Classifying Adjectives
In Spanish, some adjectives don't just describe a quality—they classify a noun into a specific category. These are called relational adjectives (adjetivos relacionales), and they are very common when discussing politics, government, and the economy.
Unlike descriptive adjectives, which can sometimes appear before the noun, relational adjectives must always go after the noun.
| The director has announced the new economic agreement today. | La directora ha anunciado el nuevo acuerdo económico hoy. |
| The economic crisis is serious, whereas the national debt decreases. | La crisis económica es grave, mientras que la deuda nacional disminuye. |
No Degree Modifiers
Because these adjectives place a noun into a strict category, they are absolute. You cannot use degree modifiers like muy (very) or bastante (quite) with them.
For example, a process is either municipal or it isn't—it cannot be "very municipal." (Note: muy económico exists, but it changes the meaning from "very economic" to "very cheap"!)
| The electoral result is obvious, whereas the municipal process is complicated. | El resultado electoral es obvio, mientras que el proceso municipal es complicado. |
| The state agency has published the report. | La agencia estatal ha publicado el informe. |
Political and Legal Contexts
You will see relational adjectives everywhere in official contexts. Whether an issue or document is gubernamental (governmental), presidencial (presidential), or constitucional (constitutional), the rules remain exactly the same: place the adjective directly after the noun, with no modifiers.
| The governmental lawyer arrived late to the meeting yesterday. | La abogada gubernamental llegó tarde a la reunión ayer. |
| The presidential elections are important for the country. | Las elecciones presidenciales son importantes para el país. |
| This constitutional right is fundamental, whereas that rule is absurd. | Este derecho constitucional es fundamental, mientras que esa norma es absurda. |