11.Adjectives: Part I

Well another day another lesson, not much to say today, hoping to see more people commenting on the blog. Here we go.

Adjectives: Part I

Adjectives are frequently descriptive. That is, most often adjectives are used to describe a noun, or distinguish the noun from a group of similar objects. For example, an adjective might describe the color of an object.

• the red pen
  the blue pen

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In Spanish, most adjectives change form, depending upon whether the word they modify is masculine or feminine. Notice the difference between "the tall boy" and "the tall girl."

• el chico alto
  la chica alta

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Adjectives also change form depending upon whether the word they modify is singular or plural. Notice the difference between "the tall boy" and "the tall boys" ; "the tall girl" and "the tall girls."

• el chico alto
  los chicos altos
  
  la chica alta
  las chicas altas

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Many common adjectives end in -o. These adjectives have four forms. The following words all mean "tall":

• alto
  alta
  altos
  altas

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The correct form of the adjective depends upon the noun it modifies. Is the noun masculine or feminine? Singular or plural?

• libro rojo
  red book
  
  pluma roja
  red pen
  
  libros rojos
  red books
  
  plumas rojas
  red pens

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Notice how the endings of the nouns and these adjectives are similar.

• libro rojo
  pluma roja
  libros rojos
  plumas rojas

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Adjectives that end in -e also change form for singular or plural. To form the plural, simply add -s.

• la chica inteligente
  las chicas inteligentes

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Adjectives that end in -e do not, however, change form for masculine or feminine.

• la chica inteligente
  el chico inteligente
  
  las chicas inteligentes
  los chicos inteligentes

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Similarly, most adjectives that end in a consonant do change form for singular or plural, but do not change for masculine or feminine. To form the plural, add -es.

• la chica popular
  el chico popular
  
  las chicas populares
  los chicos populares

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Let's review.

• Adjectives that end in -o have four forms: alto, alta, altos, altas
  
  
• Adjectives that end in -e have two forms: inteligente, inteligentes
  
  
• Most adjectives that end in a consonant have two forms: popular, populares (form plural by adding -es)