3.2.1: Describe things using the correct position, gender and number of adjectives 3.2.2: Describe the color of things 3.2.3: Identify things based on spoken descriptions Learning Outcomes: ¿Es una rosa roja o blanca ?
Introduction to ¿Es una rosa roja o blanca ? An adjective modifies a noun; that is, it provides more detail about a noun or pronoun. It might provide a color or a description: the red ball the house is magnificent (adjective following the linking verb “is”) Note: adjectives only modify nouns or pronouns . To modify verbs, we use adverbs, but we'll get to that in later chapters. As we’ll see, adjectives in Spanish behave slightly differently from those in English.
Concordancia de adjetivos You learned in previous lessons that nouns and articles in Spanish must agree in both gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural). This same agreement must occur in Spanish when adjectives are used to describe nouns. It’s important to note that while the gender of nouns is an inherent property, adjectives do not have this inherent characteristic. The gender of an adjective will change according to the noun.
Concordancia de adjetivos If the noun is masculine and singular, the adjective that describes the noun will also be masculine and singular: el chic o generos o ( the generous boy ) If the noun is feminine and singular, the adjective that describes the noun will also be feminine and singular: la chic a generos a ( the generous girl )
Concordancia de adjetivos If the noun is masculine and plural, the adjective that describes the noun will also be masculine and singular: los chic os generos os ( the generous boys ) If the noun is feminine and plural, the adjective that describes the noun will also be feminine and plural: las chic as generos as ( the generous girls )
Concordancia de adjetivos If an adjective ends in -o for the masculine form, it generally will also have a feminine form ( generoso / generosa as shown in the examples). If a masculine singular adjective ends in a consonant or a vowel other than -o (most commonly -e), such as importante , it does not change for gender but it will change for number. The plurals of adjectives are formed in the same way that you learned in previous lessons for nouns. Add an -s if the word ends in a vowel; add an -es if the word ends in a consonant. el documento importante la clase importante los documentos importantes las clases importantes
Concordancia de adjetivos Adjectives are usually placed after the noun they are describing or after the verb ser . Mi mamá cocina comida rica. ( My mom cooks delicious food .) Los médicos son inteligentes. ( The doctors are intelligent .) Indefinite adjectives, such as mucho (a lot, many), alguno (some), ninguna (any), cada (every) and numbers, both cardinal and ordinal, precede the noun.
Concordancia de adjetivos There are a few exceptions to this placement that you will learn in future lessons. Also, some adjectives mean something slightly different when used before a noun instead of after. Here are just a few examples: Alto (top or high / tall): Pagamos un alto precio (We pay a high price). Es un hombre alto (He is a tall man). Único (only / unique): Compramos la única marca (We buy the only brand). Tengo una mochila única (I have a unique backpack). Gran (great) or grande (big, large): Ella es una gran líder (She’s a great leader). Ella lidera un país grande (She leads a large country). Note: The word grande doesn't just change meaning when used before a noun, it's shortened to gran . Some other words, such as bueno ( buen ) and alguno ( algún ) get shortened only before a masculine singular noun.
Vocabulario
Los Colores
Los Colores Rojo Verde Anaranjado Azul Amarillo Morado
Los Colores Colorido (colorful) Oscuro (dark) Opaco (dull, opaque) Claro (clear or light) Descolorido (colorless)
Descripciones
Descripciones redondo triangular cuadrado ovalado esférico plano
Descripciones
Descripciones delgado corto grueso largo pequeño grande alto bajo
Descripciones
duro Descripciones suave pesado ligero liso
Adjetivos indefinidos y muy algún, alguno (some) ningún, ninguno (none, not any) mucho (many, a lot of) cada (each) muy (very) Muy is a very useful adverb meaning very .
Ejercicios Conteste cada pregunta en una oración completa. (Answer each question in a complete sentence.) ¿De qué color es el mar (the sea)? ¿De qué color es el tronco de un árbol (the trunk of a tree)? ¿De qué color es una manzana (apple)? ¿De qué colores son uvas (grapes)? ¿De qué color es un flamenco (flamingo)? ¿De qué color es un límon?
Ejercicios Fill in the blank with the form of the adjective that agrees in number and gender with the noun. Los perro son _____ (short). Las ventanas son _____ (round). El libro de texto es muy _____ (heavy). La jirafa _____ (tall) está en el jardín. Necesito tres lápices _____ (blue). Tengo _____ (some) sillas _____ (heavy).
Actividad: Colores Haz una lista de los diferentes colores que corresponden a las siguientes palabras (List different colors that correspond with the following words): El café El chocolate El elefante El tomate La naranja (¡Ojo!) Tu mochila Tu cuaderno Tu bolígrafo
Actividad: ¿De qué color es? Mira tu sala de clase y pregunta a tu compañero de qué colores son diferentes objetos (Look at your classroom and ask your partner what color different objects are). Modelo: Estudiante 1: ¿De qué color es la pizarra? Estudiante 2: La pizarra es verde.
Assignment: ¿Qué es? ¿Qué es? En 2-3 oraciones, describe una cosa sin decir qué es. Luego, lee una descripción de un compañero de clase y adivina qué es (In 2-3 sentences, describe something without saying what it is. Then, read a partner’s description and guess what it is).
¿Cómo es el pájaro? antipáticas antipático antipáticos antipática Practice Question 1
¿Cómo es la mesa? redonda redondas redondo redondos Practice Question 2
Mi hermano tiene ojos _____. verde moradas verdes morada Practice Question 3
El pelo de su perro es de color _____. azul morado morada marrón Practice Question 4
Quick Review How do adjectives change for gender and number agreement? How is word order different in Spanish than it is in English with respect to adjectives? How can placement of some adjectives affect their meaning? What words are used for colors and to describe things?