Language/Malayalam/Grammar/Adjectives
Hi Malayalam learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about adjectives in Malayalam Grammar. Adjectives are words used to describe or modify nouns or pronouns. We will learn about different types of adjectives, their position and agreement with the noun they describe.
Types of Adjectives[edit | edit source]
In Malayalam, like in many other languages, adjectives are classified into different types based on their characteristics.
Attributive Adjectives[edit | edit source]
Attributive adjectives are adjectives that directly modify the noun they describe. They come before the noun and are usually not separated from the noun using punctuation. For example:
Malayalam | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
പൂന്തോൽ | Pūntōl | Red dress |
കുറഞ്ഞ | Kuṟaṇñə | Small book |
മികച്ച | Mikcchə | Good food |
Predicative Adjectives[edit | edit source]
Predicative adjectives, as the name suggests, appear in a predicate after a linking verb like "ഉണ്ട്" (uṇṭŭ) to modify the subject of the sentence. For example:
Malayalam | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
നല്ല | Nallə | He is good |
നിറഞ്ഞ | Niṟañña | The glass is full |
സന്തോഷം | Santōṣam | I am happy |
Limiting Adjectives[edit | edit source]
Limiting adjectives are those that limit or specify the noun being described. For example:
Malayalam | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
അലകൾ | Ala-kəl | Some flowers |
എന്തെങ്കിലും ഒരു | Enteŋkilum oru | Any one |
എണ്ണയുള്ള | Eṇṇayuḷḷə | Two boys |
Interrogative Adjectives[edit | edit source]
As the name suggests, these adjectives are used while asking questions. For example:
Malayalam | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
ഇത് എന്താണ്? | Itħ en'thān? | What is it? |
സമ്മതിച്ചുള്ള എത്ര | Sammatcccuḷḷə etra | How many agreed? |
Position of Adjectives[edit | edit source]
In Malayalam, the adjective normally appears before the noun. The adjective usually follows the noun in cases such as in poetry or when a specific need calls for it. For example:
- മനസ്സിലാക്കിയ കവിത || Manassilakkia kavitə || A poem kept in the heart
Adjective Agreement[edit | edit source]
When using adjectives in a sentence, it is important to remember to make the adjective agree in gender, number, and case with the noun.
- Gender: In Malayalam, there are two genders, masculine and feminine. To agree with the noun, the adjective should have the corresponding gender ending, "-an" for masculine and "-a" for feminine. For example:
Malayalam | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
പുലരുകൾക്ക് വളർത്തൽ സമ്മതിക്കുന്നു | Pularkəł-kku vaḷarttal sammatcccuñña | Flowers (masculine noun) grow well |
പൂക്കളിൽ നിറഞ്ഞ | Pūkkəlıŋ niṟañña | Flowers (feminine noun) are colourful |
- Number: Adjectives should also match the number of the noun they describe. If the noun is singular, the adjective should also be singular, and if the noun is plural, the adjective should be plural. For example:
Malayalam | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
ഏറ്റവും ചെറിയ കൂട് | Eṛṟavum ceṟiya kūṭŭ | The smallest group |
വലിയ സ്കൂളുകൾ | Valiya skūḷu-kəl | Big schools |
- Case: Just like in any other noun, the adjectives must match the appropriate case to agree with the noun being described. For example:
Malayalam | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
സുന്ദരം കാണിക്കുന്ന | Sundaram kāṇikkunna | Beautiful (masculine adjective) sees the boy (masculine noun) |
സുന്ദരിക്കുന്ന | Sundarikkuñña | Beautiful (feminine adjective) sees the girl (feminine noun) |
Adjectives in Context[edit | edit source]
Here is a dialogue to highlight the usage of adjectives in Malayalam:
- Person 1: ഞാൻ പുലർത്തിയ വിവാഹവിവരങ്ങൾ ഒന്നും കണ്ടില്ല. (Njān pularttiya vivāhavivaraṅṅəḷ on̄ṇum kaṇṭilla.) (I have not seen any wedding invitations.)
- Person 2: കണ്ണാക്കുന്നത് അരികുകളും കാര്യവസ്തുക്കളും തന്നെ. (Kaṇṇākkun̄natʰ arikukəḷuṃ kāryavastukkuḷŭ tañṇe.) (They are seeing only the rice and household items.)
- Person 1: തീയതി ആഗസ്റ്റ് ആണോ? (Tēyatʰi āgassṟ āṇŏ?) (Is the date in August?)
- Person 2: അതു മൂന്നു ആഗസ്റ്റ് ആണ്. (Atʰu mūnnu āgassṟ āṇŭ) (That is the third of August.)
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Adjectives are an important part of any language's grammar. To improve your Malayalam and make your speech more descriptive and nuanced, understanding adjectives is crucial. Remember to practice, practice, and practice some more. To improve your Malayalam 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. 😎
Now that you've completed this lesson, don't stop learning! Check out these related topics: Malayalam Grammar → Advanced Sentence Structures ..., Malayalam Grammar → Basic Sentence Structure → Word Order, Nouns & Nouns and Adjectives.
Videos[edit | edit source]
20 MALAYALAM PHRASES WITH ADJECTIVES||FLUENT IN ...[edit | edit source]
Adjectives | English Grammar| Explanation in Malayalam - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Adjective,My English Class in Malayalam,Basic English grammar ...[edit | edit source]
Possessive Adjectives in Malayalam - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Give your Opinion
- Future Tense
- How to Use Have
- How to Use Be
- Conditional Mood
- Plurals
- Nouns
- Pronouns
- Negation
Sources[edit | edit source]
- moreadjectives - Learn Malayalam Grammar
- Types of Adjectives | English Grammar| Explanation in Malayalam ...