Adjectives: Part II

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

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