Language/Marathi/Grammar/Adjectives

Marathi → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Introduction to Marathi grammar → Adjectives

Introduction

In this lesson, we will explore the world of adjectives in Marathi. Adjectives are an essential part of any language and play a crucial role in describing nouns. By learning adjectives, you will be able to add more detail and color to your Marathi sentences. In this lesson, we will cover the basics of adjectives, including their agreement with nouns and their comparison forms. We will also discuss any regional variations in the usage of adjectives and share interesting cultural facts related to this topic. By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid understanding of how to use adjectives in Marathi effectively.

Basics of Adjectives

Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns. In Marathi, adjectives agree with nouns in gender, number, and case. This means that the form of the adjective changes based on the gender, number, and case of the noun it is describing. Let's take a look at some examples to understand this concept better:

Gender Agreement

In Marathi, nouns are classified into masculine, feminine, and neuter genders. Adjectives must agree with the gender of the noun they describe. Here are a few examples:

Marathi	Pronunciation	English
उंच	uñcha	tall (masculine)
उंची	uñchī	tall (feminine)
उंच	uñcha	tall (neuter)

As you can see in the examples above, the adjective "उंच" (uñcha) changes its form based on the gender of the noun it describes. "उंच" (uñcha) is used with masculine nouns, "उंची" (uñchī) is used with feminine nouns, and "उंच" (uñcha) is used with neuter nouns.

Number Agreement

Adjectives in Marathi also agree with the number of the noun they describe. This means that the form of the adjective changes based on whether the noun is singular or plural. Let's take a look at some examples:

Marathi	Pronunciation	English
लांब	lāmba	long (singular)
लांबे	lāmbe	long (plural)
लांब	lāmba	long (neuter)

In the examples above, the adjective "लांब" (lāmba) changes its form based on the number of the noun it describes. "लांब" (lāmba) is used with singular nouns, "लांबे" (lāmbe) is used with plural nouns, and "लांब" (lāmba) is used with neuter nouns.

Case Agreement

In Marathi, adjectives also agree with the case of the noun they describe. The case of a noun indicates its role in the sentence, such as subject, object, or possessive. Let's take a look at some examples:

Marathi	Pronunciation	English
माझी नवी सुवार्ता	mājhī navī suvārtā	my new car (nominative case)
माझे नवे कार्यालय	mājhe nave kāryālaya	my new office (nominative case)
माझी नवी सुवार्ता	mājhī navī suvārtā	of my new car (genitive case)

In the examples above, the adjectives "नवी" (navī) and "नवे" (nave) change their form based on the case of the noun they describe. "नवी" (navī) is used with singular feminine nouns in the nominative case, "नवे" (nave) is used with plural masculine nouns in the nominative case, and "नवी" (navī) is used with singular feminine nouns in the genitive case.

Comparison of Adjectives

In addition to agreement, adjectives in Marathi can also be compared to express degrees of comparison. There are three degrees of comparison: positive, comparative, and superlative. Let's explore each of these in detail:

Positive Degree

The positive degree of an adjective is used to simply describe a noun without any comparison. Here are some examples:

Marathi	Pronunciation	English
छान	chān	good
वाईट	vāīṭ	white
मोठ	mōṭh	big

In the examples above, the adjectives "छान" (chān), "वाईट" (vāīṭ), and "मोठ" (mōṭh) are in the positive degree and simply describe the nouns without any comparison.

Comparative Degree

The comparative degree of an adjective is used to compare two nouns. It indicates that one noun has a higher or lower degree of the quality described by the adjective compared to the other noun. Here are some examples:

Marathi	Pronunciation	English
जास्त	jāst	more
लहान	lahān	smaller
जास्त	jāst	better

In the examples above, the adjectives "जास्त" (jāst) and "लहान" (lahān) are in the comparative degree and are used to compare two nouns. "जास्त" (jāst) indicates that one noun has more of the quality described by the adjective compared to the other noun, while "लहान" (lahān) indicates that one noun is smaller in size compared to the other noun.

Superlative Degree

The superlative degree of an adjective is used to compare more than two nouns. It indicates that one noun has the highest or lowest degree of the quality described by the adjective compared to all other nouns. Here are some examples:

Marathi	Pronunciation	English
सर्वात जास्त	sarvāt jāst	the most
सर्वांचं लहान	sarvāñcaṁ lahān	the smallest
सर्वोत्कृष्ट	sarvōtkr̥ṣṭa	the best

In the examples above, the adjectives "सर्वात जास्त" (sarvāt jāst) and "सर्वांचं लहान" (sarvāñcaṁ lahān) are in the superlative degree and are used to compare more than two nouns. "सर्वात जास्त" (sarvāt jāst) indicates that one noun has the most of the quality described by the adjective compared to all other nouns, while "सर्वांचं लहान" (sarvāñcaṁ lahān) indicates that one noun is the smallest in size compared to all other nouns.

Regional Variations and Cultural Insights

Marathi is a rich language with diverse regional variations. While the basic rules of using adjectives remain the same across different regions, there may be slight variations in vocabulary and usage. For example, in some regions, certain adjectives may be more commonly used or have different forms compared to other regions. Similarly, some cultural practices and beliefs may influence the choice or usage of adjectives in different contexts.

One interesting cultural fact related to adjectives in Marathi is the concept of "उभा नाका दिलेला वाक्य" (ubhā nākā dilelā vākya), which translates to "a sentence with a raised nose." This phrase is used to describe a sentence that is grammatically correct but sounds pompous or pretentious due to the excessive use of adjectives. Marathi speakers often use this phrase humorously to poke fun at someone who is trying too hard to impress others with their language skills.

Practice Exercises

Now, let's put your knowledge of adjectives to the test with some practice exercises. Translate the following sentences from English to Marathi, making sure to use the appropriate form of the adjective:

1. The tall man is wearing a white shirt. 2. She has two small dogs. 3. This is the best book I have ever read. 4. The red flowers are blooming in the garden. 5. My new car is faster than his old car.

Solutions

1. उंच व्यक्ती धावपिण्यास एक वाईट कमीज घालतो. 2. तिच्याकडे दोन लहान कुत्रे आहेत. 3. ही सर्वोत्कृष्ट पुस्तक माझं कधीही वाचलेलं नाही. 4. लाल फुले बागात खुशीत खुशीत खोड़ावतात. 5. माझी नवी कार त्याच्या जुन्या कारपेक्षा जलद आहे.

Conclusion

In this lesson, we have learned about the basics of using adjectives in Marathi. We explored the concepts of agreement and comparison, and how adjectives change their form based on the gender, number, and case of the noun they describe. We also discussed some interesting cultural insights related to the usage of adjectives in Marathi. Now that you have a solid foundation in adjectives, you can start using them to add more detail and color to your Marathi sentences. Keep practicing and exploring the beautiful world of Marathi language and culture!

Table of Contents - Marathi Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Basic Greetings and Introductions

• Greetings
• Introductions

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure

• Subject-Object-Verb
• Negation

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-20
• Telling Time

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Nouns
• Pronouns

  ---

Common Verbs and Adjectives

• Common Verbs
• Common Adjectives

  ---

Questions and Answers

• Question Words
• Answering Questions

  ---

Food and Dining

• Food Vocabulary
• Dining Phrases

  ---

Marathi Festivals and Traditions

• Festivals
• Traditions

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Transportation Vocabulary
• Accommodation Vocabulary

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Prepositions
• Conjunctions

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationship Phrases

  ---

Marathi Literature and Cinema

• Literature
• Cinema

Sources

• Marathi grammar - Wikipedia
• Marathi Adjectives
• Adjectives in Marathi

Other Lessons

• How to Use Have
• Conditional Mood
• Nouns
• Gender
• Negation
• Questions
• Negation nakaar नकार
• Give your Opinion
• Pronouns