-o / -a
Most descriptive adjectives mark gender.
Spanish 101 · Grammar
Adjective agreement
Adjectives usually follow nouns; they “copy” gender and number — including when nouns are implied.
The rule
Default pattern: noun + adjective with matching endings: chico alto, chica alta, chicos altos, chicas altas.
Adjectives ending in -e or consonants often invariable in gender: estudiante inteligente, joven común.
Apocope rules: bueno → buen before masculine singular nouns; grande → gran before singular nouns in some meanings.
Position can affect meaning with a few adjectives (viejo amigo vs. amigo viejo) — textbook-specific nuance.
Viven en casas pequeñas pero bonitas.They live in small but pretty houses.
Es un buen día para practicar español.It is a good day to practice Spanish.
Examples in context
Estudio español todos los días.I study Spanish every day.present habit
¿Puedes ayudarme con la tarea?Can you help me with the homework?request
Voy a la biblioteca después de clase.I go to the library after class.movement
No entiendo esta palabra.I do not understand this word.negation
Me gusta la música latina.I like Latin music.gustar
Tenemos clase mañana a las nueve.We have class tomorrow at nine.tener + noun
¿Dónde está el aula?Where is the classroom?estar — location
Es un examen difícil.It is a difficult exam.ser — description
Quick reference
Plural
Add -s after vowel; -es after consonant in many cases.
Scope
Predicate adjectives still agree with the subject noun/pronoun.
Common mistakes
Wrong agreement
❌ Wrong: La problema es fácil.
✅ Correct: El problema es fácil.
Problema is masculine despite ending in -a.
Double subjects
❌ Wrong: Yo soy yo estudiante.
✅ Correct: Soy estudiante.
Drop redundant subject pronouns when the verb ending is clear.
Negation placement
❌ Wrong: Entiendo no.
✅ Correct: No entiendo.
Place no immediately before the conjugated verb.
Literal word order
❌ Wrong: ¿Qué hora es qué?
✅ Correct: ¿Qué hora es?
Keep standard question frames; do not copy English order.
Practice questions
Test what you just learned. Select an answer to see instant feedback.
Las chicas son _____.
El coche es _____.
Tengo dos perros _____.
Es una idea _____.
Viven en casas _____.
You got 0/5 correct.
Want more practice on Adjective agreement?
Chapurra has 50 questions like these, organized by chapter. Capítulo Preliminar is free.
Start practicing free →FAQ
Why is el problema masculine if it ends in -a?
Many -ma words come from Greek roots and stay masculine: el programa, el clima, el mapa. Gender is lexical—you memorize article + noun as a chunk rather than trusting the final vowel alone.
How do adjectives agree if there are two nouns of different genders?
Traditional rules use the masculine plural default for mixed groups: Carlos y Ana son altos in some frames, or repeat adjectives for precision. Follow what your instructor models; inclusive language variants exist but may not match every exam key.
Do accent marks change pronunciation every time?
They always mark stress when it breaks the default penultimate/antepenultimate pattern, and they distinguish homographs (tu/tú, el/él). Learning them is part of spelling accuracy in courses that grade written accents.
When do I use tú vs. usted in the verb chart?
Match the social situation your syllabus targets. Usted shares forms with él/ella in many regions. Vosotros appears in Spain-focused materials. Latin-American classrooms often emphasize tú/usted/ustedes plus recognition of vosotros.
What is the difference between ordinal and cardinal numbers in dates?
Cardinals are usual in spoken dates after the first: el dos de mayo. Primero is common for the first of the month: el primero de mayo. Written forms vary; copy your textbook’s style for exams.