Adjective Agreement
A Bulgarian adjective has four forms. Match it to the noun: нов стол, нова книга, ново село, нови столове.
How It Works
An adjective usually comes before its noun and copies the noun’s gender and number. To find the gender, see род на съществителните.
- Masculine: нов стол (a new chair)
- Feminine: нова книга (a new book)
- Neuter: ново село (a new village)
- Plural, every gender: нови столове, нови книги, нови села
One plural form. The plural adjective ends in -и even when the noun ends in -а: малки деца (small children).
After съм. The same forms are used when the adjective describes the subject: Столът е нов. Стаята е голяма. Времето е хубаво. Децата са малки.
A vowel that drops. Adjectives ending in -ър or -ък usually lose that vowel when an ending is added: добър → добра, добро, добри; малък → малка, малко, малки. See изпадащо ъ и е.
Adjectives in -ски. Here the masculine and the plural look the same: български, българска, българско, български. See прилагателни на -ски.
Coming next. When the phrase needs the, the article goes on the adjective: новата книга. See членуване на прилагателните. A few adjectives have soft endings: see меки прилагателни: син/синя/синьо.
Examples (6)
- Имам нов телефон.
I have a new phone.
Word by Word: I-have new phone.
Телефон is masculine, so the adjective has no ending.
- Това е хубава стая.
This is a nice room.
Word by Word: This is nice room.
Стая is feminine, so the adjective ends in -а.
- Времето е хубаво.
The weather is nice.
Word by Word: Weather-the is nice.
After съм, the adjective still matches the neuter noun време.
- Децата са малки.
The children are small.
Word by Word: Children-the are small.
Деца is plural, so the adjective ends in -и.
- Той е добър човек, а тя е добра учителка.
He is a good person, and she is a good teacher.
Word by Word: He is good person, and she is good teacher.
Добър drops its ъ when the ending -а is added.
- Обичам българско вино.
I love Bulgarian wine.
Word by Word: I-love Bulgarian wine.
Вино is neuter, so българск- takes -о.
Common Mistakes
Leaving the adjective in the masculine form after a feminine noun.
Стаята е голям.Стаята е голяма.Стая is feminine, so the adjective needs -а, even after съм.
Using -а on a plural adjective because the noun ends in -а.
Това са малка деца.Това са малки деца.Деца is plural. Every plural adjective ends in -и.
Keeping the ъ of добър before an ending.
Тя е добъра учителка.Тя е добра учителка.Adjectives in -ър and -ък lose that vowel in the other forms: добра, добро, добри.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Adjective agreement needs the endings of all three genders.
Related Patterns
- Noun Gender
You need the noun’s gender to choose the adjective ending.
Level 1 - Articles on Adjectives
When a phrase is definite, the article goes on the adjective: новата книга.
Level 2 - Disappearing ъ and еThe Disappearing Ъ and Е
Explains why добър becomes добра and малък becomes малка.
Level 3 - син/синя/синьоSoft Adjectives Like Син
A small group of adjectives with soft endings: синя, синьо.
Level 3 - Adjectives in -ски
Adjectives like български, whose masculine and plural look alike.
Level 3 - този/тази/това/тезиThis and These
Demonstratives follow the same gender and number agreement.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- добро утро/добър ден/добър вечерTime-of-Day GreetingsLevel 1
- мой/твойPossessive PronounsLevel 1
- Surnames in -ов/-евSurnames for Men, Women and FamiliesLevel 1
- всеки/всички/всичкоEvery, All and EverythingLevel 2
- друг/друга/друго/другиOther and AnotherLevel 2
- какъв/каква/какво/каквиAsking What KindLevel 2
- Adverbs From AdjectivesLevel 2
- по- + Adjective or AdverbComparatives with По-Level 2
And 10 more in the full list.
Practice Adjective Agreement in Bubblegum
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