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Adjectives & Adverbs

Descriptive words with ma-, reduplication for degree, adverbs of manner and frequency
Ka-...-an abstract noun formation
ka- prefix plus root plus -an suffix nominalizes adjective
kah-...-ahn
Kagandahan = beauty; kasiyahan = happiness; kaalaman = knowledge
Stative predicates with naka-
state resulting from completed action
nah-kah-
Nakaupo siya = He is seated; nakabukas ang pinto = the door is open
Degree words: medyo, halos, lubos
somewhat, almost, completely
med-yoh, hah-lohs, loo-bohs
Medyo malamig = somewhat cold; halos lahat = almost all
Attributive vs. predicative adjective position
same form; position determines function
varies
Magandang babae (attributive) vs. Maganda ang babae (predicative)
Color terms and cultural associations
kulay plus color name or derived adjective
koo-lie
Pula (red), asul (blue), berde (green) -- many from Spanish
Numeral classifiers: piraso, pares, grupo
piece, pair, group as measure words
pee-rah-soh, pah-res, groo-poh
Isang piraso ng tinapay = one piece of bread
Comparative: mas...kaysa sa
more...than comparison
mahs ... kigh-sah sah
Mas matanda siya kaysa sa akin = He is older than me
Superlative with pinaka-
most plus adjective
pee-nah-kah-
Pinakamaganda sa lahat = the most beautiful of all
Metaphorical use of adjectives
malaki (big) for importance, malalim (deep) for profundity
varies
Malaking bagay = a big deal; malalim na salita = profound words
Evaluative morphology in literature
abstract nouns in formal and literary contexts
varies
Pagmamahal (love), kalayaan (freedom), katarungan (justice)