Exclamations With cik and kāds
Exclamations
Exclaim with cik + an adverb or adjective: Cik skaisti! (How beautiful!). Use kāds + a noun: Kāda jauka diena! (What a lovely day!)
How It Works
1. Cik + adverb. To react to a situation, use an adverb in -i: Cik skaisti! (How beautiful!) Cik jauki! (How nice!) Cik garšīgi! (How tasty!)
2. Cik + adjective. To describe a person or thing, use an adjective that agrees with it: Cik tu esi gudrs! (How clever you are!) To a woman: Cik tu esi gudra!
3. Kāds + noun. Kāds agrees with the noun: Kāda jauka diena! Kāds pārsteigums! (What a surprise!) Kādi skaisti ziedi! (What beautiful flowers!)
4. Cik daudz. For a large amount, add daudz and put the noun in the genitive: Cik daudz cilvēku! (So many people!)
5. Kas par. Kas par with the accusative makes a similar exclamation: Kas par pārsteigumu! (What a surprise!)
Examples (6)
- Cik skaisti!
How beautiful!
Skaisti is an adverb, used to react to a view or a situation.
- Kāda jauka diena!
What a lovely day!
Word by Word: What lovely day!
Diena is feminine, so kāds and jauks become kāda jauka.
- Cik tu esi gudrs!
How clever you are!
The adjective agrees with the person: gudrs for a man, gudra for a woman.
- Kādi skaisti ziedi!
What beautiful flowers!
Plural: kādi skaisti ziedi.
- Cik daudz cilvēku!
So many people!
After cik daudz, the noun is genitive plural: cilvēku.
- Kāds pārsteigums!
What a surprise!
Pārsteigums is masculine, so the word is kāds.
Common Mistakes
Not making kāds agree with the noun.
Kāds jauka diena!Kāda jauka diena!Kāds agrees with the noun like an adjective. Diena is feminine, so use kāda.
Using the nominative after cik daudz.
Cik daudz cilvēki!Cik daudz cilvēku!Amounts with daudz take the genitive plural: cilvēku.
Using the masculine adjective for a woman.
Cik tu esi gudrs, Anna!Cik tu esi gudra, Anna!The adjective agrees with the person. Anna is a woman, so use gudra.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Exclamations use cik and kāds.
Related Patterns
- kas parWhat Kind of: Kas Par
Another exclamation frame: Kas par skaistu dienu!
Level 3 - kas / kur / kad / kā / kāpēc / cikQuestion Words
Cik as a question word: how much or how many.
Level 1 - Adverbs in -iAdverbs Ending in -i
The adverbs used in Cik skaisti! and Cik jauki!
Level 1 - Amounts With the Genitive
Why cik daudz takes the genitive: Cik daudz cilvēku!
Level 2 - Adjective Agreement
How the adjective in Cik tu esi gudra! agrees.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Exclamations With cik and kāds in Bubblegum
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