Why do some descriptive adjectives go before the noun and some after?

Question

The placement of adjectives is my real question, I guess. I have read "The Placement of Adjectives" in the Reference section but I am still unclear on when to place the adjective before or after the noun. Has anyone done a game on placement of adjectives?

Answer 1

Invitaron a los encantadores niños a un helado

Invitaron a los niños encantadores a un helado

In the first one, all children get treated to an ice-cream, and all of them are charming.

In the second one, only the charming ones get the ice-cream: a los que no eran encantadores no les invitaron.

Siempre recuerdo los cálidos veranos de Sevilla.

Siempre recuerdo los veranos cálidos de Sevilla.

In the first one, you remember all hot summers of Sevilla, all of which -we assume- were hot.

In the second one, you only remember the hot ones, not the colder ones.

Answer 2

I had the exact same question for quite awhile. Here are some things I have learned:

Most adjectives do appear after the nouns they modify. Here are some exceptions:

Whenever there is a "Qué" expression (¡Qué linda flor!/What a lovely flower!)

Adjectives of inherent nature. These adjectives do not add any new information. ("el frio hielo"/"the cold ice")

Adjectives are frequently placed before the noun if it is the speaker's opinion or judgment. (Pienso que sería una buena idea./I think that it would be a good idea.)

Adjectives that express number/quantity go before the noun. This means actual numbers (uno, dos, tres) and words like (alguno, ninguno, poco, mucho, cada, todos, mismo, ambos, etc.)

Demonstrative and possessive adjectives always precede the noun. (nuestros manzanas/our apples)

I just checked the reference article, which includes most of what I added. I have found that it is sometimes helpful to read the same information/grammar rules from several sources when I am confused. Hopefully, this helps. - Nicole-B, Sep 4, 2010

Thanks for the response. I have to leave right now, but I'll study it when I get back. - Maria-Russell, Sep 4, 2010

Answer 3

One reason is that adjectives before the noun add information about the noun, whereas adjectives after the noun narrow down their scope of use:

El pequeño conejo = The rabbit, which happens to be small,... (no comparison is made)

El conejo pequeño = The small rabbit, not the big ones,... (you are choosing among them)

If I understand you correctly, in your above example, when an adjective precedes the noun it merely describes it, but when it follows the noun, it indicates a class of one kind or another. - Maria-Russell, Sep 4, 2010

In your examples, in both cases, you seem to be saying not a big rabbit, can you give me some other examples that will highlight the different uses? - Maria-Russell, Sep 4, 2010

Answer 4

Maria, I have also found that if you listen to Spanish conversation enough, you will instinctively pick this up.

For example, after learning some of these rules, I realized that I had never heard a number or amount placed after the noun it modifies:

libros cinco or día cada It is always the reverse

I know some adjectives are trickier than others, but after awhile, many will become second nature through "listening".