Qué accidente terrible

Question

Hi, translators are saying it should be:

Qué día tan maravilloso

but

Qué terrible accidente

Can you explain the different placement of the adjective in these examples please? And why "qué accidente tan terrible" doesnt' seem to be an option?

Thanks,

Jenny

Accepted Answer

Hola Jenny

Certainly! The placement of adjectives in Spanish can vary based on their intensity and the speaker's emphasis.
Let's break down the examples:
¡Qué día tan maravilloso!
Here, the adjective "maravilloso" (wonderful) comes after the noun "día" (day). This structure is often used to express a strong emotion or emphasis. It translates to "What a wonderful day!"
¡Qué terrible accidente!
Similarly, "terrible" (terrible) follows the noun "accidente" (accident). This structure is common when the speaker wants to emphasize the intensity of the adjective. It translates to "What a terrible accident!"
Regarding "¡Qué accidente tan terrible!" this structure is also grammatically correct, and it emphasizes the intensity of the adjective even more. It translates to "What such a terrible accident!" However, in everyday conversation, the placement of the adjective before the noun (as in the second example) is more common.
So, both "¡Qué terrible accidente!" and "¡Qué accidente tan terrible!" are grammatically correct, but the former is often preferred for simplicity and natural flow.
Saludos y hasta pronto
Silvia

Answer

I don't understand this response. It doesn't explain what the difference is. Was this written by an AI?!

Answer

Hola JennyIf you read my response from months ago, it clearly explains that the difference between an expression with "tan + adjective" and another that follows the structure of "adjective + noun" is minimal, as both emphasise the noun they accompany, so you can use both of them.Un saludoSilvia