English grammar
Adjectives before the noun
Describe things using adjectives before the noun.
From the scene It's big
In short
Put the adjective before the noun, and never add -s to it: a big window, two old sofas.
Your turn
Which one goes with an before a vowel sound?
Options: an old sofa, an ugly bathroom · a nice flat, a big window · a very small kitchen
Show answer
an before a vowel sound → an old sofa, an ugly bathroom
How it works
In English the adjective (the describing word) goes BEFORE the noun: a big window, not "a window big".
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
A new sofa? It's (blank) old sofa, Don Ramón.
Clue: old starts with a vowel sound
Options: a · an
Show answer
A new sofa? It's an old sofa, Don Ramón.
¿Un sofá nuevo? Es un sofá viejo, Don Ramón.
Good to know
The adjective never changes for men, women or plurals: two old sofas, not "olds". Use an before a vowel sound: an old sofa, an ugly bathroom.
adjective + noun a nice flat, a big window
Ramón
Yes, but there's a big window.
Sí, pero hay una ventana grande.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Yes, but there's (blank).
Options: a big window · an ugly bathroom · a very small kitchen
Show answer
Ramón
Yes, but there's a big window.
Sí, pero hay una ventana grande.
an before a vowel sound an old sofa, an ugly bathroom
Ramón
Mmm... it's an ugly bathroom.
Mmm... es un baño feo.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Mmm... it's (blank).
Options: a very small kitchen · an ugly bathroom · a big window
Show answer
Ramón
Mmm... it's an ugly bathroom.
Mmm... es un baño feo.
very + adjective + noun a very small kitchen
no -s on the adjective two old sofas
Your turn
What goes with two old sofas?
Options: no -s on the adjective · adjective + noun · an before a vowel sound
Show answer
two old sofas → no -s on the adjective
Common mistake
Not sofa new here. Where does the adjective go?
Small, yes. But there's a new sofa.
Pequeño, sí. Pero hay un sofá nuevo.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| adjective + noun | a nice flat, a big window |
|---|---|
| an before a vowel sound | an old sofa, an ugly bathroom |
| very + adjective + noun | a very small kitchen |
| no -s on the adjective | two old sofas |
More lines from the story
- RamónSmall, yes. But there's a new sofa.Pequeño, sí. Pero hay un sofá nuevo.
- NuriaA new sofa? It's an old sofa, Don Ramón.¿Un sofá nuevo? Es un sofá viejo, Don Ramón.
- NuriaIt's a nice flat... but very small.Es un piso bonito... pero muy pequeño.
- NuriaA small flat, an old sofa... and an ugly bathroom!Un piso pequeño, un sofá viejo... ¡y un baño feo!