*Notice the spelling change from z to c to conform to the normal rules of pronunciation
(see p. ix).
The position of adjectivesThe most common position of adjectives is after the noun but they are sometimes found
in front.
Unfortunately there are no rigid rules governing the position of adjectives but some
general guidelines can be given.
The most common function of adjectives is to distinguish one or more things from
others that belong to the same class but are different in respect of the adjective being
used. For example, ‘the blue car’ distinguishes this car from other cars that are not blue;
‘excellent ideas’ distinguishes one set of ideas from others that are not excellent. These
are called ‘restrictive’ adjectives.
In Spanish these ‘restrictive’ adjectives are generally placed after the noun:
e.g. el coche azul
ideas excelentes
Sometimes the adjective is used to describe the class of noun as a whole rather than
distinguish between nouns in the same class – i.e. it is seen as an inherent characteristic
of the noun rather than something that distinguishes it from other nouns in its class – e.g.
‘white snow’ (snow is always white, therefore the adjective ‘white’ is not distinguishing
it from other types of snow).
These ‘non-restrictive’ adjectives are often placed in front of the noun, although this is
not obligatory:
e.g. la blanca nieve
the white snow
los fríos días de invierno
the cold winter days
As a general rule it can be said that the more important the adjective the more likely it is
to come after the noun, and the more redundant, the more likely it is to come in front.
Some adjectives, when used before the noun, may express the speaker’s judgement
rather than an established fact. This is often the case with bueno (good), malo (bad),
nuevo (new), viejo (old) and pequeño (small):
e.g. nuevas ideas new ideas
(ones you judge to be new)
(^) un coche nuevo a new car
(brand new – a fact, not a judgement)
una pequeña diferencia a slight difference
Adjectives and adverbs 53