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Adjetivos
One of the eight parts of speech, adjectives are a type of modifier; that is, they modify or describe nouns in a certain way, letting you know the size, shape, weight, color, nationality, or any of a myriad other possible qualities of nouns.
Adjectives serve the same purpose in Spanish and English, but they are very different in other respects.
Characteristics of Spanish Adjectives
- Modify nouns
- Must agree in gender and number with nouns
- Usually follow nouns
- May be modified by adverbs
Gender and Number of Spanish Adjectives
English adjectives have a single form, but Spanish adjectives can have up to 4 forms, according to the gender and number of the nouns they modify:
| masculine singular | masculine plural | |
| feminine singular | feminine plural |
If you’ve already studied the noun lesson, some of these rules will look familiar.
1) Masculine singular is the default form and usually ends in -o. This changes to -a for feminine singular. For plural, add -s.
Por ejemplo…
rojo (red)
| rojo | rojos | |
| roja | rojas |
2) When the masculine adjective ends in -a or -e, there is no difference between the masculine and feminine forms. The plural is still created by adding -s.
realista (realistic)
| realista | realistas | |
| realista | realistas |
triste (sad)
| triste | tristes | |
| triste | tristes |
3) When the adjective ends in any consonant except -n, -r, or -z, there is no difference between the masculine and feminine forms, and the plural is created by adding -es.
fácil (easy)
| fácil | fáciles | |
| fácil | fáciles |
4) When the adjective ends in z, there is no difference between the masculine and feminine forms, and the plural is created by changing the z to a c and adding -es. (Why?)
feliz (happy)
| feliz | felices | |
| feliz | felices |
5) For adjectives that end in -n or -r,* the feminine is created by adding -a, the masculine plural by adding -es and the feminine plural by adding -as.
hablador (talkative)
| hablador | habladores | |
| habladora | habladoras |
* Except for peor and mejor, which follow rule 3, above.
Adjective Quizzes
Think you’ve got it? Test yourself on Spanish adjectives:
Note: You must be logged into your Progress with Lawless Spanish account to take these tests. If you don’t have one, sign up – it’s free!
Related lessons
Spanish lesson plans
- Adjectives (PPT, 6th-12th grade)
- Adjective Agreement (Worksheet, 6th-8th grade)
- Descriptive Adjectives (Worksheet, 9th-10th grade)
- Practice with Adjectives (Worksheet, 6th-9th grade)
- Review of Adjectives (Lesson plan, 6th-8th grade)
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