When do adjectives precede the nouns in Spanish?

Question

I have been reading a book in Spanish recently, and as normal the adjectives tend to fall after the nouns, but I see quite often, the adjectives precede the nouns.

Is there a rule to this? Is there a guideline to how and when to use this?

Good question. - ian-hill, Sep 23, 2009

Answer 1

"Spanish allows a degree of flexibility in the placing of adjectives, so that they sometimes precede the noun. The main principle governing this choice is to do with differentiation."

extract from:

http://www.dur.ac.uk/m.p.thompson/adjectives.htm

Wow! That's pretty complicated! - Alicia-53, Sep 22, 2009

Thank you! This really helped me understand better something that has always been a bit mysterious. - arnold3, Sep 22, 2009

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