Spanish: An Essential Grammar

If the two nouns constitute separateitems, the usual rule applies and the

adjective is used in the plural:

una inteligencia y dedicación tremendas

tremendous intelligence and dedication

When a plural noun is qualified by adjectives which imply one of each, the

adjectives are singular:

los embajadores peruano y ecuatoriano

the Peruvian and Ecuadorian ambassadors

When an adjective precedes two or more nouns, it usually adopts the gender

and number of the first:

la extraña vida y aventuras de don Miguel

the strange life and adventures of don Miguel

When a compound adjective is formed with a hyphen, only the second of

the adjectives agrees with the noun:

discusiones hispano-marroquíes

Hispano-Moroccan discussions

Shortening of adjectives

The adjectives bueno‘good’ and malo ‘bad’, primero‘first’ and tercero

‘third’, uno ‘one’, ‘a’, alguno ‘some’ and ninguno ‘no’ drop the final -o

before masculine singularnouns.

In the case of algunoand ningunoa written accent is placed above the u

in the shortened form:

un buen libro a good book mal tiempo bad weather

el tercer día the third day ningún hombre no man

6.3.1

6.3

6.2.2.4

6.2.2.3

6.2.2.2

1111

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

1011

1

12111

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

20111

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

30111

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

40

41111

6

Adjectives

56