Some sequences of a noun with an adjective have developed a more or less
fixedword order:
ideas fijas fixed ideas sentido común common sense
mala suerte bad luck largo plazo long term
rara vez rarely hijo único only childAdjectives that may be placed before or after the nounMost adjectives other than those described in 6.4.1 can appear on either side
of their noun, although the ‘default position’ is usually afterthe noun, as in
una montaña alta ‘a high mountain’. In this position the adjective receives
more emphasis than the noun and marks out what is distinctive about the
item referred to in contrast with others of its kind. In this usage the adjec-
tive is said to be restrictive, i.e. it restricts the reference of the noun.
In contrast, an adjective that is placed beforeits noun often denotes an
incidental property or characteristic of the noun and so does not restrict
the noun’s reference.
Compare the two uses of podridas‘rotten’ below:
Hay que cambiar las podridas maderas.
We have to replace the rotten wood.
Hay que cambiar las maderas podridas.
We have to replace the rotten wood.
In the first case, we need to replace allthe wood, which incidentally is
rotten. In the second case, we need to replace onlythose pieces of wood
that are rotten. In other words, the adjective podridas is not restrictive
when it comes before the noun madera, but it is restrictive(it contributes
to identifying particular pieces of wood) when it comes after the noun.
Therefore the general rule is that adjectives followthe noun if they help to
identify or pick out particular items within the category indicated by the
noun, and they precedeit when this is not the case.
For example, adjectives that express a subjective opinion or offer an
emotional judgement commonly precede the noun, especially when used
with the definite article or a possessive adjective:6.4.2.16.4.2(^1111) 6.4.1.5
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
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Position of
adjectives