Difference between revisions of "Language/Sanskrit/Grammar/Adjectives"
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<span link>Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: [[Language/Sanskrit/Grammar/Give-your-Opinion|Give your Opinion]], [[Language/Sanskrit/Grammar/How-to-Use-Be|How to Use "Be"]], [[Language/Sanskrit/Grammar/Pronouns|Pronouns]] & [[Language/Sanskrit/Grammar/How-to-Use-Have|How to Use Have]].</span> | <span link>Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: [[Language/Sanskrit/Grammar/Give-your-Opinion|Give your Opinion]], [[Language/Sanskrit/Grammar/How-to-Use-Be|How to Use "Be"]], [[Language/Sanskrit/Grammar/Pronouns|Pronouns]] & [[Language/Sanskrit/Grammar/How-to-Use-Have|How to Use Have]].</span> | ||
== What | == What Are Adjectives? == | ||
Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns or pronouns | Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns or pronouns, adding more information to a sentence to make it more precise and clear. For example, in the sentence "The blue sky is beautiful," "blue" is the adjective that describes the sky. | ||
In Sanskrit, adjectives can take many forms depending on the gender, number, and case of the noun or pronoun they modify. Unlike English, where adjectives are usually placed before the noun they modify, in Sanskrit, they | In Sanskrit, adjectives can take many forms depending on the gender, number, and case of the noun or pronoun they modify. Unlike in English, where adjectives are usually placed before the noun they modify, in Sanskrit, they typically come after the noun. | ||
== Types of Adjectives == | == Types of Adjectives == | ||
There are two types of adjectives in Sanskrit: Attributive and Predicative. | There are two main types of adjectives in Sanskrit: Attributive and Predicative. | ||
=== Attributive Adjectives === | === Attributive Adjectives === | ||
Attributive adjectives | Attributive adjectives describe the qualities of a noun or pronoun and take the same gender, number, and case as the noun they modify. Below is the declension of the attributive adjective "sundara" (beautiful): | ||
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Example dialogue illustrating the use of an attributive adjective: | |||
* Person 1: रामः सुंदरः है । (Rāmaḥ sundaraḥ hai. - Rama is beautiful.) | * Person 1: रामः सुंदरः है । (Rāmaḥ sundaraḥ hai. - Rama is beautiful.) | ||
* Person 2: न हि। रामः कृष्णः है । (Na hi. Rāmaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ hai. - No. Rama is Krishna.) | * Person 2: न हि। रामः कृष्णः है । (Na hi. Rāmaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ hai. - No. Rama is Krishna.) | ||
In the example above, "sundaraḥ" is the attributive adjective | In the example above, "sundaraḥ" is the attributive adjective describing "Rāmaḥ." | ||
=== Predicative Adjectives === | === Predicative Adjectives === | ||
Predicative adjectives | Predicative adjectives predicate a quality of a subject and occur in the predicate position in a sentence, describing the subject. Unlike attributive adjectives, predicative adjectives do not agree with the gender, number, or case of the noun they modify. Below is the declension of the predicative adjective "hṛṣita" (happy): | ||
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Example dialogue illustrating the use of a predicative adjective: | |||
* Person 1: रामः हृषितः अस्ति। (Rāmaḥ hṛṣitaḥ asti. - Rama is happy.) | * Person 1: रामः हृषितः अस्ति। (Rāmaḥ hṛṣitaḥ asti. - Rama is happy.) | ||
* Person 2: पूर्वं अस्ति। अतः स अभी हर्षं न करोति । (Pūrvaṁ asti. Ataḥ sa abhī harṣaṁ na karoti. - He was happy before. Therefore, he does not show enthusiasm now.) | * Person 2: पूर्वं अस्ति। अतः स अभी हर्षं न करोति । (Pūrvaṁ asti. Ataḥ sa abhī harṣaṁ na karoti. - He was happy before. Therefore, he does not show enthusiasm now.) | ||
In the example above, "hṛṣitaḥ" | In the example above, "hṛṣitaḥ" predicates the quality of "Rāmaḥ." | ||
== Comparison of Adjectives == | == Comparison of Adjectives == | ||
Adjectives can be compared to indicate superiority, inferiority, or equality | Adjectives can be compared to indicate superiority, inferiority, or equality, with three degrees of comparison in Sanskrit: Positive, Comparative, and Superlative. | ||
=== Comparative Degree === | === Comparative Degree === | ||
The comparative degree indicates a degree of | The comparative degree indicates a higher or lower degree of quality between two entities, formed by adding the suffix "तर" (tara) to the adjective stem. Example: | ||
* Person 1: रामः सुंदरतरः कृष्णः है। ( | * Person 1: रामः सुंदरतरः कृष्णः है। (Rāma | ||
ḥ sundaratarah kṛṣṇaḥ hai. - Rama is more beautiful than Krishna.) | |||
* Person 2: सही है। (Sahī hai. - That's right.) | * Person 2: सही है। (Sahī hai. - That's right.) | ||
In | In this example, "sundaratarah" is the comparative form of "sundara," comparing Rama and Krishna. | ||
=== Superlative Degree === | === Superlative Degree === | ||
The superlative degree | The superlative degree shows the highest or lowest degree of quality, formed by adding "तम" (tama) to the adjective stem. Example: | ||
* Person 1: राधा सर्वतमा आकाशगङ्गा विविधवर्णा चित्रपटिका भवति। (Rādhā sarvatamā ākāśagaṅgā vividhavarṇā citrapaṭikā bhavati. - Radha is the most beautiful | * Person 1: राधा सर्वतमा आकाशगङ्गा विविधवर्णा चित्रपटिका भवति। (Rādhā sarvatamā ākāśagaṅgā vividhavarṇā citrapaṭikā bhavati. - Radha is the most beautiful.) | ||
* Person 2: सही है। आप गीता जयन्ती के दिन उसे देखा था, ना? (Sahī hai. Āp gītā jayantī ke din use dekhā thā, nā? - That's right. You saw her on | * Person 2: सही है। आप गीता जयन्ती के दिन उसे देखा था, ना? (Sahī hai. Āp gītā jayantī ke din use dekhā thā, nā? - That's right. You saw her on Gita Jayanti day, didn't you?) | ||
Here, "sarvatamā" is the superlative form of "sundara," describing Radha as the most beautiful. | |||
=== Positive Degree === | === Positive Degree === | ||
The positive degree is the | The positive degree is the basic form of the adjective, used without comparison. Example: | ||
* Person 1: सीता चित्रपटिका भवति। (Sītā citrapaṭikā bhavati. - Sita is beautiful.) | * Person 1: सीता चित्रपटिका भवति। (Sītā citrapaṭikā bhavati. - Sita is beautiful.) | ||
* Person 2: हाँ। इसका कोई संदेह नहीं है। ( | * Person 2: हाँ। इसका कोई संदेह नहीं है। (Hāṁ. Iskā ko'ī sandeh nahīṁ hai. - Yes. There's no doubt about it.) | ||
In | In this example, "sundara" in the positive degree describes Sita's beauty without comparison. | ||
== Wrap Up == | == Wrap Up == | ||
Latest revision as of 21:23, 10 February 2024
Hi Sanskrit learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will focus on Sanskrit adjectives. Adjectives are one of the most important parts of speech in any language, and Sanskrit is no exception. Mastering Sanskrit adjectives will help you express yourself more precisely and accurately. Let's dive in!
Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: Give your Opinion, How to Use "Be", Pronouns & How to Use Have.
What Are Adjectives?[edit | edit source]
Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns or pronouns, adding more information to a sentence to make it more precise and clear. For example, in the sentence "The blue sky is beautiful," "blue" is the adjective that describes the sky.
In Sanskrit, adjectives can take many forms depending on the gender, number, and case of the noun or pronoun they modify. Unlike in English, where adjectives are usually placed before the noun they modify, in Sanskrit, they typically come after the noun.
Types of Adjectives[edit | edit source]
There are two main types of adjectives in Sanskrit: Attributive and Predicative.
Attributive Adjectives[edit | edit source]
Attributive adjectives describe the qualities of a noun or pronoun and take the same gender, number, and case as the noun they modify. Below is the declension of the attributive adjective "sundara" (beautiful):
| Sanskrit | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| सुंदरः | sundaraḥ | beautiful (masculine) |
| सुंदरा | sundarā | beautiful (feminine) |
| सुंदरम् | sundaram | beautiful (neuter) |
| सुंदरौ | sundarau | beautiful (dual) |
| सुंदराः | sundarāḥ | beautiful (plural) |
Example dialogue illustrating the use of an attributive adjective:
- Person 1: रामः सुंदरः है । (Rāmaḥ sundaraḥ hai. - Rama is beautiful.)
- Person 2: न हि। रामः कृष्णः है । (Na hi. Rāmaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ hai. - No. Rama is Krishna.)
In the example above, "sundaraḥ" is the attributive adjective describing "Rāmaḥ."
Predicative Adjectives[edit | edit source]
Predicative adjectives predicate a quality of a subject and occur in the predicate position in a sentence, describing the subject. Unlike attributive adjectives, predicative adjectives do not agree with the gender, number, or case of the noun they modify. Below is the declension of the predicative adjective "hṛṣita" (happy):
| Sanskrit | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| हृषितः | hṛṣitaḥ | happy (masculine) |
| हृषिता | hṛṣitā | happy (feminine) |
| हृषितम् | hṛṣitam | happy (neuter) |
| हृषितौ | hṛṣitau | happy (dual) |
| हृषिताः | hṛṣitāḥ | happy (plural) |
Example dialogue illustrating the use of a predicative adjective:
- Person 1: रामः हृषितः अस्ति। (Rāmaḥ hṛṣitaḥ asti. - Rama is happy.)
- Person 2: पूर्वं अस्ति। अतः स अभी हर्षं न करोति । (Pūrvaṁ asti. Ataḥ sa abhī harṣaṁ na karoti. - He was happy before. Therefore, he does not show enthusiasm now.)
In the example above, "hṛṣitaḥ" predicates the quality of "Rāmaḥ."
Comparison of Adjectives[edit | edit source]
Adjectives can be compared to indicate superiority, inferiority, or equality, with three degrees of comparison in Sanskrit: Positive, Comparative, and Superlative.
Comparative Degree[edit | edit source]
The comparative degree indicates a higher or lower degree of quality between two entities, formed by adding the suffix "तर" (tara) to the adjective stem. Example:
- Person 1: रामः सुंदरतरः कृष्णः है। (Rāma
ḥ sundaratarah kṛṣṇaḥ hai. - Rama is more beautiful than Krishna.)
- Person 2: सही है। (Sahī hai. - That's right.)
In this example, "sundaratarah" is the comparative form of "sundara," comparing Rama and Krishna.
Superlative Degree[edit | edit source]
The superlative degree shows the highest or lowest degree of quality, formed by adding "तम" (tama) to the adjective stem. Example:
- Person 1: राधा सर्वतमा आकाशगङ्गा विविधवर्णा चित्रपटिका भवति। (Rādhā sarvatamā ākāśagaṅgā vividhavarṇā citrapaṭikā bhavati. - Radha is the most beautiful.)
- Person 2: सही है। आप गीता जयन्ती के दिन उसे देखा था, ना? (Sahī hai. Āp gītā jayantī ke din use dekhā thā, nā? - That's right. You saw her on Gita Jayanti day, didn't you?)
Here, "sarvatamā" is the superlative form of "sundara," describing Radha as the most beautiful.
Positive Degree[edit | edit source]
The positive degree is the basic form of the adjective, used without comparison. Example:
- Person 1: सीता चित्रपटिका भवति। (Sītā citrapaṭikā bhavati. - Sita is beautiful.)
- Person 2: हाँ। इसका कोई संदेह नहीं है। (Hāṁ. Iskā ko'ī sandeh nahīṁ hai. - Yes. There's no doubt about it.)
In this example, "sundara" in the positive degree describes Sita's beauty without comparison.
Wrap Up[edit | edit source]
Congratulations! You have learned about the different types of adjectives in Sanskrit, how to decline them, and how to compare them. To improve your Sanskrit Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Videos[edit | edit source]
Sanskrit Adjectives, विशेषणविशेष्यभावः | Day 14A - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Sanskrit adjective 'sumanas' - good-minded (masc) - YouTube[edit | edit source]
विशेषण संस्कृत व्याकरण || adjective in Sanskrit || degree in Sanskrit ...[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Negation
- How to Use Have
- Pronouns
- Gender
- Future Tense
- Questions
- Plurals
- How to Use Be
- Give your Opinion
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Adjectives | Learn Sanskrit Online
- Sanskrit nominals - Wikipedia
- Sanskrit Grammar (Whitney)/Chapter V - Wikisource, the free online ...