Chapter 4: Adjectives and Adjectival Predicates Flashcards
Adjective Syntax
Noun + adjective (which agrees in gender and number)
In an A pw, the pw will precede the adjectives
nb comes before secondary adjectives
Participles
Adjective forms of verbs
When modifying a noun, it is a secondary noun
When standing alone, it can act as a noun in its own right
bw + adjective
Expresses abstract qualities
ex: bw nfr, “goodness”
Adjectival comparative
Adjective + r + noun/suffix
ex: wr r=k, “a greater one than you”
Adjectival superlative
Two of the same adjectives in a genitive relationship
Secondary Adjective Phrases
nfr Hr construction (adj. + (n) + noun)
These were phrases where secondary adjectives could describe a quality that the antecdent possessed relative to another noun
These were often idioms related to body parts
These phrases could work as adjective clauses or noun clauses
What is a nisbe adjective?
It is an adjective formed from other parts of speech beyond verbs, mostly from nouns and prepositions
ex: rsw = south, rsi = southern
Nisbe endings
These endings were often omitted in writing
Masculine endings:
-i, -i.w
-i.t, -i.wt (when agreeing with fem antecedents)
Feminine endings:
-.ti, -.tiw
-.tt, -.twt (when agreeing with fem. antecedents)
Special Nisbe forms
Nisbes formed from the prepositions “m” and “r” have an intial i- in addition to the endings
Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary (nisbe) adjectives
Primary adjective: nb
Secondary adjectives: Adjective verbs as participles functioning as adjectives
Tertiary (nisbe) adjectives: Adjectives made from other parts of speech
Secondary Adjectives as Nouns
Since secondary adjectives are technically participles, they can be used as nouns
The main way to understand what an adjective is being used for is syntax; adjectives follow a noun antecdent, nouns do not
Adjectival Predicates
Adjectival verb + noun/noun phrase/demonstrative pronoun/ dependent pronoun
ex: nfr z, “The man is good”
First Person possession of adjectival qualities
Adjectival predicates generally do not use the first person.
First person possession of adjectival qualities was generally shown in a AB nominal sentence
ex: ink nfr, “I am good (lit. I am a good one (m.))
Adjectival sentence of possession
n(i) + A (dependent pronoun subj.) + B (noun/dependent pronoun obj.)
“A belongs to B”
Adjectival sentence of possession with an independent pronoun subject
When the subject is an independent pronoun, the meaning is flipped:
“B belongs to A,” A being an independent pronoun
Emphatic Adjectival Predicate
Adjectival predicates could emphasize the the adjective by including the masc. dual ending .wy
ex: nfr.wy sw, “How good he is!”
Negation of Adjectival Predicates
Adjectival predicated are not normally negated, but occasionally you will see the nominal negation ni…is bracket an adjective
Particles for Adjectival Predicates
Most adjectival predicates are not introduced by a particle, but rarely you can see m=k or iw
Comparative Adjectival Predicates
adjectival predicate + r + noun/pronoun/noun phrase
ex: nfr st r x.t nb.t, “It is better than anything”
Adjectival predicates and the adverb wr.t
wr.t could be added following an adjective to give it the sense of “very”
ex: StA.t wr.t wA.t, “The path was very inaccessible.”
Interrogative Adjectival Predicates
Adjectival predicates are generally not interrogated, but occasionally you will see them interrogated by in, but this is limited to Old Egyptian mostly
