | una casa grande |
| pequeño/a | small | un coche pequeño |
| bonito/a | pretty | una ciudad bonita |
| feo/a | ugly | un edificio feo |
| nuevo/a | new | un libro nuevo |
| viejo/a | old | una tradición vieja |
| joven | young | una persona joven |
| mayor | older | mi hermana mayor |
Example sentences
Here are practical examples showing how adjectives work in different tenses. Notice how the agreement rules apply in all cases.
Worked Example: Adjectives in Different Tenses
Present tense:
- Mi hermana es muy inteligente (My sister is very intelligent)
- Los coches rojos son caros (The red cars are expensive)
- Tenemos una casa pequeña pero cómoda (We have a small but comfortable house)
Past tense:
- Era un día muy caluroso (It was a very hot day)
- Las vacaciones fueron fantásticas (The holidays were fantastic)
Future tense:
- Será una experiencia increíble (It will be an incredible experience)
Grammar and pronunciation tips
These practical tips will help you avoid common mistakes and improve your Spanish adjective usage.
Essential Grammar Tips:
- Agreement is non-negotiable: Always check that your adjectives match the gender and number of the noun
- Dictionary form: Remember that dictionaries show the masculine singular form
- Position matters: Most adjectives go after the noun, but some common ones go before
- Pronunciation: The stress pattern usually stays the same when you add endings
- Plural formation: Add -s to adjectives ending in vowels, -es to those ending in consonants
Translation exercises
Practice makes perfect! Try these translation exercises to test your understanding.
Translation Practice
Spanish to English:
- Las chicas españolas son muy simpáticas.
- Tengo un coche pequeño pero rápido.
English to Spanish: 3. The tall buildings are modern. 4. She has some interesting books.
Answers:
- The Spanish girls are very nice/friendly.
- I have a small but fast car.
- Los edificios altos son modernos.
- Ella tienen algunos libros interesantes.
Key Points to Remember:
- Spanish adjectives must agree with nouns in gender and number - this is essential!
- Most adjectives go after the noun, unlike in English
- Some common adjectives (like mucho, poco, primer) go before the noun
- Certain adjectives have shortened forms before masculine singular nouns
- When in doubt, check the dictionary for the masculine singular form and modify as needed