Describing Several Referents
A preceding plural adjective takes -n; a following adjective has no adjective linker.
How It Works
Hausa adjectives use gender agreement in the singular and plural agreement for several referents. Learn complete sets such as sabo, sabuwa, sababbi ‘new’ and fari, fara, farare ‘white’. Other plurals include dogwaye ‘tall’, jajaye ‘red’ and gajeru ‘short’. One suffix cannot generate every adjective plural.
Before a plural noun, attach -n to the plural adjective. After the noun, use the agreeing adjective without that linker. Compare the noun-phrase fragments sababbin takardu and takardu sababbi, both ‘new papers’. Following position can emphasize the quality.
Plural agreement also remains in an adjective predicate, which takes ne. Many English qualities instead correspond to Hausa quality nouns: their plural descriptions use masu with the quality noun. Establish the word class before choosing an adjective paradigm.
Examples (3)
- Na kawo sababbin takardu.
I brought new papers.
The preceding plural adjective takes -n.
- Ta zaɓi riguna farare.
She chose white robes.
The following adjective agrees in plural without a linker.
- Waɗannan kofuna jajaye ne.
These cups are red.
The plural adjective predicate takes ne.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Recognize linked adjective modifiers, lexical plural reference and agreeing predicates before selecting attested plural adjective forms.
- A Linked Descriptive Phrase
Recognize linked adjective modifiers, lexical plural reference and agreeing predicates before selecting attested plural adjective forms.
Level 2 - Learning Singular and Plural Together
Recognize linked adjective modifiers, lexical plural reference and agreeing predicates before selecting attested plural adjective forms.
Level 2
Related Patterns
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Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Describing Several Referents in Bubblegum
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