Adjectives - Placement Flashcards
Why place an adjective before a noun? (2)
- to explain the characteristics of this noun, by only adding information about it.
- to describe an inherent quality of the noun.
Se quedó anonadado mirando la verde hierba… why is the adjective before the noun?
Reason 1 - characteristics of noun. “He was appalled watching the green grass.”
Las montañas estaban cubiertas de blanca nieve … why is the adjective before the noun?
Reason 2 - inherent quality of noun. “The mountains were covered by white snow” (snow is always white)
Why place an adjective after a noun? (4)
- it specifies the characteristics of THIS noun.
- it is a “relational adjective” ie it express a relationship between the noun and the adjective.
- it is a “gentilicio” ie an adjective that describe the name given to the people from a particular region or country.
- it is placed after the noun but it is in between commas, and explains the characteristics of the noun.
How to identify a relational adjective?
They usually derive from a noun eg
social (noun) - sociales (adj.), or
policía (noun) - policial (adj.).
What type of adjectives are always placed after a noun?
- Relational adjectives
- gentilicios adjectives
- it is between commas and explains the characteristics of the noun
Quiero un coche azul … why adjective after noun?
Reason 1 - it explains the characteristics of THIS car ie I want a blue car.
El presidente ha centrado su política en las causas sociales …. why adjective after noun?
Reason 2 - a relational adjective. “The president has focused its politics on social matters.”
Renoir es uno de los más célebres pintores franceses …. why adjective after noun?
Reason 3 - a gentilicios adjective. “Renoir is one of the most famous French painters.”
El chico simpatico se acercó a mí … why adjective after noun?
Reason 1 - it explains the characteristics of THIS guy ie “The kind guy approached to me.”
El chico, simpatico, se acercó a mí … why adjective after noun?
Reason 4 - between commas, not the meaning change. “The guy, who was kind, approached to me.”
Adjectives which change meaning if before or after?
pobre - before (unfortunate), after (no money)
simple - before (a mere), after (stupid)
cierto - before (a certain), after (true)
gran - before (reputation), after (size)
nuevo - before (another), after (never used before)
¡Pobre hombre! Todas las desgracias le pasan a él.
Poor man! All the bad things happen to him.
Perdió todo su dinero en el casino y ahora es un hombre pobre.
He lost all his money in the casino and now he’s poor.
Ahora él es un simple soldado pero en unos meses le harán capitán.
Now he’s just a soldier but in a few months he will become captain.
