Describing Words After the Noun or Verb
A describing word follows the noun it describes, and a word for “how” follows the verb.
How It Works
| After a noun | After a verb |
|---|---|
| óga porã “a beautiful house” | Oguata porã “He walks well” |
| tape vai “a bad road” | Rembaʼapo vai “You work badly” |
| ao potĩ “clean clothes” | Eju pyaʼe “Come quickly” |
The order is always the same: first the noun or the verb, then the word that describes it. Pointing words and numbers go the other way, before the noun: ko óga porã “this beautiful house”.
The same word can be a whole sentence on its own: Iporã “It is good”.
In print, porã and vai after a verb are sometimes joined to it, as in Che nañeʼẽporãi guaraníme “I do not speak Guarani well”. The word still comes after the verb.
Examples (5)
- Óga porã.
A beautiful house.
Porã describes óga and comes after it.
- Tape vai.
A bad road.
Vai comes after the noun tape.
- Eju pyaʼe!
Come quickly!
Pyaʼe says how, and it comes after the verb.
- Oguata porã.
He walks well.
Porã after the verb says how he walks.
- Oho mombyry.
He goes far.
Mombyry comes after the verb and says how far.
Common Mistakes
Putting the describing word before the noun.
Porã óga.Óga porã.In Guarani the describing word comes after the noun.
How It Connects
Learn This First
A root can be a describing word, and it goes after the word it describes.
Related Patterns
- Word Order
The subject and the verb can swap places, but a describing word stays after the noun or verb.
Level 1 - Sentences Without a Verb for Is
A describing word can also be a whole sentence.
Level 1 - -iteVery: -ite
Add -ite to a describing word to say “very”.
Level 1 - ko / pe / upe / amoThis and That
Pointing words go before the noun, the opposite of describing words.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Describing Words After the Noun or Verb in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Guarani lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
