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P o r t u g u e s e O n l i n e

>>Adjectives >  Regular Adjectives > Using Adjectives with Nouns

In the section on forming adjectives, there are a few examples of nouns used with adjectives:

(with the adjective alto tall) The masculine noun menino boy can be modified as menino alto tall boy or meninos altos tall boys. When used with the feminine noun menina girl, we get menina alta tall girl and meninas altas tall girls.

(with the adjective contente happy, content) Now, with the masculine noun menino boy, you can form menino contente happy boy or meninos contentes happy boys. When used with the feminine noun menina girl, we get menina contente happy girl and meninas contentes happy girls.

Notice that the adjectives follow the noun. This is the rule in Portuguese, although there are a number of exceptions. The irregular adjectives bom good and mau bad are almost always found before the noun. The adjective grande great, big tends to mean great (having admirable qualities) when placed before the noun and big or large when placed after it. Portuguese speakers also move adjectives in front of the noun for emphasis or style: aquele alto homem that tall man. The same is true of switching the position of bom good: after the noun, it describes the noun as having good (inner) qualities. O bom homem means the good man, but o homem bom stresses that the man is good-natured or good-hearted.