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→Adjectives
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=== Adjectives === | === Adjectives === | ||
Adjectives agree with their nouns in gender and number. Plural adjectives take the spirant mutation to agree with plural nouns. Feminine adjectives take the soft mutation when following feminine nouns. | Adjectives agree with their nouns in gender and number. Plural adjectives take the spirant mutation to agree with plural nouns. Feminine adjectives take the soft mutation when following feminine nouns. Adjectives tend to follow the noun. Only the adjectives '''bon''', ''good'', and '''mal''', '''bad''', can be used without any uncertainty before a noun. When an adjective precedes a noun it has a figurative rather than a literal meaning. This effects only a couple of adjectives: '''pobr''', ''poor'', has the meaning of 'destitute' after the noun, but 'unfortunate' when it comes before the noun. Likewise with '''gran''', '''big, large''', when it precedes the noun it means ''importance'', not ''size'': | ||
:'''Yn gran of''', ''a great man'' | |||
:'''Yn of gran''', ''a big man'' | |||
:'''Yn gran ddiwrn''', ''a great day'' | |||
'''Yn gran ddiwrn''' | |||
Note that the initial consonant undergoes softening after a preceding adjective. | Note that the initial consonant undergoes softening after a preceding adjective. | ||
'''sul''' can come before or after the noun with a difference in meanings. After the noun it means 'lonely', '''yn blentin sul''', '''a lonely child' | '''sul''' can come before or after the noun with a difference in meanings. After the noun it means 'lonely', '''yn blentin sul''', '''a lonely child'''. Before a noun, it means 'only', '''yn sul blentin''', '''an only child'''. | ||
Brithenig can use an adjective as a noun by putting an article in front of it. It then refers to an object that has that quality: '''ill rhys''', ''the red one''; '''llo phog''', ''the little ones''. | Brithenig can use an adjective as a noun by putting an article in front of it. It then refers to an object that has that quality: '''ill rhys''', ''the red one''; '''llo phog''', ''the little ones''. | ||
For a comparative of an adjective, Brithenig puts the words '''ply''', | For a comparative of an adjective, Brithenig puts the words '''ply''', ''more'' and '''min''', ''less'' before an adjective, with the spirant mutation of the initial consonant of the following adjective. 'Than' is translated as '''ca''': '''ply hallt ca yn gas''', '''taller than a house'''. | ||
The superlative is formed by putting the definate article suitable for the gender of the noun before the comparative adjective: '''ill ply hallt''', '''the tallest''. When a noun is qualified, the definate article goes in front of the noun, replacing '''yn''': '''lla gas bly hallt''', ''the tallest house''. It is omitted if the noun is proceeded by a possessive pronoun: | The superlative is formed by putting the definate article suitable for the gender of the noun before the comparative adjective: '''ill ply hallt''', '''the tallest''. When a noun is qualified, the definate article goes in front of the noun, replacing '''yn''': '''lla gas bly hallt''', ''the tallest house''. It is omitted if the noun is proceeded by a possessive pronoun: | ||
'''ill llifr ci es sew ober feilwr di llo''' | :'''ill llifr ci es sew ober feilwr di llo''', ''this book is his best work'' | ||
:'''mew ffradr maer''', ''my older/oldest brother'' | |||
'''mew ffradr maer''' | |||
Following a superlative the preposition '''di''' is used: | Following a superlative the preposition '''di''' is used: | ||
'''ill tyr ci es ill ply hallt di lla giwdad''' | :'''ill tyr ci es ill ply hallt di lla giwdad''', ''this tower is the tallest in the city'' | ||
If this is getting too complicated then the suffix '''-isaf''', '''very''' can replace the superlative sometimes: | If this is getting too complicated then the suffix '''-isaf''', '''very''' can replace the superlative sometimes: | ||
'''lla giwdad ci es felisaf''' | :'''lla giwdad ci es felisaf''', ''this city is very beautiful'' | ||
Certain adjectives are irregular: | Certain adjectives are irregular: | ||
{| | |||
'''bon''' | |- | ||
| '''bon''' ||''good'' ||'''meilwr''' ||''better'' | |||
'''mal''' | |- | ||
|'''mal''' ||''bad'' ||'''puir''' ||''worse'' | |||
'''gran''' | |- | ||
|'''gran''' ||''big'' ||'''maer''' ||''bigger'' | |||
'''pog''' | |- | ||
|'''pog''' ||''little'' ||'''min''' ||''less'' | |||
'''mal''' | |- | ||
|'''mal''' ||''badly'' ||'''pui''' ||''worse'' (adverb) | |||
'''ben''' | |- | ||
|'''ben''' ||''well'' ||'''myl''' ||''better'' (adverb) | |||
|} | |||
The superlative form of these adjectives is the comparative form with the definate article, as per usual. | The superlative form of these adjectives is the comparative form with the definate article, as per usual. | ||
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Most adverbs are derived from adjectives by adding the ending '''-fent'''. In spoken Brithenig this is usually pronounced 'fen' but the t is still written: | Most adverbs are derived from adjectives by adding the ending '''-fent'''. In spoken Brithenig this is usually pronounced 'fen' but the t is still written: | ||
'''bel''', ''beautiful'' | :'''bel''', ''beautiful'' → '''belfent''', ''beautifully''. | ||
Adverbs cause soft mutation on following words. | Adverbs cause soft mutation on following words. | ||