Language/Classical-quechua/Grammar/Adjectives
Hi Classical Quechua learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will talk about adjectives in Classical Quechua, including their formation and usage. Adjectives are words that modify or describe nouns, giving information about their quality, quantity, or state. For example, in the sentence "The big house", "big" is the adjective that describes the noun "house".
Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: Negation, Gramatical generalities, Conditional Mood & Plurals.
Formation of Adjectives[edit | edit source]
In Classical Quechua, adjectives are usually formed by adding a suffix to a noun. The most common suffixes used for adjective formation are "-qa" and "-ni". They are added directly to the noun stem, without any changes in the root form. For example:
| Classical Quechua | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| qhapaq | /ˈqʰapaq/ | big |
| qhapaqqa | /ˈqʰapaq.qa/ | the big one |
| suni | /ˈsunɪ/ | good |
| sunini | /ˈsunɪ.ni/ | the good one |
Other suffixes that can be used for adjective formation are "-mi", "-mpi", "-p", "-wan", and "-y". They may be added to different parts of the noun, depending on the grammatical rules of the language. For example:
| Classical Quechua | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| qhepaqmi | /ˈqʰepaq.mi/ | bigger |
| qhepaqmpim | /ˈqʰepaq.mpim/ | the biggest one |
| payp | /ˈpaɪp/ | white |
| paypwan | /ˈpaɪp.wan/ | whitish |
Usage of Adjectives[edit | edit source]
Adjectives in Classical Quechua usually follow the noun they modify, unlike in English where they usually precede the noun. In some cases, however, the adjective can precede the noun for emphasis or poetic effect.
Adjectives agree with the noun they modify in gender and number. For example, if the noun is masculine singular, the adjective must be masculine singular as well. If the noun is feminine plural, the adjective must be feminine plural as well.
Here are some examples of adjectives used in context:
- Person 1: Qhapaqtaq wasi. (The big house.)
- Person 2: Qhapaqtaqmi arpuy. (I buy the bigger one.)
- Person 1: Paypwanpi ñuqaqmi. (I see the whitish ones.)
- Person 2: Paypwanpi huk kawsaypaqmi. (They live in the white-ish life.)
Comparison of Adjectives[edit | edit source]
Adjectives can be compared in Classical Quechua, just like in English. When comparing two or more things, we use the particle "kama" to indicate "more" or "less". For example:
| Classical Quechua | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| qhapaqmi | /ˈqʰapaq.mi/ | bigger |
| qhapaqmi kama | /ˈqʰapaq.mi ˈkama/ | more big |
When comparing qualities that cannot be measured, we use the particle "kamachiy" to indicate "better" or "worse". For example:
| Classical Quechua | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| sunimi | /ˈsunɪ.mi/ | better |
| sunimi kamachiy | /ˈsunɪ.mi ˈkama.tʃɪj/ | much better |
Cultural Insight[edit | edit source]
The Quechua language has a rich and diverse culture that spans across several regions of South America. The language is an integral part of the identity and heritage of the Quechua people, who have faced many challenges and struggles throughout history. Despite this, they have managed to preserve their language and cultural traditions, and continue to pass them down to future generations.
If you want to learn more about the Quechua culture and language, you can explore Classical Quechua resources on the Polyglot Club website. There, you can find native speakers and ask them any questions you may have. You can also check out the section on Grammar for more information on different aspects of the language.
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Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Give your Opinion
- Gramatical generalities
- How to Use Be
- Questions
- Pronouns
- Negation
- Conditional Mood
- How to Use Have
- Plurals