Spanish: An Essential Grammar

Shortening occurs even if another adjective immediately follows before the

noun:

el primer nuevo caso the first new case

However, shortening does notoccur when one of the above adjectives is

joined to another adjective by a conjunction, or is otherwise separated from

the noun:

el primero y último caso the first and last case

The singular form grande‘big/large’ is usually shortened to granbefore

nouns of eithergender:

una gran pena a great un gran apetito a great

sadness appetite

However, grandeis not shortened when preceded by másor menos, when

used with another adjective to which it is linked by a conjunction, or is

otherwise separated from the noun:

la más grande ocasión the greatest occasion

el grande aunque the great although unknown writer

desconocido escritor

The masculine form Santo‘Saint’ is shortened to Sanexcept before names

that begin with To-or Do-:

San Marcos San Fernando Santo Tomás Santo Domingo

Santois never shortened when it means ‘holy’: el santo sacramento ‘the

Holy Sacrament’.

Position of adjectives

Some adjectives have a fixed position in relation to their accompanying

noun, while others enjoy a greater flexibility.

6.4

6.3.3

6.3.2

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

Position of

adjectives

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