Definite Adjectives

Level 3

Add a pronoun ending to an adjective to say the … one: geras → gerasis, gera → geroji, didelis → didysis. Kurią suknelę pirksi? – Raudonąją. (Which dress will you buy? The red one.)

How It Works

How they are made

Lithuanian has no word for the (see No Words for A and The), but a definite adjective often does the same job. It was formed by joining the adjective and the pronoun jis or ji:

  • -as adjectives: geras → gerasis, gera → geroji; plural gerieji, gerosios
  • -us adjectives: gražus → gražusis, graži → gražioji; plural gražieji, gražiosios
  • didelis uses a shorter stem: didysis, didžioji; plural didieji, didžiosios

Both parts change for case. The accusative singular has two nasal letters: gerąjį, gerąją, didįjį, didžiąją. The dative and locative have none: gerajam, gerajame. See Adjective Case Agreement.

When to use them

  • Choosing between known things: Kurio obuolio nori? – Didžiojo. (Which apple do you want? The big one.)
  • Something already known: Kaip tau patinka naujasis butas? (How do you like the new flat?)
  • As a noun: Mažasis jau miega. (The little one is already asleep.)
  • Names and fixed terms: Didžioji Britanija, Juodoji jūra, Naujieji metai, juodoji arbata. See Definite Forms in Names and Terms.

Simply describing with būti

To say what something is like, use the plain adjective: Butas yra naujas. (The flat is new.) Oras gražus. (The weather is nice.) See Adjective Agreement.

Examples (6)

  1. Kurią suknelę pirksi? – Raudonąją.

    Which dress will you buy? – The red one.

    Word by Word: Which dress (you) will-buy? – The-red-one.

    Raudonąją is the accusative feminine definite form.

  2. Kaip tau patinka naujasis butas?

    How do you like the new flat?

    Word by Word: How to-you pleases the-new flat?

    Naujasis refers to a flat both speakers already know about.

  3. Mažasis jau miega.

    The little one is already asleep.

    Word by Word: The-little-one already sleeps.

  4. Naujuosius metus sutiksime pas draugus.

    We will see in the New Year at our friends' place.

    Word by Word: The-New year (we) will-meet at friends.

    Naujieji metai is a fixed name; here it is in the accusative.

  5. Mano sesuo gyvena Didžiojoje Britanijoje.

    My sister lives in Great Britain.

    Word by Word: My sister lives in-Great Britain.

    The locative of Didžioji Britanija.

  6. Aš mėgstu juodąją arbatą, o ji – žaliąją.

    I like black tea, and she likes green.

    Word by Word: I like black tea, and she – green.

    Juodoji arbata and žalioji arbata are fixed terms for kinds of tea.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a definite form to describe something after būti.

    Oras šiandien gražusis.
    Oras šiandien gražus.

    To simply say that the weather is nice, use the plain adjective gražus. A definite adjective can occur in an identifying predicate, but that is a different use.

  • Using the plain adjective in a fixed name.

    Gyvenu Didelėje Britanijoje.
    Gyvenu Didžiojoje Britanijoje.

    Names such as Didžioji Britanija always use the definite form.

How It Connects

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Definite AdjectivesLevel 3

Learn This First

Definite adjectives identify known things while retaining adjective agreement.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

Didžioji Britanija