Chapter 4: Adjectives

Definition

An adjective is a word that modifies a noun, specifying a quality, quantity, or other attribute.

Examples: - the tall soldier — describes which soldier - a Roman citizen — specifies origin - three good books — quantity and quality

Core Principle: Agreement

Definition: An adjective must match its noun in grammatical categories.

Agreement Algorithm

For each adjective:
1. IDENTIFY the noun it modifies
2. DETERMINE the noun's gender, number, (and case in German/Latin/Greek)
3. SELECT the adjective form matching those values

Agreement Examples

“The good soldier” across languages:

Note: Spanish and French lost the neuter gender; all nouns are masculine or feminine.

Declension of Adjectives

Adjectives decline (change form) to match their nouns. The declension pattern depends on the adjective class.

Latin Adjective Declensions

Latin adjectives fall into two main classes:

First/Second Declension Adjectives (2-1-2 pattern)

These use second declension endings for masculine and neuter, first declension for feminine.

Example: bonus, bona, bonum — good

Third Declension Adjectives

These follow third declension patterns. Three sub-types exist:

Example: fortis, forte — brave (two-termination)

Greek Adjective Declensions

Greek adjectives follow similar patterns:

First/Second Declension (2-1-2)

Example: ἀγαθός, ἀγαθή, ἀγαθόν — good

Third Declension Adjectives

Example: πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν — all, every

German Adjective Declension

German adjective endings depend on what precedes the adjective:

Strong endings (no article):

Weak endings (after definite article):

Principle: The case/gender information must appear somewhere. If the article shows it, the adjective uses weak endings. If no article, the adjective uses strong endings.

Spanish Adjective Agreement

Spanish adjectives agree with their nouns in gender and number (but not case — Spanish nouns don’t decline for case).

Regular pattern: alto, alta, altos, altas — tall

Most adjectives ending in -o follow this pattern: bueno/buena/buenos/buenas, pequeño/pequeña/pequeños/pequeñas.

Adjectives ending in -e or consonant: Same form for masculine and feminine, add -s or -es for plural.

Nationality adjectives: Many nationality adjectives add -a for feminine.

French Adjective Agreement

French adjectives agree with their nouns in gender and number (but not case — French nouns don’t decline for case).

Regular pattern: grand, grande, grands, grandes — tall, big

Feminine is typically formed by adding -e; plural by adding -s.

Common irregular patterns:

Note: Beau, nouveau, vieux have special forms before masculine nouns starting with a vowel or silent h: bel ami, nouvel an, vieil homme.

Position: Attributive and Predicative

Definitions

Position Rules by Language

Greek Attributive Position

Greek uses the article to mark attributive position:

This distinction is semantically significant: - ὁ ἀγαθὸς ἀνήρ = the good man (attributive: which man? the good one) - ὁ ἀνὴρ ἀγαθός = the man is good (predicative: makes a statement about the man)

Comparison

Degrees of Comparison

English Comparison

Latin Comparison

Regular formation:

Comparative declension (third declension, two-termination):

Irregular comparisons (common):

Greek Comparison

Regular formation:

Irregular (common):

Comparison Constructions

“X is [comparative] than Y”

Latin example: > Mārcus est altior Lūciō. > Marcus is taller than Lucius. (Lucius in ablative)

Mārcus est altior quam Lūcius. Marcus is taller than Lucius. (both in nominative)

“X is the [superlative] of Y”

Substantive Use of Adjectives

An adjective used as a noun — the noun it would modify is understood.

Key pattern in Latin and Greek: Neuter plural adjectives often mean “things” or abstract concepts: - bona = good things, goods, blessings - τὰ καλά = beautiful things, the beautiful

Special Adjective Categories

Demonstrative Adjectives

Point to specific items in relation to speaker.

Possessive Adjectives

Indicate ownership; agree with the thing possessed, not the possessor.

Note: Latin and Greek use genitive of personal pronouns for non-reflexive third person: - eius (his/her), eōrum/eārum (their) in Latin - αὐτοῦ, αὐτῆς, αὐτῶν in Greek

Interrogative Adjectives

Used in questions.

Indefinite Adjectives

Refer to non-specific items.

Parsing Adjectives: Method

When you encounter an adjective:

1. IDENTIFY the adjective
2. FIND the noun it modifies
   - By case/number/gender agreement (Latin, Greek, German)
   - By position and number/gender (Spanish, French)
3. DETERMINE the adjective's form
   - Gender
   - Number
   - Case (where applicable)
   - Degree (positive/comparative/superlative)
4. VERIFY agreement with the noun

Worked Example

Latin: Agricola bonus equum album videt.

Translation: The good farmer sees the white horse.

Agreement check: - bonus (nom. sg. masc.) agrees with agricola (nom. sg. masc.) ✓ - album (acc. sg. masc.) agrees with equum (acc. sg. masc.) ✓

Worked Example with Comparison

Greek: ὁ Σωκράτης σοφώτερός ἐστι τοῦ Μέλητου.

Translation: Socrates is wiser than Meletus.

Summary

Previous: Chapter 3: Verbs

Next: Chapter 5: Function Words