El examen final es difícil.

The final exam is difficult.

Breakdown of El examen final es difícil.

• ser: to be
• difícil: difficult
• el examen: the exam
• final: final

Questions & Answers about El examen final es difícil.

Why do we need el before examen? In English we can say “Final exam is difficult” without “the.”

In Spanish, singular countable nouns generally require a definite or indefinite article. El is the masculine singular definite article. Even when speaking in general, you keep the article: El examen es difícil.

How do you know examen is masculine?

Although examen ends in -en, it comes from a Latin noun “examen” and belongs to a class of Spanish nouns ending in -men that are always masculine (like régimen, parámetro). You’ll need to learn and practice noun genders, but here it’s el examen.

Why is final placed after examen instead of before it?

Spanish descriptive adjectives normally follow the noun they modify. So you say examen final (literally “exam final”) rather than final examen. Only a few adjectives (like gran, pequeño for special emphasis) go before.

Does final change with gender and number? For example, with a feminine noun or in the plural?