AgreementAgreement

Look at these sentences (alto = tall; guapo = good-looking): El niño es alto y guapo. La niña es alta y guapa.

Words that describe “niño” also end in –o: alto, guapo

Words that describe “niña” also end in –a: alta, guapa

What’s going on here?What’s going on here?

Other words in the sentence also change to “agree” (match the form of the noun they describe). Here’s another one:

El profesor es bajo, anciano, y gordo.

How would you change this sentence to talk about a woman professor?

AgreementAgreement

La profesora es baja, anciana, y gorda.

What if there is more than one male teacher?

AgreementAgreement

Los profesores son bajos, ancianos, y gordos.

What is happening?? Los > “the” plural Profesores > plural Son > “are” Bajos, ancianos, gordos > adjectives

match the ending of the nouns, too. This doesn’t happen in English

(except for “this/these” and “that/those”). But it’s an important feature in Spanish!

Let’s try one!Let’s try one!

Put the correct ending on each word.

La chica es bonit__ y delgad__.

Mi auto es antigu__ y fe__.

The envelope, please!The envelope, please!

La chica es bonita y delgada.

Mi auto es antiguo y feo.

Now make these sentences plural!

Your final answer…Your final answer…

Las chicas son bonitas y delgadas.

Mis autos son antiguos y feos.

How about this sentence in the plural? El estudiante es

inteligente y trabajador.

How did you do?How did you do?

Los estudiantes son inteligentes y trabajadores.

Adjectives that end in –e can be used with either masculine or feminine nouns. To make them plural, just add –s.

Adjectives that end in –r add –es for plural.

That’s enough for now!That’s enough for now!

This is a very tricky concept for learners of Spanish, mainly because it is so different from English.

However, it is extremely important and requires a lot of concentration on your part! Keep your eyes and ears open for gender and agreement, and soon the patterns will become clearer.

That’s enough for now!That’s enough for now!

This is a very tricky concept for learners of Spanish, mainly because it is so different from English.

However, it is extremely important and requires a lot of concentration on your part! Keep your eyes and ears open for gender and agreement, and soon the patterns will become clearer.