Definition - Adjectives are words that describe and give information about nouns.

Types - The following is a list of the most common types of adjectives.

Qualifying adjectives express characteristics of people, things, places, or ideas:
             • grande [big], limpio [clean], azul [blue], oscuro [dark], importante [important], viejo [old], ...

Numerals define the number of nouns:
             • dos [two], treinta [thirty], seiscientos [six hundred], ...

Demonstrative adjectives refer to location:
             • este [this], aquélla [that], ...

Use - In Spanish, the adjectives change their form depending on the nouns to which they refer. Some adjectives are invariable, but most adjectives are written with endings that change according to the gender (masculine or feminine) and the number (singular or plural) of the nouns.

Examples of Spanish adjectives:
• El libro es grueso y pesado. [The book is thick and heavy.]
• La chica es tímida. [The girl is shy.]
• Aquellos hombres están alegres. [Those men are happy.]
• Hay una mesa marrón. [There is a brown table.]

Usually, in Spanish the adjective follows the noun. However, the adjective can be placed before the noun for reasons of style or to stress how the qualities defined by the adjective are essential to the person, thing, place, or idea described. Sometimes the position of the adjective and the relating noun may cause a change in spelling and in meaning.

Examples of changes in spelling and meaning:
• Este libro es grande. [This book is big.]
• Éste es un gran libro. [This is a great book.]
• El señor Morales es un buen profesor. [Mr Morales is a good teacher - He is good at his work.]
• El señor Morales es un profesor bueno. [Mr Morales is a good teacher. - He is a good person.]