Learning adjectives in Marathi, an Indo-Aryan language spoken predominantly in the Indian state of Maharashtra, is essential for effective communication. In Marathi, adjectives (विशेषण – viśēṣaṇ) describe or modify nouns, providing information about qualities such as size, color, age, etc. Here’s a detailed lesson on Marathi adjectives and their grammatical rules, including transliterations for pronunciation help:

Understanding Marathi Adjectives

Marathi adjectives provide descriptive details about nouns. Examples include:

• मोठा (moṭhā – big, masculine)
• लहान (lahān – small, masculine)
• सुंदर (sundar – beautiful)

Position of Adjectives

In Marathi, adjectives generally precede the noun they modify:

• मोठा घर (moṭhā ghar – big house)
• सुंदर फूल (sundar phūl – beautiful flower)

Agreement in Gender, Number, and Case

• Gender Agreement: Marathi adjectives agree with the gender of the noun. They have distinct masculine and feminine forms:
  • Masculine: मोठा घर (moṭhā ghar – big house)
  • Feminine: मोठी वस्तू (moṭhī vastū – big thing)
• Number Agreement: Adjectives change form for singular and plural nouns:
  • Singular: मोठा घर (moṭhā ghar – big house)
  • Plural: मोठे घर (moṭhe ghar – big houses)
• Case Agreement: Marathi adjectives agree with the case of the noun, but typically do not change their form for different cases.

Comparative and Superlative Forms

• Comparative: Formed using “पेक्षा जास्त” (pekṣhā jāst – more than). E.g., मोठा पेक्षा जास्त (moṭhā pekṣhā jāst – bigger).
• Superlative: Formed by using “सर्वात” (sarvāt – the most). E.g., सर्वात मोठा (sarvāt moṭhā – the biggest).

Adjective Negation

To negate adjectives in Marathi, “नाही” (nāhī) is used:

• मोठा नाही (moṭhā nāhī – not big)

Reduplication for Emphasis

Reduplication of adjectives can be used for emphasis or to convey a higher degree:

• छोटं छोटं (choṭaṁ choṭaṁ – very small)

Practice and Usage

Regular practice forming sentences with adjectives, focusing on their correct placement, gender and number agreement, and comparative and superlative forms.

Common Mistakes

• Misplacing adjectives after the noun.
• Incorrectly applying gender and number agreement rules.

Further Resources

To enhance your understanding, consider Marathi language textbooks, online resources, language learning apps, and practice with native speakers.

Understanding and correctly using Marathi adjectives will significantly enhance your ability to express yourself in the language. Regular practice and attention to grammatical rules are key to mastering Marathi adjectives. शुभेच्छा! (Shubhechchhā – Best wishes!)