The main function of an adjective is to modify a noun with which it agrees in gender and number. The adjective completes the meaning of a noun in two ways:
- directly, by preceding it, or following it. In this case, it modifies the noun or adds information about the noun.
- indirectly, through a verb. In this case the adjective performs the function of attribute or predicate, and must match the noun it references.
1. The adjetive grande apocopes to gran when it precedes singular masculine and feminine nouns, except for when it is preceded by the adverb más:
Ese es el gran (grande) hombre del que te hablé.
That's the great man I told you about.
El Ferrari es un gran (grande) coche.
Ferraris are great cars.
La ballena que encontraron muerta en la playa es la más grande que he visto nunca.
The whale they found dead on the beach is the biggest one I've ever seen.
2. The adjetives bueno and malo only apocopate in front of singular masculine nouns:
Martín es un buen (bueno) hombre sólo está pasando por una mala etapa.
Martin is a good man. He’s just going through a bad patch.
3. The adverb mucho becomes muy. It apocopates when precedes an adjective or an adverb, but it doesn't before más, menos, major and peor:
Hablas muy bajo. Casi no te puedo oír.
You speak really low. I can barely hear you.
4. The adverb tanto becomes tan, and the adverb cuanto becomes cuán. The two of them loose the final syllable in front of adjectives or adverbs but not before a verb. Tanto es así and tanto era cierto are common expression with tanto used in front of a verb.
Ese vestido es tan bonito.
That dress is so beautiful.
No te imaginas cuán cerca está.
You can't imagine how close it is.
5. Other apocope cases are:
a) masculine or femenine, plural and singular:
a. 1) possessive adjectives:
mío/a > mi (mía) casa
tuyo/a > tu (tuyo) coche
suyo/a > su (suyo) barco
a. 2) indefinite adjetive cualquiera/cualesquiera:
cualquiera > cualquier hombre / mujer
cualesquiera > cualesquier hombres / mujeres
b) masculine singular:
b. 1) determinative adjectives:
alguno > algún hombre
ninguno > ningún hombre
b. 2) numerals
primero > primer hombre
tercero > tercer hombre
veintiuno > veintiún hombres
b. 3) qualifying adjectives:
santo > san Francisco (there are few excepcions Santo Domingo, Santo Tomás, Santo Tomé,...)
- directly, by preceding it, or following it. In this case, it modifies the noun or adds information about the noun.
- indirectly, through a verb. In this case the adjective performs the function of attribute or predicate, and must match the noun it references.
Función de Apócope
The apocope consists of the elimination of a vowel or a syllable at the end of a word.1. The adjetive grande apocopes to gran when it precedes singular masculine and feminine nouns, except for when it is preceded by the adverb más:
Ese es el gran (
That's the great man I told you about.
El Ferrari es un gran (
Ferraris are great cars.
La ballena que encontraron muerta en la playa es la más grande que he visto nunca.
The whale they found dead on the beach is the biggest one I've ever seen.
2. The adjetives bueno and malo only apocopate in front of singular masculine nouns:
Martín es un buen (
Martin is a good man. He’s just going through a bad patch.
3. The adverb mucho becomes muy. It apocopates when precedes an adjective or an adverb, but it doesn't before más, menos, major and peor:
Hablas muy bajo. Casi no te puedo oír.
You speak really low. I can barely hear you.
4. The adverb tanto becomes tan, and the adverb cuanto becomes cuán. The two of them loose the final syllable in front of adjectives or adverbs but not before a verb. Tanto es así and tanto era cierto are common expression with tanto used in front of a verb.
Ese vestido es tan bonito.
That dress is so beautiful.
No te imaginas cuán cerca está.
You can't imagine how close it is.
5. Other apocope cases are:
a) masculine or femenine, plural and singular:
a. 1) possessive adjectives:
mío/a > mi (
tuyo/a > tu (
suyo/a > su (
a. 2) indefinite adjetive cualquiera/cualesquiera:
cualquiera > cualquier hombre / mujer
cualesquiera > cualesquier hombres / mujeres
b) masculine singular:
b. 1) determinative adjectives:
alguno > algún hombre
ninguno > ningún hombre
b. 2) numerals
primero > primer hombre
tercero > tercer hombre
veintiuno > veintiún hombres
b. 3) qualifying adjectives:
santo > san Francisco (there are few excepcions Santo Domingo, Santo Tomás, Santo Tomé,...)