Word Order — Adjective Before Noun
English puts adjectives BEFORE nouns; Spanish mostly puts them after
Category: Word Order
The Rule
English: adjective + noun ('red car'). Spanish: noun + adjective ('carro rojo'). English adjectives ALWAYS precede the noun they modify (with very few exceptions).
Why This Matters
Spanish: 'una casa grande' (a house big). English: 'a big house' (NOT 'a house big'). While Spanish sometimes puts adjectives before nouns for emphasis, English strictly requires adjective-first order. Spanish speakers frequently produce 'the car red' or 'a problem big'.
Examples
• a beautiful garden — "un jardín hermoso" [English: beautiful + garden. Spanish: jardín + hermoso] • the old building — "el edificio viejo" [English: old + building. Reversed from Spanish order] • an interesting book — "un libro interesante" [Adjective MUST come before noun in English]
Common Mistakes
❌ I live in a house big. ✅ I live in a big house. → Direct transfer from Spanish 'casa grande'. English adjectives go BEFORE the noun. ❌ She has eyes blue. ✅ She has blue eyes. → 'Ojos azules' → 'blue eyes'. Always adjective-first in English.
Quick Tip
Simple rule: in English, adjectives ALWAYS go before the noun. No exceptions for color, size, quality, or origin. 'A big red Italian car' — all before 'car'.
Simple rule: in English, adjectives ALWAYS go before the noun. No exceptions for color, size, quality, or origin. 'A big red Italian car' — all before 'car'.
Examples
Common Mistakes
Incorrect: I live in a house big. → Correct: I live in a big house.. Direct transfer from Spanish 'casa grande'. English adjectives go BEFORE the noun.
Incorrect: She has eyes blue. → Correct: She has blue eyes.. 'Ojos azules' → 'blue eyes'. Always adjective-first in English.
Quiz
Which is correct?