Agreements in Spanish: A Guide for Copy Editors
As a copy editor, ensuring that all elements of written content flow smoothly and make sense is crucial to the success of any piece. This includes being well-versed in agreements in Spanish, both grammatically and syntactically.
Agreements in Spanish refer to the proper matching of gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) between nouns, adjectives, verbs, and pronouns in a sentence. Failing to follow these agreements can lead to confusion and undermine the credibility of the content.
Nouns and Adjectives
In Spanish, the gender of a noun determines the gender of any associated articles, adjectives, and pronouns. For example, if the noun is feminine, any adjectives and articles used with it must also be feminine.
Similarly, if a noun is plural, any associated articles and adjectives must also be plural. For example, “casa” (house) is singular and feminine, so the adjective “bonita” (pretty) must also be singular and feminine: “una casa bonita” (a pretty house).
Verbs
Verbs in Spanish must also agree in number and gender with the subject of the sentence. For example, if the subject is “el perro” (the dog), which is singular and masculine, then the verb used with it must also be singular and masculine, such as “ladra” (barks).
Pronouns
Pronouns must match the gender and number of the noun they replace. For example, if the noun being replaced is “la mesa” (the table), which is feminine, then the pronoun used to replace it, such as “ella” (she), must also be feminine.
Keep in mind that Spanish has a greater number of pronouns than English, including formal and informal versions of “you” (usted and tú, respectively) and formal and informal versions of “they” (ustedes and ellos/ellas, respectively).
Final Thoughts
As a copy editor, it`s essential to ensure that all agreements in Spanish are correct to make sure that your content is clear and effective. Understanding the rules of gender and number agreement will help you create compelling and accurate content for Spanish-speaking audiences.