The word Único

[LauraPandora]

My spanish teacher was telling me that with some adjectives it makes a difference in the meaning if you place them before the noun or after it. She used the classic example of "viejo amigo" (a friend you've known a long time) versus "amigo viejo" (a friend who is old).

But she also said that único had a slightly different meaning depending on where it was placed. She said if it was placed after, it meant that something is the only one, but if it was placed before, it has a meaning more like unique or extraordinary.

I trust my Spanish teacher but I'd like some confirmation because I'm thinking of using the subtle difference to illustrate something in a short story I'm writing.

[sosia]

Your teacher is correct.

example
"Juan fue a la caja y cogió el único anillo de entre las joyas"
Juan went to the vault and took the only ring among the jewelery.
"Juan fue a la caja y cogió el anillo único de entre las joyas"
Juan went to the vault and took the special ring among the jewelery

But it's more easy to understand if you know "Lord of the rings" or "the Hobbit" by J. R.R Tolkien (a must-read)

Introduction

Not far away was his island, of which Bilbo knew nothing,
and there in his hiding-place he kept a few wretched oddments,
and one very beautiful thing, very beautiful, very wonderful.
Gollum had a ring, a golden ring, a precious ring.
"My birthday-present!" he whispered to himself, as he had
often done in the endless dark days.
"That's what he wants now, yes; we wants it!"
He wanted it because it was a ring of power, and if you slipped that ring
on your finger, you were invisible; only in the full sunlight could you be seen,
and then only by your shadow, and that would be shaky and faint.
"My birthday-present! It came to me on my birthday, my precious."

end of introduction

So it was a vey special ring. But also was the only one ring there.
He had a ring, a golden ring, a precious ring.
Tenía un anillo, un anillo dorado, un anillo precioso.

Tenía un único anillo, un anillo dorado, un anillo precioso.
He had only a ring, a golden ring, a precious ring.
It means that in the place was only a ring. This ring was golden. This ring was precious.
It becomes more important with the reading. But its only a precious golden ring, wich is alone.
Perhaps you can find it somewhere else. (worth 1000 $??)

Tenía un anillo único, un anillo dorado, un anillo precioso.
He had a unique ring, a golden ring, a precious ring.
It was the ONE ring. It was golden. It was precious
The ring is one in the world. It was golden. It was precious.
You can't find one like it. It's also golden and precious (worth the Middle-earth ??)




Hope it helps for "único"
For differences in adjectives, ask Tomissimo

---------------------

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_of_The_Rings
This is the Master-Ring, the One Ring to rule them all.
This is the One Ring lost many years ago,
to the great weakening of its maker's power.

[Tomisimo]

Originally Posted by LauraPandora

But she also said that único had a slightly different meaning depending on where it was placed. She said if it was placed after, it meant that something is the only one, but if it was placed before, it has a meaning more like unique or extraordinary.

Hi Laura,

As sosia illustrates, it's actually the other way around.

El único zapato - the only shoe (there's only one shoe)
La única camisa - the only shirt (there's only one shirt)
Mi único amigo - my only friend (I only have one friend)

El zapato único - The unique/extraordinary/special shoe
La camisa única - the special shirt
Mi amigo único - My wonderful, one-of-a-kind friend.

There is a short list of adjectives that behave this way including viejo, antiguo, etc. There are also some situations where almost any adjective would go before the noun. For example:

Amo a mi novia maravillosa. (I love this one, as opposed to the other ones who aren´t maravillosa)
Amo a mi maravillosa novia. (I love my girlfriend, and she´s maravillosa)

Hope that helps

[LauraPandora]

Yes, that does! Thanks so much!

[Tomisimo]

No problem

[ChadH]

I would be interested in knowing some more words that behave like unico in the sense that they have different meanings when used before/after the noun.

Thanks,
CH.

[gramatica]

A veces la posicion no importa, ¿verdad? O sea que significa lo mismo si se pone el adjetivo enfrente o detras del verbo, no?

Por ejemplo,

¿Ya tienen el nuevo libro?=Do you have the new book (yet)? es igual que ¿Ya tienen el libro nuevo?

Pero dependiendo del contexto puede significar algo un poco diferente. Por ejemplo,

un nuevo libro=a new book, another book (otro libro)
preguntas diferentes= diferentes preguntas=different questions, many questions (muchas preguntas)

Y se podria decir "Aprendio una nueva palabra" o "Aprendio una palabra nueva" ¿no?=She learned a new word

Gracias de antemano