Vocabulary: Common Adjectives

Vocabulary: Common Adjectives

Introduction to Common Russian Adjectives

• Adjectives in Russian must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, meaning they change depending on the characteristics of the noun.
• There are four genders for adjectives: masculine, feminine, neuter, and plural.
• For example, the adjective большой (big) would change as follows for different genders: большой (masculine), большая (feminine), большое (neuter), большие (plural).

Common Regular Adjectives

• Старый (stariy) - old
• Новый (novyi) - new
• Добрый (dobryi) - kind
• Плохой (plohoi) - bad
• Молодой (molodoi) - young
• Хороший (horoshii) - good
• Большой (bol’shoi) - big
• Маленький (malen’kii) - small

Comparatives and Superlatives of Adjectives

• The comparative form of adjectives is used to compare two things. It’s typically formed by adding -еe or -ей to the end of the adjective: старый (old) becomes старей (older), хороший (good) becomes лучше (better).
• The superlative form expresses the highest degree of something. It’s typically formed by adding the word самый before the adjective: самый старый (oldest), самый хороший (best).

Short Form of Adjectives

• Some adjectives have a short form, which is used predominantly in spoken language. It’s typically used to refer to the temporary state of something: стар (old), хорош (good).

Use of Adjectives in Sentences

• In basic sentences, the adjective usually comes before the noun it modifies: старый дом - old house.
• The noun and its adjective must agree in gender, number, and case: старый дом (old house - masc.), старая книга (old book - fem.), старое здание (old building - neut.), старые дома (old houses - plur.).