labai / per / gana + adjective
Very, Too and Quite
labai gražu (very beautiful), per brangu (too expensive), gana šalta (quite cold). The little word goes first, and it never changes its form.
How It Works
Three strengths
- labai = very: labai geras (very good), labai gerai (very well). It also means very much with verbs: Labai myliu. It strengthens thanks in Labai ačiū.
- per = too, more than is good: per brangus (too expensive), per anksti (too early). An infinitive can say what it is too much for: per šalta maudytis (too cold to swim).
- gana = quite, fairly: gana šalta (quite cold), gana gerai (fairly well). In speech it is often gan.
What follows them
The adjective still agrees with its noun: per didelis namas, per didelė kuprinė. With state words, use the neuter form: Čia labai gražu. See Neuter Words for States and Adverbs in -ai.
Too many and very many
daug (a lot) and mažai (little) take the genitive, and per or labai can go in front: per daug žmonių (too many people), labai daug darbo (a lot of work). See Genitive After Quantity Words.
Two things to keep apart
- With a comparative, say daug or kur kas, not labai: daug geriau (much better). See Comparative Adjectives.
- The preposition per with the accusative means through or during: per langą. See Through, Across and During With Per.
A more formal word for too is pernelyg: pernelyg brangu.
Examples (6)
- Šiandien labai gražu.
It is very beautiful today.
Word by Word: Today very beautiful.
- Tas švarkas per brangus.
That jacket is too expensive.
Word by Word: That jacket too expensive.
Brangus agrees with the masculine noun švarkas.
- Čia per daug žmonių.
There are too many people here.
Word by Word: Here too many people.
After daug, žmonės goes into the genitive plural: žmonių.
- Lauke gana šalta.
It is quite cold outside.
Word by Word: Outside quite cold.
- Vanduo per šaltas maudytis.
The water is too cold to swim in.
Word by Word: Water too cold to-swim.
- Tavo lietuvių kalba labai gera!
Your Lithuanian is very good!
Word by Word: Your Lithuanian language very good!
Common Mistakes
Using the nominative after per daug.
Čia per daug žmonės.Čia per daug žmonių.Daug, per daug and labai daug take the genitive, so žmonės becomes žmonių.
Using labai with a comparative.
Dabar labai geriau.Dabar daug geriau.Labai goes with plain adjectives and adverbs. To say much better, use daug or kur kas: daug geriau.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Degree words modify adjectives, adverbs and state words.
Related Patterns
- Adjective Agreement
The adjective after labai, per or gana still agrees with its noun.
Level 1 - Genitive After Quantity Words
Per daug and labai daug take the genitive, as in per daug žmonių.
Level 2 - per + accusativeThrough, Across and During with Per
The preposition per with the accusative means through or during, not too.
Level 2 - Comparative -esnisComparative Adjectives
With comparatives, use daug or kur kas instead of labai.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice labai / per / gana + adjective in Bubblegum
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