Adjectives in Rihan follow the noun they modify and agree with it in number and case. They decline in the same way as common nouns, divided into the same groups.
the lucky man
(to) the lucky man
the lucky men
Case, however, in a substantive phrase, is represented only on the last adjective, though all nouns and adjectives in the phrase agree in number. A substantive phrase, sometimes also called a noun phrase, is a group of words that represents the subject of a sentence.
the short, lucky man (N-A, singular)
the short, lucky man (Dat, singular)
the short, lucky men (N-A, plural)
the short, lucky men (Dat, plural)
Comparison of Adjectives
Adjectives are compared both in positive and negative forms through the use of suffixes. There are both normal (nonmodal) and formal (polite) forms of comparison.
The formal form of comparison is used when describing someone superior to the speaker or describing something under the direct control of someone superior, e.g. a situation the superior may be involved in or a book the superior may have written. It can be heard in use between equals as a courtesy, though it is generally not used between those who are close or intimate acquaintances. Sometimes, a given social situation may require the use of the polite form to avoid accidental disrespect.
| Example: ækea (tight) | Normal | Polite |
|---|---|---|
| positve (normal) tight |
ækea | -'re ækea're |
| negative not tight |
emæl ... emæl ækea |
emæl ... -'re emæl ækea're |
| superlative most tight, tightest |
-ha ækeaeha |
-'nra ækea'nra |
| negative superlative least tight |
-im ækeaim |
'mri ækea'mri |
| comparative more tight, tighter |
-(')e ækeae |
-'ne ækea'ne |
| negative comparative less tight |
-il ækeail |
'nil ækea'nil |
Derivation of Adjectives
New adjectives can be created from existing words in a variety of manners. Rihan is a very flexible language that makes use of numerous prefixes and suffixes to change a word's meaning.
| -lho | corresponding to the English "-able" e.g. ssuajlho, "understandable," from the verb ssuaj, "to understand." |
| -'eri | corresponding to the English "-ed" e.g. ikhau'eri, "captured," from the verb ikhau, "to capture." |
| -'akhe | corresponding to the English "dis-/un-...-ed" e.g. ikhau'akhe, "uncaptured," from the verb ikhau, "to capture." |
| -'enh | corresponding to the English "-ing" e.g. ikhau'enh, "capturing," from the verb ikhau, "to capture." |
| -'ukhi | corresponding to the English "un-...-ing" e.g. sahhæ'ukhi, "unending," from the verb sahhæ, "to end." |
| -'asi | corresponding to the English "-tory" and "-ant" e.g. mos'dyyhkrai'asi, "regulatory," from the verb mos'dyyhkrai, "to regulate." Words formed by this construction can also be used as an agent noun. |
| -'elh | corresponding to the English "-ive" e.g. thoi'elh, "descriptive," from the verb thoi, "to describe." |
| -lho | corresponding to the English "-able" e.g. teillhlho, "charitable," from the noun teillh, "charity." |
| ih'- | general purpose use, the most common means of creating adjectives e.g. ih'swæt, "central," from the noun swæt, "center." |
| lli'- | corresponding to the English "-less" e.g. lli'ecurai, "hopeless," from the noun ecurai, "hope." |
| -'anh | corresponding to the English "-ing" e.g. diæ'anh, "caring," from the noun diæ, "care." |
| -'ey | corresponding to the English "-y," used only if root noun ends in a vowel e.g. khaa'ey, "sandy," from the noun khaa, "sand." If the root noun ends in a final "i," the "i" is dropped before added the suffix. |
| -hkh, -e, -emh | corresponding to the English "-y," used only if root noun ends in a consonant e.g. dhiamne, "roomy," from the noun dhiamn, "room." |
| -ai, -kha | corresponding to the English "-ous" e.g. anahosai, "vigorous," from the noun anahos, "vigor." |
| -nhe, -n, -aes, -ahi | corresponding to the English "-ful" e.g. heieun, "restful," from the noun heieu, "rest." |