Spanish Word Order

Front 1

ADJECTIVE

Back 1

Before the noun: If the main purpose of the adjective is to reinforce the meaning of the noun, to impart emotional effect on the noun, or to convey appreciation of some sort for the noun, then the adjective often is placed before the noun. A grammarian might say these are adjectives used

After the noun: If an adjective classifies a noun, that is, if it is used to distinguish that particular person or object from others that could be represented by the same noun, it is placed after the noun. Adjectives of color, nationality, and affiliation (such as of religion or political party) usually fit in this category, as do many others. A grammarian might say in these cases that the adjective restrictsthe noun.

Front 2

NOUN

Back 2

Nouns

In Spanish the nouns are divided in masculine, feminine and neutral, as we know for masculine gender you use the article "el" and "los" and for feminine gender you use the article "la" and "las" and finally for neutral gender you use the article "lo"

Front 3

ARTICLE

Back 3

Spanish articles are located before nouns in order to indicate the gender, the number and its grammatical function. The article are either masculine, these genders have their own articles. There are some rules in order to know the gender of a noun, such as:

Front 4

ADVERB

Back 4

As a general rule, Spanish adverbs (and adverbial phrases) usually are placed near the word they modify.

An adverb that modifies a verb usually is placed afterward. (If it comes before the verb, it is usually to add emphasis.)

An adverb that modifies another adverb comes before the adverb being modified.

An adverb that modifies an adjective comes before the adjective

An adverb that modifies an entire sentence often comes at the beginning of the sentence but can go elsewhere.

In an exception to the above rule, no always precedes the verb it negates, and other adverbs of negation (such as nunca) frequently go before the verb they refer to.

Front 5

PRONOUN

Back 5

First Scenario

When there is only one conjugated verb, there are no options. The object pronoun(s) must be placed directly before the verb.

Examples:

Él te lo da.

Él no te lo da.

Second Scenario

When an auxiliary verb introduces an infinitive, the object pronoun(s) may be placed either as in the First Scenario (before the conjugated verb, in this case, the auxiliary) or attached to the end of the infinitive.When placed on the end of the infinitive, a written accent must be placed over the syllable that naturally receives the stress

Examples:

Él te lo quiere dar./Él no te lo quiere dar.

Él quiere dártelo./Él no quiere dártelo

Third Scenario

When the progressive is used (any tense of the progressive; likewise, the object pronoun(s) may be placed either in front of the conjugated verb (usually estar) or attached to the end of the gerund.if the object pronoun(s) are placed on the end of the gerund, a written accent must be placed on the syllable that naturally receives the stress

Examples:

Él te lo está dando./Él no te lo está dando.

Él está dándotelo./Él no está dándotelo.

Fourth Scenario

This last scenario applies only to commands, or imperatives. when using imperative verb forms. The placement depends entirely on whether or not the command is affirmative or imperative.

When the affirmative command is used, the object pronoun(s) must follow and be attached to the imperative form of the verb and the written accent placed on the originally stressed syllable of the imperative.

Examples:

¡No se lo dé!

¡Déselo!