Language/Slovak/Grammar/Adjectives

Slovak Grammar - Adjectives

Hi Slovak learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will focus on Slovak adjectives. Adjectives are words that describe nouns or pronouns. They come before the noun or pronoun they modify and agree in number, gender, and case. Without proper use of adjectives, you cannot communicate ideas and concepts accurately. So, to enhance your understanding of the Slovak language, let's dive into the world of adjectives!

Basic rules

In Slovak, adjectives have different forms depending on the gender of the noun they modify. There are three genders in Slovak: masculine, feminine, and neuter. The adjective endings vary depending on the gender and the case that the noun is in.

For masculine nouns, you need to pay attention to the ending of the noun. If the noun ends with a consonant or -a, you use the endings -ý or -í, respectively. If the noun ends with the vowel -o, -u, or -ä, you use the ending -í.

Example:

Slovak	Pronunciation	English
modrý dom	mod-ri dom	blue house (masculine)
tichý muž	ti-chy muzh	quiet man (masculine)

For feminine nouns, the adjective endings are -á for the nominative, accusative, and vocative cases, and -ej for the genitive, dative, and locative cases.

Example:

Slovak	Pronunciation	English
zelená rieka	zeh-leh-na ryeh-ka	green river (feminine)
veľká kniha	vel-ka kni-ha	big book (feminine)

For neuter nouns, the adjectives have the same ending in all cases, which is -é.

Example:

Slovak	Pronunciation	English
čisté okno	chis-teh ok-no	clean window (neuter)
krásne dievča	krash-ne diev-cha	beautiful girl (neuter)

Comparison of adjectives

Just like in English, adjectives in Slovak have different forms to express comparison. There are three degrees of comparison: positive (the base form), comparative (used to compare two or more things), and superlative (used to compare one thing to all others). You can create comparatives by adding -ší to the adjective, and superlatives by adding -najši.

Example:

Slovak	Pronunciation	English
rýchly	ri-chli	fast (positive)
rýchlejší	ri-chlej-shi	faster (comparative)
najrýchlejší	naj-ri-chlej-shi	fastest (superlative)

Position of adjectives in a sentence

In Slovak, adjectives usually come before the noun they modify. However, they can also appear after the noun in a formal or poetic context.

Example:

• The big dog can be translated into veľký pes or pes veľký

Dialogue

Here are a few examples of how you can use adjectives in a conversation:

• Person 1: Tento tanec bol nádherný! (This dance was beautiful!)
• Person 2: Áno, a choreografia bola vynikajúca. (Yes, and the choreography was excellent.)

• Person 1: Rozprávaš pomaly. (You speak slowly.)
• Person 2: Prepáč, ale som nervózny. (I'm sorry, I'm just nervous.)

Conclusion

Adjectives are an essential part of Slovak grammar. With this knowledge, you can convey ideas and feelings accurately in Slovak. Remember to use the correct forms of adjectives based on the noun gender and case, and to modify them accordingly to express comparison. Also, don't forget to practice with native speakers on Polyglot Club by finding them and asking them any questions you have.

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