Adjective Placement

Question 1

What are differentiating adjectives?

Answer 1

color, size, shape, condition, nationality, group or any kind of classification when this is the not the norm

for example white is non-differentiating when refering to snow because snow is usually white but it is differentiating when talking about a house because not all houses are white

Question 2

Past participles used as adjectives

Answer 2

usually follow the noun because they express a condition

Question 3

adjectivial phrases (de + noun)

Answer 3

always follow the noun

Question 4

descriptive adjectives modified by a verb

Answer 4

always follow the noun

Question 5

differentiating adjectives

Answer 5

follow the noun

Question 6

What are non-differentiating adjectives?

Answer 6

if the adjective can be omitted without a loss in meaning it is probably non-differentiating

eg) his father gave him a beautiful clock for his birthday –> the work beautiful can be omitted without a great loss in meaning
eg) his father gave him an alarm clock for his birthday –> the work alarm cannot be omitted

un hermoso reloj vs un reloj despertador

Question 7

three types of non-differentitating adjectives are placed before the noun

Answer 7

1) adjectives that express qualitites in herent in the noun (white snow)
2) subjective adjectives (beautiful)
3) Adjectives that normally would be differentiating are often placed before the noun in poems or written descriptions that have a poetic tone

Question 8

a corto (largo) plazo

Answer 8

short (long) term

Question 9

Bellas Artes

Answer 9

Fine Arts

Question 10

La Divina Comedia

Answer 10

The Divine Comedy

Question 11

libre pensador (librepensador)

Answer 11

freethinker

Question 12

mala hierba

Answer 12

weed

Question 13

mala suerte

Answer 13

bad luck

Question 14

(la) pura verdad

Answer 14

(the) real truth

Question 15

el Santo Padre

Answer 15

the Holy Father

Question 16

(hacer) su santa voluntad

Answer 16

(to do) as one pleases

Question 17

una solemne tontería

Answer 17

a very foolish thing

Question 18

in exclamations

Answer 18

comes before the noun

eg) Que hermosa día!
eg) Increíble suceso!

Question 19

antiguo before and after

Answer 19

before = former, of long standing, ex-

after = very old, ancient

Question 20

cierto before and after

Answer 20

before = certain

after = sure, definite

Question 21

diferente before and after

Answer 21

before = various

after = different

Question 22

medio before and after

Answer 22

before = half

after = average

Question 23

mismo before and after

Answer 23

before = same, very

after = -self

Question 24

nuevo before and after

Answer 24

before = another

after = brand-new

Question 25

pobre before and after

Answer 25

before = poor (unfortunate, pitiful)

after= penniless, needy

Question 26

propio before and after

Answer 26

before = own (used as an intensifier)

after = own (of one’s ownership)

Question 27

puro before and after

Answer 27

before = sheer

after = pure

Question 28

raro before and after

Answer 28

before = rare (few)

after = strange, odd, uncommon

Question 29

simple before and after

Answer 29

before = just, mere

after = simple-minded

Question 30

único before and after

Answer 30

before = only, single

after = unique

Question 31

viejo before and after

Answer 31

before = old (of long standing)

after = old (in years)

Question 32

noun and 1 differentiating + 1 nondifferentiating

Answer 32

nondifferentiating + noun + differentiating

Question 33

noun and 2 or more differentiating adjectives

Answer 33

noun + differentiating, differentiating y differentiating

the adjective considered the most important is placed closest to the noun

Question 34

noun with two adjectives where one is an adjectivial phrase

Answer 34

the other adjective (wether differentiating or not) is often placed before the noun for balance especially if it is somewhat subjective

Question 35

noun and 2 or more nondifferentiating adjectives

Answer 35

nondifferentiating + non differentiating + noun