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196. Adjectives, like nouns, may be divided into those whose stem ends in a vowel and those the stem of which ends in a consonant.
To the student who has mastered the declension of nouns, that of adjectives will present no difficulties.
197. Declension of adjectives in a
Adjectives in a form their feminine by means of aa mostly; some by means of ii.
198. The neuter is obtained by adding .m to the stem.
199. The masculine is declined like deva (122); the feminine like ka~n~naa (127), and the neuter like ruupa.m (124).
Feminines in i are declined like nadii (139).
200. Declension of baala (stem), foolish
| Singular | |||
| Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | |
| Nom. | baalo | baalaa | baala.m |
| Gen. | baalassa | baalaaya | baalassa |
| Dat. | baalassa, baalaaya | baalaaya | baalassa, baalaaya |
| Acc. | baala.m | baala.m | baala.m |
| Ins. | baalena | baalaaya | baalena |
| Abl. | baalaa, baalasmaa, baalamhaa, baalato | baalaaya | baalaa, baalasmaa, baalamhaa, baalato |
| Loc. | baale, baalasmi.m, baalamhi | baalaaya, baalaaya.m | baale, baalasmi.m, baalamhi |
| Voc. | baala, baalaa | baalaa, baale | baala |
| Plural | |||
| Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | |
| Nom. | baalaa | baalaa, baalaayo | baalaani, baalaa |
| Gen. | baalaana.m | baalaana.m | baalaana.m |
| Dat. | baalaana.m | baalaana.m | baalaana.m |
| Acc. | baale | baalaa, baalaayo | baalaani, baale |
| Ins. | baalehi, baalebhi | baalaahi, baalaabhi | baalehi, baalebhi |
| Abl. | baalehi, baalebhi | baalaahi, baalaabhi | baalehi, baalebhi |
| Loc. | baalesu | baalaasu | baalesu |
| Voc. | baalaa | baalaa, baalaayo | baalaani, baalaa |
Exercise Adjectives declined like deva, ka~n~naa and ruupa.m.
| Stem | Masc. | Fem. | Neut. |
| duura, far | duuro | duuraa | duura.m |
| taru.na, young | taru.no | taru.naa | taru.na.m |
| diigha, long | diigho | diighaa | diigha.m |
| rassa, short | rasso | rassaa | rassa.m |
| gambhiira, deep | gambhiiro | gambhiiraa | gambhiira.m |
| pharusa, harsh | pharuso | pharusaa | pharusa.m |
| sukkha, dry | sukkho | sukkhaa | sukkha.m |
| aamaka, raw | aamako | aamakaa | aamaka.m |
| paapa, evil | paapo | paapaa | paapa.m |
| khema, calm | khemo | khemaa | khema.m |
201. We give here only a few examples of feminine adjectives formed by means of ii from stems in a.
| paapa, evil | paapo | paapii |
| taru.na, young | taru.no | taru.nii |
| diipana, illuminating | diipano | diipanii |
Remarks. As said above these adjectives are declined like nadii and therefore present no difficulty.
202. Adjectives in ii (short)
203. Adjectives ending in i are declined like kapi, in the masculine, and like vaari, in the neuter. The feminine formed by means of ni is declined like nadii.
204. Declension of bhuuri (stem), abundant
| Singular | |||
| Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | |
| Nom. | bhuuri | bhuurinii | bhuuri |
| Gen. | bhuurissa, bhuurino | bhuuriniyaa | bhuurissa, bhuurino |
| Dat. | bhuurissa, bhuurino | bhuuriniyaa | bhuurissa, bhuurino |
| Acc. | bhuuri.m | bhuurini.m | bhuuri.m |
| Ins. | bhuurinaa | bhuuriniyaa | bhuurinaa |
| Abl. | bhuurinaa, bhuurismaa, bhuurimhaa | bhuuriniyaa | bhuurinaa, bhuurismaa, bhuurimhaa |
| Loc. | bhuurismi.m, bhuurimhi | bhuuriniyaa, bhuuriniya.m | bhuurismi.m, bhuurimhi |
| Voc. | bhuuri | bhuurini | bhuuri |
| Plural | |||
| Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | |
| Nom. | bhuurii, bhuuraayo | bhuurinii, bhuuriniyo | bhuurinii, bhuurii |
| Gen. | bhuuriina.m | bhuuriniina.m | bhuurina.m |
| Dat. | bhuuriina.m | bhuuriniina.m | bhuurina.m |
| Acc. | bhuurii, bhuuraayo | bhuurinii, bhuuriniyo | bhuurinii, bhuurii |
| Ins. | bhuuriihi, bhuuriibhi | bhuuriniihi, bhuuriniibhi | bhuuriihi, bhuuriibhi |
| Abl. | bhuuriihi, bhuuriibhi | bhuuriniihi, bhuuriniibhi | bhuuriihi, bhuuriibhi |
| Loc. | bhuuriisu | bhuuriniisu | bhuuriisu |
| Voc. | bhuurii, bhuurayo | bhuurini, bhuuriniiyo | bhuurini, bhuurii |
205. Adjectives in ii (long)
206. A numerous class of masculine adjectives are derived from nouns by means of suffix i (an adjectival suffix not to be confounded with the feminine suffix ii) (181, 2; 185).
Examples
| Substantives | Adjectives |
| paapa, sin | paapii, sinful |
| dhamma, religion | dhammii, religious, pious |
| maana, pride | maanii, proud |
| soka, sorrow | sokii, sorrowful |
| roga, sickness | rogii, sick |
| makkha, hypocrisy | makkhii, hypocritical |
207. The masculine is declined like da.n.di.
208. The feminine is formed by adding ni, before which final ii is shortened; it is declined like nadii.
209. In the neuter final ii is shortened to i and is declined like vaari.
210. Declension of esii, wishing
| Singular | |||
| Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | |
| Nom. | esii | esinii | esi |
| Gen. | esissa, esino | esiniyaa | esissa, esino |
| Dat. | esissa, esino | esiniyaa | esissa, esino |
| Acc. | esi.m | esini.m | esi.m |
| Ins. | esinaa | esiniyaa | esinaa |
| Abl. | esinaa, esismaa, esimhaa | esiniyaa | esinaa, esismaa, esimhaa |
| Loc. | esismi.m, esimhi | esiniyaa, esiniya.m | esismi.m, esimhi |
| Voc. | esi | esinii | esi |
| Plural | |||
| Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | |
| Nom. | esii, esino | esinii, esiniyo | esiini, esii |
| Gen. | esiina.m | esiniina.m | esiina.m |
| Dat. | esiina.m | esiniina.m | esiina.m |
| Acc. | esii | esinii, esiniyo | esiini, esi |
| Ins. | esiihi, esiibhi | esiniihi, esiniibhi | esiihi, esiibhi |
| Abl. | esiihi, esiibhi | esiniihi, esiniibhi | esiihi, esiibhi |
| Loc. | esiisu | esiniisu | esiisu |
| Voc. | esii | esinii | esii |
Decline like esii.
| Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
| ekaakii, solitary | ekaakinii, | ekaaki |
| caarii, roaming | caarinii | caari |
| ekakkhii, one eyed | ekakkhinii | ekakkhi |
| maccharii, niggardly | maccharinii | macchari |
| suurii, wise | suurinii | suuri |
| jayii, victorious | jayinii | jayi |
211. Adjectives in u (short)
212. These are declined in the masculine like bhikkhu, in the feminine like nadii, and in the neuter like cakkhu.
213. The feminine base is formed by the addition of ni.
214. Declension of garu (stem), heavy
| Singular | |||
| Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | |
| Nom. | garu | garunii | garu |
| Gen. | garussa, garuno | garuniyaa | garussa, garuno |
| Dat. | garussa, garuno | garuniyaa | garussa, garuno |
| Acc. | garu.m | garuni.m | garu.m |
| Ins. | garunaa | garuniyaa | garunaa |
| Abl. | garunaa, garusmaa, garumhaa | garuniyaa | garunaa, garusmaa, garumhaa |
| Loc. | garusmi.m, garumhi | garuniyaa, garuniya.m | garusmi.m, garumhi |
| Voc. | garu | garunii | garu |
| Plural | |||
| Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | |
| Nom. | garuu, garavo | garunii, garuniyo | garuuni, garuu |
| Gen. | garuuna.m | garuniina.m | garuuna.m |
| Dat. | garuuna.m | garuniina.m | garuuna.m |
| Acc. | garuu, garavo | garunii, garuniyo | garuuni, garuu |
| Ins. | garuuhi, garuubhi | garuniihi, garuniibhi | garuuhi, garuubhi |
| Abl. | garuuhi, garuubhi | garuniihi, garuniibhi | garuuhi, garuubhi |
| Loc. | garuusu | garuniisu | garuusu |
| Voc. | garuu, garavo | garunii, garuniyo | garuuni, garuu |
Decline like garu.
| Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
| bahu, many | bahunii | bahu |
| saadu, agreeable | saadunii | saadu |
| saadhu, good | saadhunii | saadhu |
| dattu, stupid | dattunii | dattu |
215. Adjectives in uu (long)
216. Adjectives in uu form their feminine by means of nii, uu being shortened before it.
217. They are declined, in the masc. like sayambhuu, and in the feminine like nadii and in the neut. like cakkhu.
218. Declension of vi~n~nuu, wise
| Singular | |||
| Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | |
| Nom. | vi~n~nuu | vi~n~nunii | vi~n~nuu |
| Gen. | vi~n~nussa, vi~n~nuno | vi~n~nuniyaa | vi~n~nussa, vi~n~nuno |
| Dat. | vi~n~nussa, vi~n~nuno | vi~n~nuniyaa | vi~n~nussa, vi~n~nuno |
| Acc. | vi~n~nu.m | vi~n~nuni.m | vi~n~nu.m |
| Ins. | vi~n~nunaa | vi~n~nuniyaa | vi~n~nunaa |
| Abl. | vi~n~nunaa, vi~n~nusmaa, vi~n~numhaa | vi~n~nuniyaa | vi~n~nunaa, vi~n~nusmaa, vi~n~numhaa |
| Loc. | vi~n~nusmi.m, vi~n~numhi | vi~n~nuniyaa, vi~n~nuniya.m | vi~n~nusmi.m, vi~n~numhi |
| Voc. | vi~n~nuu | vi~n~nunii | vi~n~nuu |
| Plural | |||
| Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | |
| Nom. | vi~n~nuu, vi~n~nuvo | vi~n~nunii, vi~n~nuniyo | vi~n~nuuni, vi~n~nuu |
| Gen. | vi~n~nuuna.m | vi~n~nuniina.m | vi~n~nuuna.m |
| Dat. | vi~n~nuuna.m | vi~n~nuniina.m | vi~n~nuuna.m |
| Acc. | vi~n~nuu, vi~n~nuvo | vi~n~nunii, vi~n~nuniyo | vi~n~nuuni, vi~n~nuu |
| Ins. | vi~n~nuuhi, vi~n~nuubhi | vi~n~nuniihi, vi~n~nuniibhi | vi~n~nuuhi, vi~n~nuubhi |
| Abl. | vi~n~nuuhi, vi~n~nuubhi | vi~n~nuniihi, vi~n~nuniibhi | vi~n~nuuhi, vi~n~nuubhi |
| Loc. | vi~n~nuusu | vi~n~nuniisu | vi~n~nuusu |
| Voc. | vi~n~nuu, vi~n~nuvo | vi~n~nunii, vi~n~nuniyo | vi~n~nuuni, vi~n~nuu |
Decline like vi~n~nuu, in the masculine, feminine and neuter.
219. Adjectives with consonantal bases
220. Adjectives with consonantal bases are of three kinds:
221. All the adjectives in mat, mant, and vat, vant, are formed from nouns by means of suffixes maa and vaa, (whose original base is mat and vat), which express possession of the quality or state indicated by the noun to which they are affixed.
222. It must, however, be remarked that vaa and maa are not affixed indiscriminately. The following rule is invariable.
Example
| Noun | Adj. |
| maana, pride | maanavaa, having pride, viz, proud |
| gu.na, virtue | gunavaa, having virtue, viz., virtuous |
| bhoga, wealth | bhogavaa, possessing wealth, viz., wealthy |
| bala, strength | balavaa, possessing strength, viz., strong |
Example
| Noun | Adj. |
| suci, purity | sucimaa, endowed with purity, viz., pure |
| sati, mindfulness | satimaa, possessed of mindfulness, viz., mindful |
| khanti, patience | khantimaa, endowed with patience, viz., patient |
| hetu, cause | hetumaa, having a cause, causal |
| bandhu, relative | bandhumaa, having a relative |
223. The feminine is formed by adding ii to either of the bases viz, mat, mant or vat, vant; for instance:
| Stem | Masculine | Feminine |
| gu.navat | gu.navaa | gu.navatii |
| gu.navant | gu.navantii | |
| jutimat | jutimaa | jutimatii |
| jutimant | jutimantii |
224. In the Nom., Acc., and Voc. sing. the neuter is formed by adding .m after vaa and maa, the long aa being shortened (4, 34); and ni to the stem in vant and mant, for the Nom., Acc., and Voc. plural.
| Stem | Masculine | Feminine | |
| Singular | Plural | ||
| jutimant | jutimaa | jutima.m | jutimantaani |
| gu.navant | gu.navaa | gu.nava.m | gu.navantaani |
225. Declension of adjectives in at or ant
226. Declension of mahaa (stem: mahat, mahant)
| Singular | |||
| Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | |
| Nom. | maha.m, mahanto | mahatii, mahantii | maha.m, mahanta.m |
| Gen. | mahato, mahantassa | mahatiyaa, mahantiyaa | mahato, mahantassa |
| Dat. | mahato, mahantassa | mahatiyaa, mahantiyaa | mahato, mahantassa |
| Acc. | mahanta.m | mahati.m, mahanti.m | mahanta.m |
| Ins. | mahataa, mahantena | mahatiyaa, mahantiyaa | mahataa, mahantena |
| Abl. | mahataa, mahantasmaa, mahantamhaa | mahatiyaa, mahantiyaa | mahataa, mahantasmaa, mahantamhaa |
| Loc. | mahati, mahante, mahantasmi.m, mahantamhi | mahatiyaa, mahantiyaa, mahatiya.m, mahantiya.m | mahati, mahante, mahantasmi.m, mahantamhi |
| Voc. | maha.m, mahaa, maha | mahatii, mahantii | maha.m, mahaa, maha |
| Plural | |||
| Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | |
| Nom. | mahanto, mahantaa | mahatii, mahatiyo, mahantii, mahantiyo | mahantaani, mahantaa |
| Gen. | mahata.m, mahantaana.m | mahatiinam, mahantiina.m | mahata.m, mahantaana.m |
| Dat. | mahata.m, mahantaana.m | mahatiinam, mahantiina.m | mahata.m, mahantaana.m |
| Acc. | mahante, mahantaa, mahanto | mahatii, mahatiyo, mahantii, mahantiyo | mahantaani, mahantaa |
| Ins. | mahantehi, mahantebhi | mahantiihi, mahantiibhi, mahatiihi, mahatiibhi | mahantehi, mahantebhi |
| Abl. | mahantehi, mahantebhi | mahantiihi, mahantiibhi, mahatiihi, mahatiibhi | mahantehi, mahantebhi |
| Loc. | mahantesu | mahatiisu, mahantiisu | mahantesu |
| Voc. | mahantaa, mahanto | mahatii, mahatiyo, mahantii, mahantiyo | mahantaani, mahantaa |
Remarks.
(a) The declension of mahaa should be carefully studied, as all the Present Participles, in at and ant, as for instance gaccha.m or gacchanto, kara.m or karanto, paca.m or pacanto, are declined like it.
(b) We have already given (167) the declension of araha.m which, in the Nom. sing, has also the form arahaa.
(c) The word santo (167) meaning a good man, is similarly declined; the form sabbhi, however, is also found in the Ins. and Abl. plural.
Exercise Decline like maha.m (stem: mahat, mahant), in the masculine, feminine and neuter.
227. Declension of adjectives in mat or mant
228. Declension of dhiimaa, wise (stem: dhiimat, dhiimant)
| Singular | |||
| Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | |
| Nom. | dhiimaa, dhiimanto | dhiimatii, dhiimantii | dhiima.m, dhiimantam |
| Gen. | dhiimato, dhiimantassa | dhiimatiyaa, dhiimantiyaa | dhiimato, dhimantassa |
| Dat. | dhiimato, dhiimantassa | dhiimatiyaa, dhiimantiyaa | dhiimato, dhimantassa |
| Acc. | dhiima.m, dhiimanta.m | dhiimati.m, dhiimanti.m | dhiima.m, dhiimanta.m |
| Ins. | dhiimataa, dhiimantena | dhiimatiyaa, dhiimantiyaa | dhiimataa, dhiimantena |
| Abl. | dhiimataa, dhiimantaa, dhiimantasmaa, dhiimantamhaa | dhiimantiyaa, dhiimatiyaa | dhiimataa, dhiimantaa, dhiimantasmaa, dhiimantamhaa |
| Loc. | dhiimati, dhiimante, dhiimantasmi.m, dhiimantamhi | dhiimatiyaa, dhiimantiyaa, dhiimatiya.m, dhiimantiya.m | dhiimati, dhiimante, dhiimantasmi.m, dhiimantamhi |
| Voc. | dhiima.m, dhiimaa, dhiima, dhiimantaa, dhiimanta | dhiimatii, dhiimantii | dhiima.m, dhiimaa, dhiima, dhiimanta, dhiimantaa |
| Plural | |||
| Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | |
| Nom. | dhiimantaa, dhiimanto, dhiimaa | dhiimatii, dhiimatiyo, dhiimantii, dhiimantiyo | dhiimantaani, dhiimantaa |
| Gen. | dhiimata.m, dhiimantaana.m | dhiimatiina.m, dhiimantiina.m | dhiimata.m, dhiimantaana.m |
| Dat. | dhiimata.m, dhiimantaana.m | dhiimatiina.m, dhiimantiina.m | dhiimata.m, dhiimantaana.m |
| Acc. | dhiimante | dhiimatii, dhiimatiyo, dhiimantii, dhiimantiyo | dhiimantaani, dhiimantaa |
| Ins. | dhiimantehi, dhiimantebhi | dhiimatiihi, dhiimatiibhi, dhiimantiihi, dhiimantiibhi | dhiimantehi, dhiimantebhi |
| Abl. | dhiimantehi, dhiimantebhi | dhiimatiihi, dhiimatiibhi, dhiimantiihi, dhiimantiibhi | dhiimantehi, dhiimantebhi |
| Loc. | dhiimantesu | dhiimantiisu, dhiimatiisu | dhiimantesu |
| Voc. | dhiimantaa, dhiimanto, dhiimaa | dhiimatii, dhiimatiyo, dhiimantii, dhiimantiyo | dhiimantaani, dhiimantaa |
Exercise Decline like dhimaa (stem: dhiimat, dhiimant), in the masculine, feminine and neuter:
229. Declension of adjectives in vat or vant
Remarks. The declension of adjectives in vat, vant is the same as that of those in mat, mant; the only difference being that, of course, v replaces m throughout.
230. Declension of gu.navaa, virtuous (stem: gu.navat, gu.navant)
| Singular | |||
| Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | |
| Nom. | gu.navaa, gu.navanto | gu.navatii, gu.navantii | gu.nava.m, gu.navantam |
| Gen. | gu.navato, gu.navantassa | gu.navatiyaa, gu.navantiyaa | gu.navato, gu.navantassa |
| Dat. | gu.navato, gu.navantassa | gu.navatiyaa, gu.navantiyaa | gu.navato, gu.navantassa |
| Acc. | gu.nava.m, gu.navanta.m | gu.navati.m, gu.navanti.m | gu.nava.m, gu.navanta.m |
| Ins. | gu.navataa, gu.navantena | gu.navatiyaa, gu.navantiyaa | gu.navataa, gu.navantena |
| Abl. | gu.navataa, gu.navantaa, gu.navantasmaa, gu.navantamhaa | gu.navantiyaa, gu.navatiyaa | gu.navataa, gu.navantaa, gu.navantasmaa, gu.navantamhaa |
| Loc. | gu.navati, gu.navante, gu.navantasmi.m, gu.navantamhi | gu.navatiyaa, gu.navatiya.m, gu.navantiyaa, gu.navantiya.m | gu.navati, gu.navante, gu.navantasmi.m, gu.navantamhi |
| Voc. | gu.nava.m, gu.navaa, gu.nava, gu.navantaa, gu.navanta | gu.navatii, gu.navantii | gu.nava.m, gu.navaa, gu.nava, gu.navanta, gu.navantaa |
| Plural | |||
| Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | |
| Nom. | gu.navantaa, gu.navanto, gu.navaa | gu.navatii, gu.navatiyo, gu.navantii, gu.navantiyo | gu.navantaani, gu.navantaa |
| Gen. | gu.navata.m, gu.navantaana.m | gu.navatiina.m, gu.navantiina.m | gu.navata.m, gu.navantaana.m |
| Dat. | gu.navata.m, gu.navantaana.m | gu.navatiina.m, gu.navantiina.m | gu.navata.m, gu.navantaana.m |
| Acc. | gu.navante | gu.navatii, gu.navatiyo, gu.navantii, gu.navantiyo | gu.navantaani, gu.navantaa |
| Ins. | gu.navantehi, gu.navantebhi | gu.navatiihi, gu.navatiibhi, gu.navantiihi, gu.navantiibhi | gu.navantehi, gu.navantebhi |
| Abl. | gu.navantehi, gu.navantebhi | gu.navatiihi, gu.navatiibhi, gu.navantiihi, gu.navantiibhi | gu.navantehi, gu.navantebhi |
| Loc. | gu.navantesu | gu.navantiisu, gu.navatiisu | gu.navantesu |
| Voc. | gu.navantaa, gu.navanto, gu.navaa | gu.navatii, gu.navatiyo, gu.navantii, gu.navantiyo | gu.navantaani, gu.navantaa |
231. There is another not very numerous class of adjectives formed from nouns and roots by means of suffixes aavii and vii.
232. The original stem of aavii and vii is aavin and vin and they therefore belong to the consonantal declension. Vii is used after nouns, and aavii after roots.
233. The feminine is formed by adding the feminine suffix nii, before which final long ii is shortened.
234. In the neuter, final i is shortened in the nom. and voc. singular; in the plural, before neuter suffix ni final ii remains unchanged.
235. vii, like maa and vaa, expresses possession.
Examples
| Noun | Adj. Masc. | Adj. Fem. | Neuter | |
| Singular | Plural | |||
| medhaa, wisdom | medhaavii | medhaavinii | medhaavi | medhaaviinii |
| √pass, to see | passaavii | passaavinii | passaavi | passaaviinii |
The declension of these adjectives presents no difficulty. They are declined in the masculine like da.n.dii, in the feminine like nadii and in the neuter like vaari.
236. Negative adjectives
237. Negative adjectives are obtained by prefixing to affirmative adjectives the prefix a and ana.
Remarks. a is used before a consonant, and ana before a vowel.
Examples
238. The comparison of adjectives is formed in two ways:
(1) by adding tara for the comparative and tama for the superlative, to the masculine bases of the positive.
(2) by adding iya or iyya for the comparative, and i.t.tha, issika for the superlative, to the masculine bases of the positive.
239. The comparative and superlative are declined in the masculine like deva, in the feminine like ka~n~na and in the neuter like ruupa.m.
Examples
(1) tara, tama.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| suci, pure | sucitara, purer | sucitama, purest |
| paapa, evil | paapatara, more evil | paapatama, most evil |
| omaka, vile | omakatara, viler | omakatama, vilest |
| hari, green | haritara, greener | haritama, greenest |
Remarks. Of the above comparative and superlative bases, the masculine is, sucitaro, sucitamo; the feminine, sucitaraa, sucitamaa, and the neuter, sucitara.m, etc., etc.
(2) iya (iyya), i.t.tha, issika.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| paapa, evil | paapiiya, more evil | paapi.t.tha, most evil |
| paapiyya more evil | paapissika, most evil | |
| khippa, quick | khippiya, quicker | khippi.t.tha, quickest |
| khippiyya, quicker | khippissika, quickest | |
| ka.t.tha, bad | ka.t.thiya, worse | ka.t.thi.t.tha, worst |
| ka.t.thiyya, worse | ka.t.thissika, worst |
240. With many, we should say most, adjectives, the suffixes of (238-1) tara, tama or of (2) iya, iyya, i.t.tha, issika, may be used interchangeably.
Examples
241. The comparatives in iya, iyya, are declined like mano (159).
It will be remarked that, before iya, iyya, i.t.tha and issika, the final vowel of the positive adjective is dropped.
243. Adjectives formed by means of the possessive suffixes, ma (mat), vaa (vat) (221), and vii, vin (231), drop these suffixes and the vowel which precedes them, before iya, iyya, i.t.tha and issika.
Examples
(a) gu.navaa+iyo = gu.na+iyo = gu.n+iyo = gu.niyo
Similarly: gu.n+iyyo, gu.niyyo: gu.n-i.t.tha, etc.
(b) medhaavii+iyo = medhaa+iyo = medh+iyo = medhiyo
Similarly: medh-iyyo, medhiyyo; medh-i.t.tha, medhi.t.tha, etc.
(c) satimaa+iyo = sati+iyo = sat+iyo = satiyo
Similarly: sat-iyyo = satiyyo; sat-i.t.tha = sati.t.tha, etc.
244. Tara may be superadded to the superlative i.t.tha, as, paapi.t.thatara.
245. The Acc. sing. of most adjectives is used adverbially.
Examples
| Adjective | Adverb |
| khippa, quick | khippa.m, quickly |
| sukha, happy | sukha.m, happily |
| siigha, swift | siigha.m, swiftly |
| manda, stupid | manda.m, stupidly |
246. The absolute superlative is formed by prefixing ati to the positive adjective: atikhippa, very quick, extremely quick, too quick. atippasattha, very excellent. atithoka, very little, too little, excessively little.
247. Some adjectives form their comparison irregularly.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| antika, near | nediya, nearer | nedi.t.tha, nearest |
| baa.lha, strong | saadhiya, stronger | saadhi.t.tha, strongest |
| saadhiyya, stronger | ||
| appa, few | ka.niya, fewer | kani.t.tha, fewest |
| yuva, young | ka.niya, younger | kani.t.tha, youngest |
| vu.d.dha, old | jeyya, older | je.t.tha, oldest |
| pasattha, excellent, good | seyya, better | se.t.tha, most excellent, best |
| garu, heavy | gariya, heavier | gari.t.tha, heaviest |
248. Any substantive is used in the sense of an adjective when it is the last member of a bahubbihi compound (see chapter on compounds, bahubbihi) qualifying a noun or a pronoun expressed or understood.
249. The noun thus used, whether feminine or neuter, assumes the form of the masculine.
Example
| Noun | As adjective |
| (i) dassana.m (neut.) looking | ruddadassano kumbhiilo, a fierce-looking crocodile |
| (ii) ja`nghaa (fem.) leg | diighaja`ngho puriso, a long-legged man |
| (iii) pa~n~naa (fem.) wisdom | mahaapa~n~no, having great wisdom, very wise |
| (iv) siila.m (neut.) morality | sampannasiilo, one who is full of morality: moral, virtuous |
| (v) hattho (masc.) hand | chinnahatthena purisena kato, done by a man whose hands have been cut off |
Unicode | Velthuis