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However, when an adjective is used as a copula, it may stand on its own as a predicate to ''ek'' ('to be'), or be treated as a verb in its own right. | However, when an adjective is used as a copula, it may stand on its own as a predicate to ''ek'' ('to be'), or be treated as a verb in its own right. | ||
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=== Comparison, Superference, and Equation === | |||
In English there are two distinct ways to create the comparative and superlative when talking about adjectives: By adding the words “more” and “most” to adjectives of Latin derivation, and by adding the suffixes “-er” and “-est” to those of Germanic origin. (Granted, this is a little bit simplified, but that’s the general idea.) Maltcégj only has one word for each of these types of comparative and superlative, but there are a few other ways that we cheat our way around in English. I also include here the equative phrase “as … as” and the negative comparative and superlative “less” and “least.” | |||
All of these words precede the adjectives they modify, unless the adjective is used explicitly as a verb, and therefore the subject of the sentence. It is not uncommon or incorrect in this case to use ''ek'' as the verb and to treat the adjective as the object. When comparing the qualities of a specific noun, the postposition ''að'' is used as we would use “than” in English (or “as” when used with ''amán''). | |||
When any of these are used in combination with an adjective that begins with /b/ or /p/, the final /n/ changes to /m/, e.g. ''pan''+''bjólet''=''pambjólet'' ‘worse’. If the adjective begins with /m/, /n/ is elided entirely, e.g. ''nan''+''mot''=''namót'' ‘emptier’. (See Phonology.) | |||
[[Category:Languages]][[Category:Conlangs]][[Category:A_priori]] | [[Category:Languages]][[Category:Conlangs]][[Category:A_priori]] | ||