Describing a Noun

Level 1

A noun phrase uses noun + adjective. An ordinary adjective predicate adds an agreeing copula.

How It Works

Determiners attach to the head noun; adjectives follow. Gender and definiteness do not themselves alter the adjective. Cusub therefore has the same form with masculine qalin and feminine mindi.

Distributive forms such as yaryar and waaweyn spread a property across individuals or parts. They are not compulsory plural endings. Additional modifiers require linkage; oo introduces the second adjective in the indefinite pen and tree phrases.

Phrase function can change form. A final inflecting adjective receives subject marking in an unfocused subject phrase. Following -kii/-tii, an adjective takes an attached reduced past copular form. Temporary or parenthetical descriptions often use oo.

The first three cards are fragments. The final card states a property in a complete clause: cusub precedes the copula, and furuhu is the subject form of furaha.

Examples (4)

  1. qalin cusub oo dheer

    a new, long pen

    Fragment with oo before the second adjective.

  2. mindida cusub

    the new knife

    Fragment with unchanged cusub.

  3. geedo waaweyn oo dhaadheer

    large, tall trees

    Fragment with distributive adjectives.

  4. Furuhu waa cusub yahay.

    The key is new.

    Complete adjective predicate; -aha becomes subject -uhu.

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Describing a NounLevel 1

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Identify a noun phrase before placing its descriptive modifier after the noun.

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