Adjectives
An adjective is a word that modifies the meaning of a noun. Typical adjectives denote the qualities, properties, or attributes of the referents of their nouns.
In Elefen, adjectives do not change to indicate number or gender.
Position
An adjective follows the noun it modifies:
- un can bon can – a good dog
- la can la plu bon – the best dog
- resultas eselente – excellent results
In most cases, it’s possible to add more than one adjective after the noun without causing confusion. But in some cases, one of the adjectives may also be understood as an adverb modifying the meaning of the following adjective. E can be placed between adjectives to avoid the confusion:
- la nara vera longa – the really long story (vera = adverb)
- la nara vera e longa – the true (and) long story (vera = adjective)
- la om grande, forte e stupida – the big, strong, stupid man (three adjectives)
In literature, for reasons of style or euphony, a few short common adjectives may precede the noun, unless they are themselves modified. These adjectives are bon, mal, peti, grande, vea, nova, joven, bela, fea, cara and santa:
- un bon idea – a good idea (but always: un idea multe bon – a very good idea)
- mea cara ami – my dear friend
- la peti casa bela – the lovely little house
- un vea faia putrida – a rotten old beech
Many short exclamations always start with bon before the noun:
- bon dia! – good day!
- bon anio nova! – happy new year!
- bon apetito! – enjoy your meal!
- bon idea! – good idea!
- bon viaja! – have a good trip! (or: viaja bon! = a verb with an adverb)
In the past, bon and mal preceded the noun even in everyday language.
Comparison
Comparative adjectives are formed by adding the adverbs plu (“more”) and min (“less”). “Than” is ca:
- La cosina es plu calda ca la jardin. – The kitchen is hotter than the garden.
- Esta leto es min comfortosa ca me ia previde. – This bed is less comfortable than I expected.
Superlative adjectives are formed by adding the adverbs la plu (“most”) and la min (“least”):
- La sol es la ojeto la plu calda en la sistem solal. – The sun is the hottest object in the solar system.
- El ia ave un fia la plu bela en la mundo. – She had a daughter, the most beautiful (of daughters) in the world.
Ordinal numbers can be combined with the superlative construction:
- Vega es la stela sinco la plu briliante en la sielo de note. – Vega is the fifth brightest star in the night sky.
- El ia deveni la om tre de la plu ricas en la mundo. – He became the third richest man in the world.
Equality comparisons use the combination tan… como… (“so… as…”):
- La arbor ia es tan alta como un casa. – The tree was as tall as a house.
- On es tan joven como on senti. – You’re as young as you feel.
Adjectives as nouns
Any adjective can be reused unchanged as a noun, whose meaning is a person or a thing that has that adjective’s quality. The resulting noun obeys the normal rules for nouns – it takes -s when plural, requires a determiner, and can be modified by adjectives of its own:
- Esta anelo es perfeta sirculo. Lo es un sirculo perfeta. – This ring is perfectly circular. It is a perfect circle.
- Marilyn es un blonde, e seniores prefere blondes. – Marilyn is a blonde, and gentlemen prefer blondes.