English

Adjectives (Gender & Number)

🎯 Learning Goals

  • Understand how adjectives must match the gender and number of the noun they describe.
  • Learn the general rule of placing adjectives AFTER the noun.

💡 Why Learn This?

In English, an adjective never changes. We say 'red car' and 'red cars'. But in Spanish, adjectives are fluid—they adapt to the noun they modify. Mastering this agreement is crucial for sounding natural.

Gender, Number, and Placement

Adjectives in Spanish have two main rules: 1. They must agree with the noun's gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural). 2. They usually come AFTER the noun they describe.

ADJECTIVE ENDINGS
Masc. Sing.
-o
Fem. Sing.
-a
Masc. Plur.
-os
Fem. Plur.
-as

Rule of Agreement

  • Masculine Singular: el coche rojo (the red car)
  • Feminine Singular: la casa roja (the red house)
  • Masculine Plural: los coches rojos (the red cars)
  • Feminine Plural: las casas rojas (the red houses)

⚠️ Common Pitfalls

A huge trap for English speakers is putting the adjective first (saying 'el rojo coche'). Remember: in Spanish, you first establish WHAT the object is, and then you describe it! Another trap is forgetting to make the adjective plural when the noun is plural.

Agreement Simulator

Select the correct form of the adjective to match the noun.

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📝 Summary & Recap

  • Adjectives change to match the noun's gender (usually -o for masculine, -a for feminine).
  • Adjectives must also match the noun's number (add -s or -es for plural).
  • Place the adjective AFTER the noun (e.g., 'gato negro', not 'negro gato').

Quick Drill

Test your adjective skills!

How do you say 'the white cats' (gatos = cats, masculine plural)?

🔍 Deep Dive (Optional)

While the general rule is that adjectives go after the noun, there are some exceptions! Sometimes, placing an adjective BEFORE the noun changes its meaning. For example, 'un amigo viejo' means a friend who is old in age, but 'un viejo amigo' means a long-time friend.

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