An adjective is a word that describes a noun or a pronoun.

IN ENGLISH

Adjectives are classified according to the way they describe a noun or

pronoun.

DESCRIPTIVE ADJECTIVE—A descriptive adjective indicates a quality; it

describes what the noun or pronoun is like (see p. 103).

She read an interesting book.

He has brown eyes.

POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVE—A possessive adjective shows possession; it

explains to whom something or someone belongs (see p. 106).

His book is lost.

Our parents are away.

INTERROGATIVE ADJECTIVE—An interrogative adjective asks a question

about someone or something (see p. 113).

Which parents did you speak to?

What book is lost?

DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVE—A demonstrative adjective points out

someone or something (seep. 116).

This teacher is excellent.

That question is very appropriate.

In all these cases it is said that the adjective modifies the noun or pro-

noun.

IN SPANISH

Adjectives are classified in the same way as in English. The principal

difference between English and Spanish adjectives is that in English

adjectives generally do not change their form, while in Spanish adjec-

tives agree in gender and number with the noun or pronoun they

modify.

103

31. WHAT ISA DESCRIPTIVE ADJECTIVE?

A descriptive adjective is a word that indicates a quality of a noun or

pronoun. As the name implies, it describes the noun or pronoun.

IN ENGLISH

The descriptive adjective does not change form, regardless of the

noun or pronoun it modifies.

The students are intelligent.

She is an intelligent person.

The adjective intelligent is the same although the persons described

are different in number (students is plural and person is singular).

Descriptive adjectives are divided into two groups depending on how

they are connected to the noun they modify.

A predicate adjective is connected to its noun (the subject of the sen-

tenceYby a linking verb, usually a form of to be.

The children are good.

I I I

noun linking predicate adjective

subject verb

The house looks small.

I I I

noun linking predicate adjective

subject verb

An attributive adjective is connected directly to its noun and always

precedes it.

The good children were praised.

attributive noun described

adjective

The family lives in a small house.

I I

attributive noun described

adjective

IN SPANISH

The most important difference between descriptive adjectives in

Spanish and English is that in Spanish they change forms. In Spanish,

an adjective, predicate and attributive, always agrees with the noun or

pronoun it modifies; that is, it must correspond in gender and number

to its noun. Thus, before writing an adjective, you will have to deter-

mine if the noun or pronoun it modifies is masculine or feminine, sin-

gular or plural.

Most adjectives change the final -o of the masculine singular form to

-a to make the feminine form and add -s to the masculine or feminine

singular form to make it plural.

the red car el coche ro~o

rnasc. rnasc.

sing. sing.

the red table la mesa roia

fern. fern.

sing. sing.

the red cars los coches rojos

I I

rnasc. rnasc.

pi. pl.

the red tables las mesas rojas

I I

fern, fern.

p1. p1.

As you can see in the examples above, in English, the adjective “red”

is placed before the noun it modifies, whereas “rojo” is placed after

the noun in Spanish. This is not always the case; some Spanish adjec-

tives also come before the noun they modify. Refer to your textbook

to learn whether a Spanish adjective is placed before or after the noun

it modifies.

Nouns Used as Adjectives

IN ENGLISH

You should be able to recognize nouns used as adjectives; that is, a

noun used to modify another noun. When a noun is used to describe

another noun, the structure is as follows: the describing noun (adjec-

tive) + the noun described.

[ts noun. Thus, before writing an adjective, you will have to deter-

ae if the noun or pronoun it modifies is masculine or feminine, sin-

ar or plural.

)st adjectives change the final -o of the masculine singular form to

to make the feminine form and add -s to the masculine or feminine

gular form to make it plural.

the red car el coche rojo

I 1

rnasc. rnasc.

sing. sing.

the red table la mesa ro~a

fern. fern.

sing. sing.

the red cars los coches rojos

I I

rnasc. rnasc.

p1. p1.

the red tables las mesas ro,jas

I I

fern. fern.

p1. p1.

you can see in the examples above, in English, the adjective “red”

,laced before the noun it modifies, whereas “rojo~~ is placed after

noun in Spanish. This is not always the case; some Spanish adjec-

es also come before the noun they modify. Refer to your textbook

Learn whether a Spanish adjective is placed before or after the noun

ciodifies.

Nouns Used as Adjectives

ENGLISH

u should be able to recognize nouns used as adjectives; that is, a

in used to modify another noun. When a noun is used to describe

Aher noun, the structure is as follows: the describing noun (adjec-

~) + the noun described.

105

Spanish is easy.

noun

Chemistry is difficult.

noun

The Spanish class is crowded.

adjective describing the noun class

The chemistry books are expensive.

adjective describing the noun books

IN SPANISH

When a noun is used as an adjective, that is, to describe another noun,

the structure is as follows: the noun described + de + the describing

noun (adjective) without an article. The describing noun remains a

noun and does not change its form.

the Spanish class —

I I

ci cspafiol la elasc

sing.

la clase de espaiiol

I I

fern. masc.

sing.

[word-for-word: the class of Spanish]

los libros de quimica

I I

rnasc. fern.

p1. sing.

[word-for-word: the books of chemistry]