(c)Santo is shortened to san before male names unless such names begin with To-
or Do-:San Andrés‘Saint Andrew’
Santo Tomás‘Saint Thomas’5.2 Adjective position
36.1 (p. 212)
Adjective position in Spanish generally depends on the relation between the noun and
the adjective. It is very extensively manipulated for stylistic effect, and so adjective
placement is rarely ‘right’ or ‘wrong’.5.2.1 Adjectives placed after the noun:
(a) Denote a distinctive or contrastive attribute of the noun; adjectives denoting
nationality, place of origin, shape, substance, purpose, colour, etc., therefore very often
follow their noun:
el gobierno francés‘the French government’
una costumbre asturiana‘an Asturian custom’
una venda triangular‘a triangular bandage’
pintura metálica‘metalic paint’
el año escolar‘the school year’
una casa verde‘a green house’
(b) Denote a sub-group or particular type of the noun concerned:los libros técnicos‘technical books’
un rasgo geográfico‘a geographical feature’
flores silvestres‘wild flowers’NOTE If in English an adjective is stressed, the corresponding adjective in Spanish usually follows the
noun, e.g. ‘Bring me the red pencils (not the green ones)’, Tráeme los lápices rojos (no los
verdes).5.2.2 Adjectives placed before the noun:
(a) Usually express a non-distinctive property of the noun, especially a feature that is
expected or well-known:
los feroces tigres de la selva‘the fierce jungle tigers’
mi linda amiga‘my pretty girlfriend’
la madrileña calle de Serrano‘the Calle Serrano in Madrid’
la dura vida de los mineros‘the hard life of miners’
(b) May have a non-literal or ironical meaning:ni un triste céntimo
not (even) a miserable centAdjective position 5.2