Many adjectives of nationality end in -o. These adjectives follow the same rules as other adjectives ending in -o. That is, they have four forms.
el muchacho mexicano
la muchacha mexicanalos muchachos mexicanos
las muchachas mexicanas
Many other adjectives of nationality end in a consonant. These adjectives do not follow the same rules as other adjectives ending in a consonant, rather, they have a distinct feminine form ending in -a.
el muchacho español
la muchacha españolalos muchachos españoles
las muchachas españolas
There is another group of adjectives that does not follow the normal rules. Adjectives ending in -or, -án, -ón, or -ín also have a feminine form.
el chico hablador
la chica habladoralos chicos habladores
las chicas habladorasel hombre trabajador
la mujer trabajadoralos hombres trabajadores
las mujeres trabajadoras
Note: Adjectives ending in "-erior" do not have a feminine form.
Adjectives that are descriptive usually follow the noun they describe.
el chico alto
la chica alta
los libros pequeños
las plumas rojas
Adjectives of quantity almost always come before the noun. Such adjectives tell how much or how many.
pocos libros
mucha energía
mucho trabajo
pocas casas
Sometimes, a descriptive adjective can precede the noun. If the adjective is descriptive, but speaks of a quality that is inherent and usually taken for granted, the adjective comes first.
la blanca nieve
the white snow (snow is inherently white)los altos picos
the tall peaks (peaks are inherently tall)
Let's review the last two lessons.
Adjectives that end in -o have four forms.
alto
alta
altos
altas
Adjectives of nationality ending in -o are no different from other such adjectives.
guatemalteco
guatemalteca
guatemaltecos
guatemaltecas
Adjectives that end in -e have two forms.
inteligente
inteligentes
Most adjectives ending with a consonant have two forms.
popular
populares
Adjectives of nationality ending in a consonant have four forms.
español
española
españoles
españolas
Adjectives ending in -or, -án, -ón, or -ín have four forms.
hablador
habladora
habladores
habladoras
Adjectives that are descriptive usually follow the noun they describe.
casa blanca
chica alta
When an adjective speaks of a quality that is inherent and usually taken for granted, the adjective precedes the noun.
la blanca nieve
los altos picos
Adjectives of quantity usually come before the noun.
pocos libros
muchos libros
