B2.5 - Renovating your house

Relational adjectives: mensual, académico...

Adjetivos relacionales: mensual, académico...

Un adjetivo relacional indica el ámbito o sector de algo y deriva normalmente de sustantivos.

(A relational adjective indicates the field or sector something belongs to and is normally derived from nouns.)

What these adjectives are (relational/classifying adjectives)

Words like energético, municipal, anual, técnico, naval usually classify the noun (type/category), rather than describing a subjective quality.

  • certificado energético = an energy certificate (type of certificate)
  • licencia municipal = a municipal permit (issued by the municipality)
  • mantenimiento anual = annual maintenance (frequency category)
  • informe técnico = a technical report (type of report)

Key rule 1: Position — they go after the noun

In Spanish, these adjectives normally go after the noun.

Correct Wrong
un certificado energético un energético certificado
una licencia municipal una municipal licencia
un informe técnico un técnico informe
un plan urbanístico un urbanístico plan

Key rule 2: No intensifiers — not with “muy / más / menos”

Because they classify (they are not “gradable”), you normally don’t intensify them.

Correct Wrong
Necesito el certificado energético. Necesito el certificado muy energético.
Han pedido una licencia municipal. Han pedido una licencia más municipal.
El contrato incluye mantenimiento anual. El contrato incluye mantenimiento muy anual.

How to decide quickly: “type” or “quality”?

  1. Ask: “Is it a type of noun?”

    • If yes → put it after the noun and don’t use muy/más/menos.

  2. Test: Can you naturally say “very” in English?

    • very technical (possible in English) but in Spanish técnico is usually a category label: informe técnico.
    • very municipal sounds odd even in English → in Spanish it’s clearly classifying: licencia municipal.

Common trap for English speakers

English often places these adjectives before the noun. Spanish usually does the opposite.

  • English: technical report → Spanish: informe técnico
  • English: energy certificate → Spanish: certificado energético

Self-check before you move on

  • Order: Did I place the adjective after the noun?
  • Intensifiers: Did I avoid muy / más / menos with this adjective?
  • Meaning: Am I naming a category (type of permit/report/certificate), not a personal opinion?
  1. These adjectives come after the noun.
  2. They cannot be used with muy, más, menos.
CorrectoIncorrecto
Recibimos la revista mensual en la oficina. (We receive the monthly magazine at the office.)Recibimos la revista muy mensual en la oficina. (We receive the very monthly magazine at the office.)
Informaron sobre un ataque terrorista. (They reported on a terrorist attack.)Informaron sobre un ataque muy terrorista. (They reported on a very terrorist attack.)
La empresa trabaja en construcción naval. (The company works in naval construction.)La empresa trabaja en naval construcción. (The company works in naval construction.)
Fue un fracaso económico importante. (It was a major economic failure.)Fue un económico fracaso importante. (It was a major economic failure.)

Exceptions!

  1. These adjectives classify; they do not describe qualities (bonito, grande, interesante...).

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

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1. Antes de pedir el presupuesto, necesito el certificado ______ del piso.

Before requesting the estimate, I need the ______ certificate for the apartment.

2. Hemos solicitado la licencia ______ para empezar la reforma en junio.

We have requested the ______ permit to start the renovation in June.

3. En el contrato de la reforma se especifica el mantenimiento ______ de la caldera.

The renovation contract specifies the ______ maintenance of the boiler.

4. Para este ático, recomiendo iluminación ______ en el salón y luz directa en la zona de trabajo.

For this penthouse, I recommend ______ lighting in the living room and direct light in the work area.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite the sentences by correcting the relational adjective: place it after the noun and remove “very/more/less” when used incorrectly (e.g., “a very technical report” → “a technical report”).

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  1. El ayuntamiento anunció un plan muy urbanístico para reducir el tráfico en el centro.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    El ayuntamiento anunció un plan urbanístico para reducir el tráfico en el centro.
    (The city council announced an urban-planning plan to reduce traffic in the city center.)
  2. En la reunión comentaron un problema más laboral que personal.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    En la reunión comentaron un problema laboral más que personal.
    (At the meeting they discussed a work-related problem more than personal.)
  3. La empresa ofrece psicológico apoyo a los empleados que lo necesiten.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    La empresa ofrece apoyo psicológico a los empleados que lo necesiten.
    (The company offers support psychological to employees who need it.)
  4. Presentaron un digital certificado para justificar la asistencia al curso.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Presentaron un certificado digital para justificar la asistencia al curso.
    (They presented a digital certificate to justify attendance at the course.)

Exercise 3: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence.

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1.
Incorrect: relational adjectives (energético) are not combined with «muy». Use only «certificado energético».
2.
Incorrect: relational adjectives come after the noun; «técnico informe» is an incorrect order.

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Alessia Amoroso

Master of Languages, Cultures, Communication

Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

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Last Updated:

Saturday, 23/05/2026 18:22