Lower Sorbian/Grammar/Gradation of adjectives
Comparative grade
[edit | edit source]- there exist following endings, used to form comparative grade of adjectives: (a) –šy, (b) –jejšy
- there also exist adjectives gradated (c)irregularly and (d) descriptively
(a) adjectives with comparative ending with –šy – those, which stem ends with 1 consonant
- if the last consonant of the stem is ł, n, g, ch, s, z – it's being softened (palatalised); note that groups žš, šš are being simplified into š, e.g.. běły-bělšy `white`, drogi-drošy `expensive, precious`
- if the last consonant of the stem is d, t, w, b, r – it remains unchanged, e.g. swěty-swětšy `holy`
- if the equal grade of adjective ends with –ki, -oki, than this ending is being omitted while forming comparative grade, e.g. wusoki-wušy `high`
(b) adjectives with a comparative grade ending with –jejšy – those, which stem ends with 2 and more consonants
- if the last consonant of the stem is d, t, st, ł, tš, it's being softened (palatalised) (tš >tś), np. žołty-žołśejšy `yellow`, wótšy-wótśejšy `sharp`
- in other cases the ending is added without changes, np. mudry-mudrjejšy `clever, wise`
- following adjectives ending with –ki form comparating grade ending with –jejšy: (1) górki-górcejšy `bitter`, (2) wuzki-wuzčejšy `narrow`, (3) lažki-lažčejšy `light`, (4)śěžki-śežšejšy `heavy`
(c) adjectives gradated irregularly: (1) dobry-lěpšy `good`, (2) zły-goršy `bad`, (3) wjeliki-wětšy `great`, (4) mały-měńšy `small`, (5) dłujki-dlejšy `long`
(d) descriptive gradation – by adding the adverbs lěpjej albo wěcej in front of the adjective
- it's used for all adjectives ending with –ski and a significant number of those ending with –aty
- as well as for the adjectives (1) cuzy `strange, alien`, (2) gorucy `hot`
Superlative grade
[edit | edit source]superlative grade – is formed by adding prefix nej- to the comparative grade of the adjective, np. lažki-nejlažčejšy, gorucy-nejwěcej gorucy