In this chapter, the following concepts are explained:
- strong declension
- weak declension
- present participle and comparative declension
- comparative and superlative formation
Labial mutation (aka. u-umlaut) is marked by an L before the ending.
Front mutation (aka. i-umlaut) is marked by an F before the ending.
Just like nouns, some adjectives inject a -j- or -v- between the stem and the ending, depending on the stems of their Proto-Germanic ancestors (a-, ō-, ja-, jō-, wa- and wō-stems). The distinction between the adjectives which make either or none of the injections is not made in this page.
Strong declension
edit
Masculine declension
edit
Strong masculine adjective declension
| case |
singular |
plural
|
| nominative
|
-r |
-ir
|
| genitive
|
-s, -ar |
-ra
|
| dative
|
L -um |
L -um
|
| accusative
|
-an |
-a
|
Feminine declension
edit
Strong feminine adjective declension
| case |
singular |
plural
|
| nominative
|
L -∅ |
-ar
|
| genitive
|
-rar |
-ra
|
| dative
|
-ri |
L -um
|
| accusative
|
-a |
-ar
|
Neuter declension
edit
Strong neuter adjective declension
| case |
singular |
plural
|
| nominative
|
-t |
L -∅
|
| genitive
|
-s |
-ra
|
| dative
|
L -u |
L -um
|
| accusative
|
-t |
L -∅
|
Weak declension
edit
Masculine declension
edit
Weak masculine adjective declension
| case |
singular |
plural
|
| nominative
|
-i |
L -u
|
| genitive
|
-a |
L -u
|
| dative
|
-a |
L -um
|
| accusative
|
-a |
L -u
|
Feminine declension
edit
Weak feminine adjective declension
| case |
singular |
plural
|
| nominative
|
-a |
L -u
|
| genitive
|
-u |
L -u
|
| dative
|
-u |
L -um
|
| accusative
|
-u |
L -u
|
Neuter declension
edit
Weak neuter adjective declension
| case |
singular |
plural
|
| nominative
|
-a |
L -u
|
| genitive
|
-a |
L -u
|
| dative
|
-a |
L -um
|
| accusative
|
-a |
L -u
|
Present participle and comparative declension
edit
Masculine declension
edit
Masculine present participle and comparative declension
| case |
singular |
plural
|
| nominative
|
-i |
-i
|
| genitive
|
-a |
-i
|
| dative
|
-a |
L -um
|
| accusative
|
-a |
-i
|
Feminine declension
edit
Feminine present participle and comparative declension
| case |
singular |
plural
|
| nominative
|
-i |
-i
|
| genitive
|
-i |
-i
|
| dative
|
-i |
L -um
|
| accusative
|
-i |
-i
|
Neuter declension
edit
Neuter present participle and comparative declension
| case |
singular |
plural
|
| nominative
|
-a |
-i
|
| genitive
|
-a |
-i
|
| dative
|
-a |
L -um
|
| accusative
|
-a |
-i
|
Comparative and superlative formation
edit
-ari, -astr
edit
Comparative and superlative formation with -ari, --astr
| positive |
comparative |
superlative
|
| -r |
-ari |
-astr
|
-ri, -str with front mutation
edit
Comparative and superlative formation with -ri, -str and front mutation
| positive |
comparative |
superlative
|
| -r |
F -ri |
F -str
|
Irregularities
edit
Some adjectives had their comparative and superlative forms based on different stems than those of their positive forms.
Comparative and superlative formed from different stems
| positive |
comparative |
superlative
|
| gamall |
ellri |
ellztr
|
| góðr |
betri |
beztr
|
| illr, vandr |
verri |
verstr
|
| lítill |
minni |
minnstr
|
| margr |
fleiri |
flestr
|
| mikill |
meiri |
mestr
|
Some comparative and superlative forms developed by analogy from positive forms that were adverbs. These positive forms are indicated in parentheses, and do not exist as adjectives, but rather as adverbs.
Comparative and superlative formed from adverb positives by analogy
| positive |
comparative |
superlative
|
| (aptr) |
eptri |
epztr, aptastr
|
| (fyrir) |
fyrri |
fyrstr
|
| (of) |
øfri, efri |
øfstr, efstr
|
| (út) |
ýtri |
ýztr
|
| (austr) |
eystri |
austastr
|
| (vestr) |
vestri |
vestastr
|
| (norðr) |
norðarri |
norðastr
|
| (suðr) |
sunnar |
sunnastr
|
