1B.2 Adjective Agreement

When it comes to writing in English, one of the most basic rules is the agreement between adjectives and the nouns they describe. This means that the adjective must have the same gender, number, and case as the noun it is modifying. For example, if the noun is plural, the adjective must also be plural.

In Spanish, adjective agreement follows the same basic principle, but it is a bit more complex. In Spanish, adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. This means that if the noun is feminine and singular, the adjective must also be feminine and singular. If the noun is masculine and plural, the adjective must also be masculine and plural.

To illustrate this, let`s take a look at some examples:

– La casa es grande. (The house is big.) In this example, “casa” (house) is feminine singular, so “grande” (big) must be feminine singular as well.

– Los perros son negros. (The dogs are black.) In this example, “perros” (dogs) is masculine plural, so “negros” (black) must be masculine plural as well.

– Las gatas son pequeñas. (The cats are small.) In this example, “gatas” (cats) is feminine plural, so “pequeñas” (small) must be feminine plural as well.

It is important to note that there are some irregular adjectives that don`t follow the standard rules of agreement. For example, “bueno” (good) is masculine singular, but “buena” (good) is feminine singular. “Grande” (big) is the same for both masculine and feminine singular, but becomes “grandes” in the plural form.

In addition to gender and number, there is also case to consider. In Spanish, adjectives must agree in case with the noun they modify. This means that if the noun is in the subject case, the adjective must also be in the subject case. If the noun is in the object case, the adjective must also be in the object case.

For example:

– Él es un hombre inteligente. (He is an intelligent man.) In this example, “hombre” (man) is in the subject case, so “inteligente” (intelligent) must also be in the subject case.

– Mi hermana tiene un vestido rojo. (My sister has a red dress.) In this example, “vestido” (dress) is in the object case, so “rojo” (red) must also be in the object case.

In conclusion, adjective agreement is an important aspect of writing in Spanish. This means that the adjective must agree with the noun it is describing in gender, number, and case. By following these rules, you can ensure that your writing is grammatically correct and effectively communicates your ideas.