Adjective placement

[fglorca]

In these examples we are emphasising a particular quality, which is why the adjective is placed before the noun:
- Javier y Marta tienen serios problemas. (problemas serios)
- Es una mala persona. (una persona mala)
- He visto a mi buen amigo Tomás. (mi amigo bueno)
- Hemos visto el Guernica, el famoso cuadro de Picasso. (el cuadro famoso)
- He tenido una fuerte discusión con mi jefe. (una discusión fuerte)
- Me he comprado un cede de Parsifal, la maravillosa ópera de Wagner. (la ópera maravillosa)

I assume it’s still correct to place these types of adjectives after the noun, as is usually the case?

I’m not sure about this one. ‘Marido anterior’ sounds off, but I’ve heard ‘el día anterior’ many times:
- Ayer vi a Pepa con su anterior marido. (con su marido anterior)

Many thanks in advance.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I think the main criterion here is euphony, and the fact that the first word may have more emphasis. :thinking:


- Javier y Marta tienen serios problemas.:good: (problemas serios):good:
- Es una mala persona.:good: (una persona mala) Not wrong, but you wouldn't place an emphasis on their being a person. And I think "mala persona" is rather a collocation.
- He visto a mi buen amigo Tomás. :good: (mi amigo bueno) :bad: I don't think we'd ever use this, unless all your other friends are horrible people. ;)
I think this is a collocation too.
- Hemos visto el Guernica, el famoso cuadro de Picasso.:good: (el cuadro famoso) :good: Both are fine.
- He tenido una fuerte discusión con mi jefe.:good: (una discusión fuerte) I think we prefer to make an emphasis on the violence of the discussion rather than the fact that it was a discussion. And the sentence flows better with "fuerte" placed before, but there is nothing really wrong with "discusión fuerte".
- Me he comprado un cede de Parsifal, la maravillosa ópera de Wagner.:good: (la ópera maravillosa) :good:
- Ayer vi a Pepa con su anterior marido. :good: (con su marido anterior):good: Both sentences are commonly heard. Both sound quite natural. :)

[fglorca]

Thanks so much, AngelicaDeAlquezar. These are superb explanations and I am very grateful for your help.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Glad to help! :)