2.3 Adjective Agreement

Gender agreement

Adjectives match the gender of the noun. Adjectives ending in -o change to -a for feminine: 'el chico alto' → 'la chica alta.' Adjectives ending in -e or a consonant usually don't change for gender: 'inteligente,' 'joven.'

Number agreement

Adjectives also match number. Add -s to a vowel ending, -es to a consonant: 'altos,' 'inteligentes,' 'jóvenes.' 'Las chicas altas' (the tall girls).

Placement

Descriptive adjectives usually come after the noun in Spanish: 'una casa grande' (a big house), not 'una grande casa.' Numbers and some others go before.

Key terms

Gender agreement

-o → -a for feminine: alto → alta

Number agreement

Add -s (vowel) or -es (consonant): altos, jóvenes

-e / consonant adjectives

Usually no gender change: inteligente, joven

Placement

Descriptive adjectives follow the noun: casa grande

Full example

las chicas altas = the tall girls

Try an AP-style question

Which is correct?

1. las casas blancos
2. las casas blancas
3. la casas blanca
4. los casas blancas