Question

How do number and gender affect adjectives in the Spanish language? Write your answer in English

Answer 1

In the Spanish language, adjectives agree with the nouns they modify in both number (singular or plural) and gender (masculine or feminine). Here’s how each aspect affects adjectives:

1. **Gender Agreement**:
- Spanish nouns are classified as masculine or feminine. Adjectives must match the gender of the noun they describe.
- Masculine adjectives typically end in “-o” (e.g., "alto" for "tall"), while feminine adjectives usually end in “-a” (e.g., "alta" for the same "tall” when referring to a female).
- For nouns that are plural, adjectives will take a corresponding plural form, usually by adding “-s” (for nouns ending in a vowel) or “-es” (for nouns ending in a consonant).

2. **Number Agreement**:
- Singular nouns will take singular adjectives, and plural nouns will take plural adjectives.
- For example:
- Singular: “El coche rojo” (The red car - masculine)
- Plural: “Los coches rojos” (The red cars - masculine plural)
- Singular: “La casa roja” (The red house - feminine)
- Plural: “Las casas rojas” (The red houses - feminine plural)

3. **Irregular Forms**:
- Some adjectives have irregular forms and may not follow the standard “-o” for masculine and “-a” for feminine. For instance, "feliz" (happy) does not change between genders.
- Additionally, certain adjectives may have unique plural forms that do not simply add “-s” or “-es.”

In summary, when using adjectives in Spanish, they must be modified to agree with the gender and number of the noun they are describing. This system of agreement is a fundamental characteristic of Spanish grammar.