-ues

Active Participial Adjectives in '-ues'

Level 5

The suffix -ues (and its variant -yes) creates active verbal adjectives. It describes the 'doer' of an action, similar to the English '-ing' (shining) or '-er' (reader).

How It Works

In Standard Albanian, active participial adjectives (mbiemra prejfoljorë) are highly productive tools for describing agents or active qualities. A defining characteristic of this group is that they are unarticulated (të panyjshëm), meaning they never take a linking article (i, e, të, së).

1. Formation Rules:

  • -oj Verbs: Replace the -oj ending with -ues. Example: ndërtoj (to build) → ndërtues (constructive/building).
  • -aj Verbs: Replace the -aj ending with -arës. Example: laj (to wash) → larës (washing/detergent).
  • -uaj Verbs: Replace the -uaj ending with -ues. Example: shkruaj (to write) → shkrues (writing).
  • -ej Verbs: Replace the -ej ending with -yes. Example: shkëlqej (to shine) → shkëlqyes (shining).
  • -ij Verbs: Replace the -ij ending with -rës. Example: fshij (to wipe) → fshirës (wiping).
  • Consonant Stems: Often use the related suffix -ës. Example: lodh (to tire) → lodhës (tiring).

2. Gender and Number Agreement:
These adjectives agree in gender by adding an -e for the feminine form (e.g., ndërtues → ndërtuese). A defining trait of this entire suffix group is that they are invariable in number for both masculine and feminine genders; the plural form is identical to the singular form.
Example: libër lodhës (a tiring book) → libra lodhës (tiring books); forcë lëvizëse (moving force) → forca lëvizëse (moving forces).

3. Adjectival vs. Noun Function:
Many of these forms have become nouns (nominalization). For example, mësues (teacher) and nxënës (student) are technically verbal adjectives used as nouns. When used as a true adjective, they follow the noun directly: makinë llogaritëse (calculator).

4. Active vs. Passive:
It is critical to distinguish -ues from the past participle (-ur). The -ues form is active (the cause), while the -ur form is passive/resultative (the state).
Example: film lodhës (a tiring film) vs. njeri i lodhur (a tired person).

Examples (5)

  1. Drita shkëlqyese e diellit na verboi.

    The shining light of the sun blinded us.

    Word by Word: Light shining of sun us blinded.

    Here, 'shkëlqyese' is the feminine form of 'shkëlqyes' (from shkëlqej), describing the active quality of the light.

  2. Ai është një nxënës shumë studiues.

    He is a very studious student.

    Word by Word: He is a student very studying.

    The word 'studiues' (from studioj) describes the student's habitual action of studying.

  3. Këto janë forca lëvizëse në ekonominë tonë.

    These are moving forces in our economy.

    Word by Word: These are forces moving in economy our.

    This example demonstrates number invariability: 'lëvizëse' remains the same in both singular (forcë lëvizëse) and plural (forca lëvizëse).

  4. Kemi blerë disa pajisje fshirëse për zyrën.

    We have bought some wiping/cleaning devices for the office.

    Word by Word: We-have bought some devices wiping for office.

    'Fshirëse' is formed from the verb 'fshij' (to wipe/clean). Verbs ending in -ij typically use the -rës suffix.

  5. Ai punon si prodhues i mobilieve.

    He works as a producer of furniture.

    Word by Word: He works as producer of furniture.

    In this case, 'prodhues' (from prodhoj) is nominalized, acting as a noun meaning 'producer'.

Common Mistakes

  • Confusing the active '-ues' with the passive '-ur'.

    Jam shumë lodhës sot.
    Jam shumë i lodhur sot.

    'Lodhës' means 'tiring' (you are making others tired). To say 'I am tired' (a state), you must use the past participle 'i lodhur'.

  • Using '-ues' to form continuous tenses.

    Unë jam lexues një libër.
    Unë po lexoj një libër.

    Unlike English '-ing', the Albanian '-ues' form is an adjective/noun, not a verb tense. Use 'po' + present tense for ongoing actions.

How It Connects

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-uesLevel 5Active Participial Adjectives in '-ues'

Learn This First

To understand active participial adjectives in '-ues', learners must first be familiar with basic verb conjugation (specifically the present tense stems from which they are formed) and the fundamental rules of adjective agreement and placement in Albanian.