Basic Adjectives: Understand the changes in endings of adjectives with regard to the gender, cases and number.

In Czech, adjectives play a crucial role in describing nouns. They agree with the gender, cases, and number of the noun they modify. Understanding how adjectives change based on these factors is essential for constructing grammatically correct sentences. In this guide, we will explore the changes in endings of adjectives in relation to gender, cases, and number.

1. Gender Agreement:

Adjectives must agree with the gender of the noun they describe. Czech nouns are divided into three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. The gender of a noun determines the form of the adjective. Here are the general rules for gender agreement:

• Masculine nouns: Adjectives used with masculine nouns have different forms depending on whether the noun is animate or inanimate.

  Animate masculine nouns: These include people and animals.

  - If the noun is in the nominative case, the adjective takes the -ý ending:
     - "Hodný muž" - A kind man
  
  - In other cases, the adjective takes the -ého ending:
     - "Hodného muže" - To a kind man
  
  - Note: Some masculine animate adjectives have irregular forms. For example:
     - "Dobrý muž" - A good man
     - "Dobrého muže" - To a good man
  

  Inanimate masculine nouns: These include objects and concepts.

  - In the nominative case, the adjective takes the -ý ending:
     - "Nový stůl" - A new table
  
  - In other cases, the adjective takes the -ého ending:
     - "Nového stolu" - To a new table
  

• Feminine nouns: Adjectives used with feminine nouns take the -á ending in the nominative case and -é ending in other cases:

  • "Krásná zahrada" - A beautiful garden
  • "Krásné zahradě" - To a beautiful garden

• Neuter nouns: Adjectives used with neuter nouns take the -é ending in all cases:

  • "Malé auto" - A small car
  • "Malému autu" - To a small car

2. Case Agreement:

Adjectives also change their endings based on the case of the noun they modify. Czech has several cases, including nominative, accusative, genitive, dative, locative, and instrumental. Here is a summary of how adjectives change in different cases:

• Nominative case (subject): Follow the gender agreement rules mentioned above.

• Accusative case (direct object): Add the appropriate case ending to the adjective based on the gender of the noun.

  • Masculine animate nouns: -ého (inanimate adjective ending)
  • Masculine inanimate nouns: -ý (animate adjective ending)
  • Feminine nouns: -ou
  • Neuter nouns: -é

• Genitive case (possessive): Add the appropriate case ending to the adjective based on the gender of the noun.

  • Masculine animate nouns: -ého (inanimate adjective ending)
  • Masculine inanimate nouns: -ého (inanimate adjective ending)
  • Feminine nouns: -é
  • Neuter nouns: -ého

• Dative case (indirect object): Add the appropriate case ending to the adjective based on the gender of the noun.

  • Masculine animate nouns: -ému (inanimate adjective ending)
  • Masculine inanimate nouns: -ému (inanimate adjective ending)
  • Feminine nouns: -é
  • Neuter nouns: -ému

• Locative case (prepositional): Add the appropriate case ending to the adjective based on the gender of the noun.

  • Masculine animate nouns: -ém (inanimate adjective ending)
  • Masculine inanimate nouns: -ém (inanimate adjective ending)
  • Feminine nouns: -é
  • Neuter nouns: -ém

• Instrumental case (instrumental): Add the appropriate case ending to the adjective based on the gender of the noun.

  • Masculine animate nouns: -ým (inanimate adjective ending)
  • Masculine inanimate nouns: -ým (inanimate adjective ending)
  • Feminine nouns: -ou
  • Neuter nouns: -ým

3. Number Agreement:

Adjectives also change their endings based on the number (singular or plural) of the noun they modify. The rules for number agreement are as follows:

• Singular nouns: Follow the gender and case agreement rules mentioned above.

• Plural nouns: Add the -í ending to the adjective, regardless of gender or case.

  • "Krásní domy" - Beautiful houses

Remember that these are general rules, and there are some exceptions and irregularities in Czech adjectives. However, understanding the basic patterns described here will provide a solid foundation for using adjectives correctly in most situations.

Don't hesitate to consult a more detailed grammar resource or ask a native speaker for further clarification when encountering exceptions or specific cases not covered in this guide. Happy learning!