Spanish: An Essential Grammar

Verb + adjective sequences

A very common construction in Spanish involves using an adjective in

combination with a verb.

In one type of case, the adjective is linked with the verb’s subjectand so

agrees with it in number and gender:

Ana compró el caballo entusiasmada.

Ana was thrilled to buy the horse.

Mi padre se casó joven.

My father married young.

In the second type of case, the adjective is linked with the verb’s objectand

so agrees with that in number and gender.

Two word orders are possible: the adjective can be placed eitherafter the

verb orafter the noun with which it is linked:

Toma muy caliente Toma su café muy He takes his coffee

su café. caliente. very hot.

Tiene rota la pierna. Tiene la pierna rota. His leg is broken.

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Adjectives

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