Unit 4.1
Types of Adjectives
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Introduction
The adjective [adjetivo] modifies the noun, indicating its characteristics or qualities.
There are two kinds of adjectives: qualifying adjectives and relational adjectives.
Form
Adjectives agree in gender and number with the nouns they accompany.
Two kinds of adjectives attribute different types of characteristics to the noun: qualifying and relational.
Qualifying adjectives
Qualifying adjectives are adjectives that indicate qualities or properties of the noun. These are their characteristics:
- they fulfill the functions of noun complement (el libro interesante) and attribute (el libro es interesante).
- they are placed behind or in front of the noun. We put them in front of the noun when we want to emphasize the quality they point out;
- they can be graduated: un libro muy interesante;
- Qualifying adjectives cannot combine with possessive pronouns: *mi interesante.
Relational adjectives
Relational adjectives specify the field or category to which the noun belongs and are characterized by the formula «belonging or relating to » (e.g., crisis económica). These are their characteristics:
- they provide the answer to the question «¿De qué tipo?»;
- they are always placed after the noun;
- they are not gradable: *crisis muy económica;
- one of the subgroups of relational adjectives is the gentilic adjectives, which indicate a person’s relationship to a geographical place (especially his or her nationality): español, inglés, italiano, japonés, madrileño, barcelonés…
Example
Qualifying adjectives:
- Es una chica sociable;
- El perro es muy simpático;
- El alegre danzarín brincaba sin parar.
Relational adjectives:
- No hay papel higiénico en la tienda;
- Creo que ha acabado la crisis sanitaria;
- El clima español es caluroso.
Use
The adjective is used to: add information to a noun, describe the attributes of a noun and modify the noun, indicating its characteristics or qualities In the same way:
- qualifying adjectives are used to attribute a quality or property to the noun;
- relational adjectives are used to relate the noun to a domain or category.
Summary
The adjective modifies the noun, indicating its characteristics or qualities. In Spanish, there are two kinds of adjectives: qualifying adjectives and relational adjectives.
For example:
—«Mi DNI es español». = The adjective that expresses a quality of the DNI;
—«He encontrado un DNI español».=The adjective represents a relationship between the DNI and other DNI-s.
Check the contents of the {Form} section. Then move on to the {Example} section, which shows you the usage in context.
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