A grammar of the Portuguese language

this part of speech noun-adjective, and all the rules therefore which appear in Chapters II. and III. on the Noun, with respect to number and gender, are equally applicable to adjectives.

Take, for example, the word cuidadoso, careful, and employ it to qualify the nouns man, woman, boys, girls; it must then undergo the following changes of termination : homem cuidadoso; mulher cuidadosa :

rapazes cuidadosos; meninas cuidadosas.

In the above examples you will have observed that the adjective is placed after the noun which it qualifies, and this is the position which it for the most part occupies. Occasionally it may with advantage be placed before the noun, as when speaking of a horse we should say, Este nobre companheiro do homem, This noble companion of man. This is a matter, however, which a very little practice will enable you to determine.

For the reason above explained, that in Portuguese the adjective is so assimilated to the noun as to be called nounadjective, it is often employed alone in cases where it could not be used in English, or, if used, would have a plural sense. Thus, um pobre means a poor man; os pobres, the poor; o pequeno, the little (one), and so on.

EXERCISE FIFTH.-ON ADJECTIVES.

A good boy. Good girls. The noble disposition of the

rapaz.

disposição minister. On the ill success of the great expedition.

crime.

of passions and of individual crimes. The wonderful paixão effects of a good book. Observe that robust and gigantic Vedes aquelle

man! Silver is a perfect metal, of a brilliant white (2) (1) colour, and consequently capable of high polish. Pure por conseguinte

bom

air, and free from all sulphurous and inflammable vapours,

todos

(does not) affect silver. From the summit of a high

não

altera

cima

mountain he saw a magnificent spectacle. An excellent

vió

treatise on the various species of wild animals in the

tractado

bravo

country. We observed upon the table fine oranges,

Observámos

meza

excellent grapes, and good apples. The disinterested

mira

uva

views of the learned judge and the courteous behaviour of proceder do his young secretary. By the united voices of an immense

assembly. With the prudent regulations of the proauditorio. ordenança

visional Government of the Empire. The ancient trees of

Governo

arvore

the extensive forest and the beautiful colours of the unduselva

lating meadows.

frame.

moldura.

CHAPTER VI.

ON ADJECTIVES.-(CONTINUED).

Comparatives and Superlatives.

ADJECTIVES which are used to qualify nouns are subject to various degrees of qualification. These degrees are known as positive, which is the natural state of the adjective, comparative, and superlative. These latter degrees will be rendered more intelligible by styling them degrees of equality, superiority, and inferiority.

To produce these different forms in Portuguese certain little words are prefixed to the positive, which I will explain in regular order, and commence with

Comparisons of Equality.

The English particles as—as, and so—as, are rendered into Portuguese by tão-como.

As honest as poor,
Not so happy as just,

EXAMPLES.

Tão honrado como pobre.
Não tão feliz como justo.

When the comparison of equality is made between nouns, and is expressed in English by means of the words as much—as, as many—as, so much—as, so manyas, the adjectives tanto, tantos; tanta, tantas should be used with the correlatives como or quanto :

EXAMPLES.

Tanto bem quanto mal me ha feito,
As much good as evil he has done me.

Tantos homens como mulheres,

As many men as women.

Pedro fazia tanta differença de Roberto como o dia da noite, There was as much difference between Peter and Robert as between day and night.

Tantas affrontas contra sua pessoa como palavras,
As many insults against his person as words.

Comparatives and Superlatives of Superiority.

The English modes of expressing comparisons of superiority are by the terminations r or er, as fine, finer; black, blacker; or by the word more followed by the correlative than, as, more free than welcome.

These are rendered into Portuguese by mais, followed by the correlative que, and sometimes do que.

When more is followed by a noun of number the correlative than is rendered by de; for instance :—

Mais de vinte annos,

More than twenty years.

The English superlatives of superiority formed by the addition of st or est to the positive, as whitest, blackest, or by the prefix most, are rendered into Portuguese by adding the masculine or feminine article to the word mais.

There are four adjectives which form their comparatives and superlatives irregularly; these are :—

bom, melhor, optimo,
mau, peior, pessimo,
grande, maior, maximo,

pequeno, menor, minimo,

good, better, best.

bad, worse, worst.

great, greater, greatest.

little, less, least.

With regard to the superlative it must be borne in mind that the superlative degree may be so as compared with another object, or without any reference to comparison, as in the English phrases, A most charming prospect, A very excellent discourse, &c.

This superlative, which may be called absolute, is usually expressed in Portuguese, as in English, by prefixing adverbs, the words muito or mui, very, being much employed for this purpose, as muito justo or mui justo, very just.

The most expressive superlative of this kind is formed by adding issimo or issima, according to the gender, to the positive, which then loses its final letter if this be an e or an o; thus pobre, poor, becomes pobrissimo, most poor; justo, just, becomes justissimo, extremely just.

Certain adjectives are liable to the following changes when forming the superlative in issimo; thus:

antigo, ancient,