Adjective Agreement
The adjective copies the noun's gender and number: geras draugas, gera draugė.
How It Works
Three adjective types. The dictionary form is masculine. Learn the feminine with it:
- -as / -a: geras draugas, gera draugė — plural geri draugai, geros draugės
- -us / -i: gražus miestas, graži gatvė — plural gražūs miestai, gražios gatvės
- -is / -ė: didelis namas, didelė kavinė — plural dideli namai, didelės kavinės
Follow the noun's gender, not its look. Most masculine nouns end in -as, -is or -ys, and most feminine nouns end in -a or -ė, but not all. Vanduo (water) is masculine, so it is šaltas vanduo. See the two noun genders.
Before the noun or after yra. Tai gražus miestas. (It is a beautiful city.) Miestas gražus. (The city is beautiful.) Both forms agree with the noun.
Case too. An adjective also takes the same case as its noun: Turiu gerą draugą. The full pattern is in adjective case agreement.
For an impersonal state without a noun subject, Lithuanian can use a neuter form: Šalta. (It is cold.) See neuter words for states.
Examples (6)
- Tai geras draugas.
He is a good friend.
Word by Word: This good friend.
- Rūta yra gera draugė.
Rūta is a good friend.
Word by Word: Rūta is good friend (female).
Draugė is feminine, so the adjective is gera.
- Tai gražus miestas.
It is a beautiful city.
Word by Word: This beautiful city.
- Čia graži gatvė.
There is a beautiful street here.
Word by Word: Here beautiful street.
- Arbata karšta, o vanduo šaltas.
The tea is hot, and the water is cold.
Word by Word: Tea hot, and water cold.
After a noun, the adjective still agrees: arbata is feminine, vanduo is masculine.
- Vilniuje gražios gatvės.
Vilnius has beautiful streets.
Word by Word: Vilnius-in beautiful streets.
Gatvės is feminine plural, so the adjective is gražios.
Common Mistakes
Using the masculine adjective with a feminine noun.
gražus gatvėgraži gatvėGatvė is feminine, so the -us adjective changes to its feminine form -i.
Judging the gender of vanduo by its ending.
Vanduo šalta.Vanduo šaltas.Vanduo does not end in -as, but it is masculine, so the adjective is masculine too.
Keeping the singular adjective with a plural noun.
geras draugaigeri draugaiThe adjective must also be plural: geras → geri.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Adjectives match the noun's gender and number.
Related Patterns
- Two Noun Genders
The noun's gender decides the adjective form.
Level 1 - Masculine Nouns
Which nouns are masculine and take masculine adjectives.
Level 1 - Feminine Nouns
Which nouns are feminine and take feminine adjectives.
Level 1 - Adjective Case Agreement
Adjectives also match the noun's case.
Level 2 - šalta / gražuNeuter Words for States
Neuter adjective forms for impersonal states.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- Numbers One to NineLevel 1
- sveikas / sveika / sveikiHello That AgreesLevel 1
- Adverbs in -aiLevel 2
- Plural-Only NounsLevel 3
- jūs + singular adjectivePolite Jūs with Singular AdjectivesLevel 4
- nors irEven Though with Nors IrLevel 5
- Half-Participle -damasWhile Doing: -damasLevel 5
- Becoming With -ėtiVerbs of Becoming in -ėtiLevel 6
And 2 more in the full list.
Practice Adjective Agreement in Bubblegum
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