Language/Lithuanian/Grammar/Adjectives

Lithuanian Grammar - Adjectives

Hi Lithuanian learners! 😊

In this lesson, we will focus on Lithuanian adjectives. Adjectives are words that modify or describe nouns. Learning adjectives is essential when communicating in Lithuanian, as they allow you to add important details and qualities to your sentences.

Declension of Adjectives in Lithuanian

Unlike many other languages, Lithuanian adjectives decline to match the gender, number, and case of the noun they modify. There are 7 cases in Lithuanian: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative, Instrumental, Locative and Vocative.

Here is an example of how to decline the adjective "rasa" (meaning "dawn") in the Nominative, Genitive, and Accusative cases:

Lithuanian	Pronunciation	English
rasa	ra-sa	dawn
ra-sos	ra-sos	of the dawn
rasa-s	ra-sas	dawn (direct object)

Note that when an adjective appears after the noun as an attribute, it usually does not decline.

Adjective Comparison in Lithuanian

Lithuanian adjectives have three degrees of comparison: positive, comparative, and superlative.

The positive form is the base form of the adjective, for example:

• Geras (good)
• Didelis (big)

The comparative form is used when comparing two things and ends in -esnis, for example:

• Geresnis (better)
• Didelisnis (bigger)

The superlative form is used when comparing three or more things, and usually ends in -iausias or the suffix -iausiate, for example:

• Geriausias (the best)
• Didžiausiate (the biggest)

Placement of Adjectives in Lithuanian Sentences

In Lithuanian, adjectives usually come after the noun they describe, for example:

• Rašto stalas (writing desk)
• Gera knyga (good book)

However, it is also possible to place adjectives before the noun to emphasize them, for example:

• Storas šuo (fat dog)
• Jaunas žmogus (young person)

Adjective Agreement in Lithuanian

In Lithuanian, adjectives agree with the gender, number, and case of the noun they modify, for example:

• Geras vyras (good man)
• Gera moteris (good woman)

The adjective "geras" agrees with the gender of the noun. In the first example, "vyras" (man) is masculine, and in the second example, "moteris" (woman) is feminine.

Similarly, when modifying a plural noun, the adjective takes a suffix based on the final consonant of the noun. For example:

• Geri vyrai (good men)
• Gerios moterys (good women)

In the first example, "vyrai" (men) ends in a hard consonant, so the adjective takes the suffix -i. In the second example, "moterys" (women) ends in a soft consonant, so the adjective takes the suffix -os.

Examples

Here are some examples of Lithuanian adjectives in context:

• Person 1: Ši knyga yra nuostabi (This book is amazing)
• Person 2: Aš taip pat esu ją perskaitęs, ji yra tikrai geriausia (I've read it too, it's really the best)
• Person 1: Mano amžinai mėgstamas miestas yra Vilnius (My eternal favorite city is Vilnius)
• Person 2: Aš taip pat mėgstu Vilnių, ypač jo senamiestį (I also like Vilnius, especially its old town)

If you want to improve your Lithuanian Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

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