Page:A simplified grammar of the Danish language.djvu/53

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adjectives.
41

Adjectives. (Tillægsord.)

Adjectives must agree in number and gender, both with the noun which they qualify, and with that to which they stand in the relation of predicates; as, et lidet Hus, 'a little house;' Vejen var hende for lang, 'the way was too long for her;' de söde små Börn, 'the dear (sweet) little children!' Generalens Værelser vare ikke så store som mine, 'the General's rooms were not so large as mine.'

The plural adjectives , 'few,' mange, 'many,' alle, 'all,' admit of being used with a singular verb, and without the adjective-article; as, der kommer få Mand, 'a few men (man) are coming;' Klokken er mange, 'it is late, (the clock is many);' alle gang, 'every (all) time.'

Al, alt (n.), 'all,' begge, 'both,' precede the noun directly, without the adjective-article, while they require the affix-article to be appended to the noun; as, al Verden, 'all the world;' alt Græsset, 'all the grass;' Begge Pigerne, 'both the girls.'

Hel, 'all,' 'whole,' may be used with either article; as, hele Huset, or det hele Hus, 'the whole house.'

Adjectives may be used as, and in the place of, nouns, the latter being understood; as, hun ælskede den Gode, 'she loved the good (man, person);' De Stolte, 'the proud! (people).'

Some adjectives, expressive of worth, or obligation, follow the objective noun, instead of standing near the subject-noun; as, Præsten er den Ære værdig, 'the clergyman is worthy of the honour;' Soldaten er Generalen intet skyldig, 'the soldier owes the General nothing.'