1. Spanish Adjective Agreement
Edited by:
seÑora pearson
2017

2. Definition / Explanation
Adjectives describe nouns and pronouns.
In Spanish, adjectives agree in number (how many) and gender (masculine or feminine).
In Spanish, adjectives follow the noun or pronoun which they describe.
In English we say, the yellow car
In Spanish we say, the car yellow
{The adjective appears AFTER the noun in Spanish!}

3. Examples
the tall boy el chico alto the tall boys los chicos altos the tall girl la chica alta the tall girls las chicas altas

4. Rules
If the noun is masculine, the adjective must be masculine to match.
If the noun is feminine, the adjective must be feminine to match.
If the noun is singular, the adjective must be singular to match.
If the noun is plural, the adjective must be plural to match.
However….

5. Exceptions
There are some adjectives called genderless or neutral. Genderless or neutral adjectives can show number but NOT gender. These adjectives DO NOT end in the letter “-o” or “-a”.

6. Examples of neutral adjectives
the interesting boy el chico interesante
the interesting boys los chicos interesantes
the interesting girl la chica interesante
the interesting girls las chicas interesantes

7. (In this case, just change the –o to –a!)
Nationalities
If the nationality is gendered and it is describing a masculine noun, it will end in –o. chico…
americano italiano mexicano
If the nationality is gendered, and it is describing a feminine noun, it will end in –a chica…
americana italiana mexicana
(In this case, just change the –o to –a!)

8. Nationalities continued
Sometimes the nationalities end in a consonant, not the letter –o. In this case, just add the letter –a to the word when describing a feminine noun.
japonés
japonesa
inglés
inglesa