Ch 47 · Lesson 9Spanish · Chapter 47 · Lesson 9 · Grammar primer
Adjective suffixes: -oso, -able, -ante
Turning nouns and verbs into adjectives: -oso means full of (), -able means it can be done to it (, ), -ante means it does the action ().
The short version
Read the ending and the meaning falls out
Why?Hide
Spanish rarely invents an adjective from nothing. Strip the suffix and the base word is sitting underneath. The ending -oso goes on a noun and means full of it, -able and -ible go on a verb and mean able to be done, -al and -ico mean relating to. One glance hands you half the meaning for free.
-able is done to it, -ante does it
.
Why?Hide
An -able or -ible adjective describes something the action can be done to: can be accepted. An -ante or -ente adjective describes something that does the action: surprises you. Neither changes for gender: , .
A Spanish adjective suffix sits on a noun or a verb and adds a fixed meaning. Strip it off and the base word tells you the rest:
- dangerous (from, danger)- acceptable (from, to accept)
Spanish adjective suffixes at a glance
Find the coloured suffix, then the base underneath.
| Suffix | Means | Example | Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | full of | | , fame |
| -able, -ible | can be done | | |
| -, -ente | doing it | | |
| -, -ar | relating to | | |
| -ico | relating to | | |
| -ivo | tending to | | |
| -dor | given to doing | | |
| -és, - | from a place | |
-oso: full of a noun
-oso goes on a noun and means full of it, or having a lot of it.
| Noun | Adjective | English |
|---|---|---|
| | dangerous |
| | famous |
| | proud |
| | wonderful |
| | noisy |
| lluvioso | rainy |
It agrees like any -o adjective: -oso, -osa, -osos, -osas.
.- It's a very dangerous street..- I'm proud of you.
-able and -ible: it can be done to it
-able goes on a verb and means the action can be done to the thing: is an that can be accepted. -ar verbs take -able; -er and -ir verbs take -ible.
| Verb | Adjective | English |
|---|---|---|
| | acceptable |
| lavable | washable |
| recomendable | advisable |
| | believable |
| | understandable |
Two things the table cannot show. These adjectives have one form for both genders: , . And in- in front gives the opposite:
¡ !- It's incredible!
-ante and -ente: doing the action
-ante is the mirror image of -able: the thing does the action. is a film that surprises you. -ar verbs take -ante; -er and -ir verbs take -ente or -iente.
| Verb | Adjective | English |
|---|---|---|
| | important |
| | interesting |
| | surprising |
| | convenient |
| | next, following |
Like -able, they have one form for both genders: , an important piece of news. Many double as nouns for the person who does it: , a student; , a singer.
Done to it, or doing it? Ask what the adjective describes:
| Type | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| done to | | a believable story |
| doing it | | a surprising story |
| done to | | an acceptable plan |
| doing it | | an interesting plan |
Going further: -al, -ico and -ivo: relating to and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
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