Pralingo

Spanish · A1 · Grammar

Place adjectives correctly

In English, the adjective comes before the : "a red car". In Spanish it is usually the other way round - the adjective comes after the : un coche rojo. Here you learn this basic rule and practise it in short phrases and sentences.

The basic rule: first, then the adjective

First the says what you are talking about, then the adjective describes it more precisely: una casa grande (a big house), un libro nuevo (a new book), una camisa blanca (a white shirt).

The stays right at the front. So the order is + + adjective - with el/la just as with un/una: el chico guapo (the good-looking boy), un chico guapo (a good-looking boy).

Colours and nationalities: always after

The rule is especially clear with colours and nationalities. They always come after the : un coche rojo, never un rojo coche; una amiga española, never una española amiga.

A few Spanish adjectives can also come before the , for example in fixed expressions like Buenos días. You will learn about that later. For now: put the adjective after the - and you will be right.

The position stays, the form adapts

Even when the is or , the adjective stays at the back. Only its form adapts, as you already know: un libro nuevo, unos libros nuevos; una casa blanca, unas casas blancas.

In a whole sentence the phrase stays together: Tengo un coche rojo. (I have a red car.) Hay una botella vacía en la mesa. (There is an empty bottle on the table.)

Examples

  • una casa grande
  • un coche rojo
  • el chico guapo
  • una amiga española
  • unos libros nuevos
  • Tengo una camisa blanca.

Exercises

A1GrammarPosition of adjectives

Exercise 1 of 6

Before or after the noun?

Choose the correct phrase.

How do you say "a red car" in Spanish?

You now know the basic rule: noun first, then the adjective. Now check several phrases at once - in which of them is the adjective in the right place?

A1GrammarPosition of adjectives

Exercise 2 of 6

Is the adjective in the right place?

Sort each phrase into the right group.

Is the adjective in its normal place after the noun?

una casa grande
un rojo coche
un libro nuevo
una española amiga
una camisa blanca
un negro bolso
un café caliente
una azul mesa

correct position

wrong position

A1GrammarPosition of adjectives

Exercise 3 of 6

In my flat

Choose the correct phrase throughout the whole text.

En mi piso hay .
En la mesa hay .
En el armario hay .
Por la mañana bebo .

So far you have recognised and chosen the correct position. Now you build the sentences yourself - pay attention to where the adjective belongs.

A1GrammarPosition of adjectives

Exercise 4 of 6

My brother's car

Drag the words into the correct order.

Say that your brother has a red car.

A1GrammarPosition of adjectives

Exercise 5 of 6

Two adjectives in one sentence

Drag the words into the correct order.

Say that you have a white shirt and black trousers.

Finally, it works the other way round: here the adjective is in the wrong place. Can you find the mistake and correct it?

A1GrammarPosition of adjectives

Exercise 6 of 6

Is the sentence correct?

Correct the sentence.

Tengo una española amiga en Madrid.