 3. Inflection. 19. Portuguese nouns have no case forms. They distinguish in form only between singular and plural. Plural Formation. 20. The plural is formed by adding S to the singular. Amigo. Friend. Plural Amigos. Casa. House. Plural Casas. To this rule there are the following exceptions. 1. Final M changes to N before the final S. Omen. Men. Plural Omenj. 2. Final X and X change to Easy before the final S. Index. Plural Indices. Appendix. Plural Appendices. 3. Final R and Z add E before the final S. Mar. Si. Plural Maris. Cruis. Cross. Plural Cruis. 4. Final Ao. O and U are changed to Ais, Ois and Uis. Sao. Salt. Plural Sais. Daidao. Thimble. Plural Daidaes. Anzou. Feshook. Plural Anzois. Pao. Swamp. Plural Paoís. Accept that. Consul. Mau. Cau. Real. Money. Have for Plurals. Consulis. Malis. Calis. Reis. 5. Final L is changed to Ais. Papel. Paper. Plural Papéis. Anel. Ring. Plural Anéis. Mel. Honey. Becomes either Meis. Or Melis. 6. Final Iu. When the word has the acute accent, it's changed to Iis. Bahiu. Barrel. Plural Baris. Founiu. Funnel. Plural Founis. When, however, the word has the grave accent, the final Iu. It's changed to Ais. Dócio. Dossile. Plural Dóseis. Fócio. Fócel. Plural Fóseis. Ei. Nouns ending in um form the plural in 3 ways. 1. Most nouns ending in um change um to umis. Ação. Ações. 2. A few add S to the singular. These are Mão. Irmão. Pagão. Orfão. Orgão. Sotão. Temporão. Vão. 3. A few others change um to umis. Escrivão. Notary. Plural Escrivães. These are Alemão. Cão. Capelão. Capitão. Catalão. Charlatão. Deão. Hermitão. Escrivão. Guardião. Pão. Sacristão. Tabelião. B. Nouns ending in S have the same form in the plural. O pires. Os pires. The saucers. O cais. Os cais. The keys. Except Deus. Cois. And simples. Drug. Become Deuses. Cozes. Simplices. C. The accent of a word ending in um is grave. The plural is always in ums. Orgão. Organ. Plural. Orgãos. And similarly Benção. Blessing. Accordão. Sentence of a chord. Sotão. Edic. 21. Plurals only. Many nouns are used only in the plural. Such are Algemas. Fatters. Alvíceras. Rewards. Anais. Anals. Arredores. Envirens. Causas. Drawers. Calendas. Calends. Cerolas. Drawers. Confines. Confines. Completes. Complan. Ezequias. Funeral rights. Espenses. Costs. Férias. Holidays. Monies. Shades. Machinas. Matins. Nonas. Nones. Nupcias. Nupsials. Trevas. Darkness. Víveres. Provisions. 22. Compound words. Compound words generally have the plural form for the final word when one of the components has an adverbial sense. Salvo conduto. Plural. Salvo condutos. Línguas Neolatinas. Neolatin languages. Jornais Luzo Brasileiros. Portuguese Brazilian journals. Guarda sol. Sunshade. Plural. Guarda sóis. Contraveneno. Antidote. Plural. Contravenenos. A. Compound words take the plural in both parts when they both represent functions belonging to the noun. Surdo mudo. Deaf mute. Plural. Surdos mudos. B. As in English, some nouns are plural but are used only in a singular sense. Montes claros fica na planice. Montes claros is on the plane. Compound words, united by dji, usually take the plural in the first part only. Flores de liches. Plural. Flores de liches. Plural nouns that take the article, however, are used in the plural. Os alpes ficam na Suíça. The alps are in Switzerland. Os Estados Unidos fizeram guerra. The United States made war. 23. Varied meanings. Some names change their meaning with the change of number. These correspond to similar changes that take place in the English language as illustrated by the words iron and irons, liberty and liberties. Ben, well, good. Bench, property. Corti, court. Cortis, Congress, tribunals. Doughty, dowry. Doughtish, accomplishments. Ferro, iron. Ferros, shackles. Filho, son. Filhos, children or sons. Onja, honor. Onjas, solemnities. Letra, letter. Letras, literature. Liberdade, liberty. Liberdades, impertinence. Moliado, wet. Moliados, groceries. Pae, father. Paix, parents. Parti, part. Partish, parties. Judicial. Secu, dry. Secus, dry goods. Zeal, zeal, zealus. Jealousy. Gender of nouns. 24. Gender is grammatical, and all nouns are either masculine or feminine. Footnote. Neuter gender. Strictly speaking, there is no neuter gender in Portuguese, but certain words have been called neuter and also common gender by some grammarians. Such forms are the impersonal, definite pronouns. Isso, isto, aquilo, and tudo. The cardinal numbers also have no gender, except um, uma, dois, duas, and those compounded of cento, as, duzentos, duzentas, trezentos, trezentas. And the footnote. The gender of words is sometimes determined by meaning and that other times by termination. There are no rules covering all cases, and there are many exceptions to those given below. 25. Masculine. The following are masculine. One. Nouns denoting males and their offices and occupations. Women. The man. O cavalo. The horse. Juiz. Judge. Pai. Father. Note. In the names of animals having two genders, the masculine form is generally used to designate the species. O lobo. The wolf. Two. Nouns not implying sex distinction and ending in. A. A with a cute accent. Sofa. Tafeta. Xá. Except. Apá. Shovel or spade. É. Except. Chaminé. Galé. Maré. Ré. Í. Except. Lé. Ló. Gré. Flock. O. Short. Remute. This does not refer to the ending on. O. Accented O. For the most part. The following, however, are feminine. Ensó. Eds. Mó. Milestone. Avó. Grandmother. Filhó. Cake. Ilhó. Islet. El. Except. Cau. Lime. Catedral. Moral. Pastoral. Em. Except. Ordem. Order. And those ending in. Gen. Or. Except. Colher. Spoon. Cor. Color. Dor. Pain. Flor. Flower. S. Except those used only in the plural and ending in. Aís. Andas. Arrais. Cóssegas. And a few in Aís. Précis. Efeméridis. Three. Nouns ending in. Ote. And. Umí. Are generally masculine. Examples. Dote. Chicote. Lúmi. Costume. Betume. Four. Infinitive verbs are masculine when used as substantives. Wanda do cavalo. The gate of the horse. Five. Masculine are the names of seas, rivers, lakes, and mountains, of the letters of the alphabet, of the numbers, the months, the points of the compass, and the notes in music. Twenty-six. Feminine. The following are feminine. A. Nouns denoting females and their names and occupations. Avaca. The cow. Mãe. Mother. Costureira. Simstress. Rainha. Queen. B. Note. In cases of sex distinction there are generally two forms. As. Moço. Young man. Moça. Young woman. Poeta. Poet. Poetisa. Poetis. There are, however, some words which have the same form for both genders, such as martir, joven, and tigri, which may be either masculine or feminine. C. In some cases there is no masculine form of a noun. Rã. Frog. Abelha. B. Formiga. And. Águia. Eagle. Onça. Panther. Cobra. Snake. Truta. Trout. Mosca. Fly. When it becomes necessary in such cases to indicate sex it is done by use of the word macho, male, or fêmea, female. O saumão macho, the male salmon, or aonça fêmea, the female panther. O corvo macho, the male crow. D. Nouns not implying sex distinction ending in a or a, except dia, day, mapa, map, and words from the Greek ending in ma, aroma, clima, climate. Diploma. Dogma. Emblema. Idioma. Poema. Tema. Problema. Sintoma. Epigramma. Adi as caridade, charity. Udi as virtude, except a laude, ataude, asude, aumude, grude, gen, except pagem, page, and selvagem, savage, which may be of either gender. Yeh as planici, 27. Common terminations. The following terminations are common to both genders. Words ending in a is. Masculine. Alcatraz. Ananais. Antrais. Cabais. Cartais. Gais. Lilais. Rapais. Feminine. Pais. Tenais. Eis. Masculine. Arnais. Convés. Freguês. Jaês. Mês. Pês. Revés. Shadrês. Feminine. Out vez. Honradeis. Feis. Mudeis. Pequenheis. Rapidez. Redondeis. Reis. Solidez. Surdeis. Teis. Timidez. Torqueis. Veis. Eis. Masculine. Almofaris. Gis. Matis. Naris. País. Pleuris. Tapis. Vernis. Feminine. Buis. Servis. Cicatris. Codornis. Matris. Perdis. Raís. Sobrepelis. Ois. Masculine. Albornois. Algois. Auzarois. Arroz. Cadóis. Cos. Retroz. Feminine. Fois. Nois. Vois. Uis. Masculine. Alcaçuis. Alcatruis. Arcabuis. Capuis. Cuis-cuis. Lapuis. Obus. Feminine. Cruis. Luis. I. Masculine. Broche. Café. Cáceri. Códice. Corte. Dente. Epitome. Tapete. Traquete. Vale. Vértice. Feminine. Arte. Ave. Chave. Corte. Crise. Fome. Libre. Lidi. Navi. Neve. Ponte. Jalé. Rede. Saude. Sé. Seb. Sede. Séji. Torre. Torrente. Un. Masculine. One. Augmentatives. Even though derived from Feminine original. Examples. Caixão. From caixa. Portão. Porta. Mulherão. Mulher. Two. Those in un and not derived from words of the third declension of the Latin. Coração. Grão. Sabão. Sifão. Trovão. Feminine. Words so ending. Derived from words of the third declension in the Latin. Opinião. Rebellião. Região. Resolução. Servidão. Solidão. União. But. Pão. From. Ponis. And. Sermão. From. Sermo. Are both. Masculine. 28. Nouns of opposite sex. Nouns denoting individuals of opposite sex may be either related, unrelated, or identical. They are. A. Related. When the Feminine form is derived from the Masculine either. One. By adding a to the Masculine form. Autor. Author. Autora. Authorist. Cantor. Singer. Male. Cantora. Singer. Female. English. Englishman. Inglésia. Englishwoman. Senhor. Gentlemen. Senhora. Lady. Note. A few nouns in R have two feminine forms as. Lavrador. Lavradora. Or. Lavradeira. Cantor. Cantora. Or. Cantatriz. There is also a tendency to change final or to eira as. Trabalhador. Trabalhadeira. Two. By changing final or or e to a as. Óspide. Guest. Male. Óspida. Guest. Female. Manu. Brother. Mana. Sister. Mestre. Teacher. Male. Mestra. Teacher. Female. Moço. Young man. Moça. Young woman. Country. Kinsman. Parenta. Kinswoman. Three. By changing the terminal to. Inha. Essa. Eza. Neza. Ola. Barão. Baron. Baroneza. Baroness. Conde. Count. Condessa. Countess. Galo. Cock. Galinha. Hen. Espanhol. Spaniard. Espanola. Spanishwoman. Príncipe. Prince. Princesa. Princess. B. Related but irregular forms of nouns of opposite sex are the following. Avo. Grandfather. Avo. Grandmother. Don. Sir. Lord. Dona. Lady. Fragi. Friar. Antic. Freire. Freira. Nun. Ladrão. Ladra. Woman thief. Peru. Turkey cock. Perua. Turkey hen. Rapaix. Lad. Rapariga. Girl. Rei. King. Rainha. Queen. Real. Defendant. Re. Female defendant. Si. Unrelated when not derived from the same word. Boy. Ox. Vaca. Cow. Cavalo. Horse. Egua. Mayor. Genro. Son-in-law. Nora. Daughter-in-law. Pai. Father. Mãe. Mother. Identical when the same word may be of either gender. Camarada. Masculine or feminine. Companion. Jovem. Masculine or feminine. A young man or a young woman. Guia. Guide. Sanchinella. Sentinel. Twenty-nine. Closely similar related nouns. The Portuguese contains many nouns that are related in form and meaning, yet distinct in sex and significance. Following are some of these words. Masculine. Bagu. Barco. Bodo. Caneco. Cântaro. Carrero. Cerco. Sexto. Sevo. Chuso. Simo. Cinto. Corno. Encosto. Fabrico. Folho. Fosso. Friso. Fruto. Gorro. Grito. Orto. Jarro. Lanço. Lenho. Madeiro. Marujo. Modo. Pago. Poço. Ponto. Porto. Ramo. Ribeiro. Rio. Saco. Saio. Saapato. Tacho. Taleigo. Trilho. Troco. Valo. Veio. The feminine forms differ only in ending in A instead of U. In each case, these nouns contain the same fundamental idea, but the sense of the feminine form is more general, while that of the masculine is more specific. For example, fruta is used for fruit in general, while fruto refers to one kind of fruit. Madeiro is one kind of madeira, wood, and bagu is one kind of a baga, berry. Berry. Footnote. Júlio Ribeiro, in his Gramática Portuguesa, page 84, says that the feminine form of several of these words indicates always an increase of volume or size. And a footnote. Fute. Similar unrelated nouns. There are other words that bear a similar resemblance to each other, but which have no genetic relations and have widely different meanings. Such are Bar. Banho. Bath. Banha. Lord. Barro. Clay. Barra. Bar of stream. Caso. Case. Casa. House. Espinho. Thorn. Espinha. Spinal column. But, espinhas de peixe. Fishbones. Escolho. Cliff. Escolha. Choice. Peito. Breast. Peita. Bribe. Prato. Plate. Prata. Silver. Queixo. Jó. Queixa. Complaint. Solu. Soil. Sola. Soleather. The same word sometimes occurs as a noun, adjective, or verb. In such cases, the nature of the word is indicated by the context. Fereone. There are still other words that are spelled precisely alike, but differ from each other in gender and in meaning. Following are some of these words. O capital. Principal. Money. A capital. Chief city. O crisma. Ointment. A crisma. Sacrament of confirmation. O cura. Curate. A cura. Cure. O guarda. Water. A guarda. Care. O lingua. Interpreter. A lingua. Tongue. O lente. Lecturer. A lente. Lence. O sota. Grim. A sota. Queen. At cards. Qualifying suffixes. Feritu. Suffixes are extensively and effectively used to modify and extend the meaning of nouns and adjectives, and even of verbs. In these cases, the meaning of the parent word is carried over in some modified form to the new word. It should be noted, however, that these suffixes do not have as a rule such exact meanings as do the prefixes. Most of the suffixes are directly from the Latin, while ishta, ismi, itchi, and isa are from the Greek. Only the more important of them can be mentioned here. Ada. Limon. Lemon. Limonada. Lemonade. Marmelu. Quince. Marmelada. Marmalade. Footnote. This word has been adopted into the English language with a meaning very different from its original one, which was a preparation from the quince and the footnote. Mulher. Woman. Mulherada. A lot of women. Baixo. Low. Baixada. Low ground. Faka. Knife. Fakada. A knife cut. Ajen. Omen. Men. Omenagem. Homage. Vassalo. Vessel. Vassalagem. Vesselage. Al. Café. Café. Cafesal. Field of coffee. The zee in Cafesal is for the sake of euphony. Banana. Banana. Bananal. Field of bananas. Milho. Corn. Milharau. Field of corn. Adu. Consul. Consul. Consulado. Consulate. Sida. Rei. King. Regicida. King killer. Formiga. Ant. Formicida. Ant killer. Aria. Cavalo. Horse. Cavalaria. Cavalry. Porco. Hog. Porcaria. Filth. Ario. Boticca. Apothecary's shop. Boticcario. Apothecary. Eiro. Eira. Mina. Mine. Mineiro. Minor. Cha. Tea. Chaleira. Tea kettle. Or kettle. The L in chaleira is for euphony. Ence. Brasil. Brazil. Brasileense. Brazilian. Eix. França. France. Françaix. French. Eza. Rico. Rich. Riqueza. Riches. Pobre. Poor. Pobreza. Poverty. Udi. Quieto. Adjective. Quiet. Quietude. Udi. Noun. Quietude. Udo. This suffix expresses abundance or intensity as cabeça, head, cabeçudo. Big-headed. Pig-headed. Beixum. Lip. Beixudo. Thick-lipped. Or. Orar. To orate. Orador. Orator. Falar. To talk. Falador. Talker. Trabalhar. To work. Trabalhador. Laborer. 33. Many other suffixes are so nearly like forms in English that they will be recognized, such as those ending in Ficar corresponding to the English Phi. Clarificar. To clarify. Purificar. To purify. Classificar. To classify. Others ending in mente corresponding to the English ending li as grande mente. Grandly. Claramente. Clearly. Escuramente. Darkly. And inista corresponding to the Englishist as capitalista. A capitalist. Dentista. Socialista. Etc. Many words ending in orio correspond approximately to English words ending in ori. Consistorio. Repertorio. Many endings in iqo correspond to the English ending iq as artístico. Symbolico. Many in avel, evvel and evvel correspond to the English endings abel and ible, as non-sense. Notável. Venerável. Indelevel. Resível. Terrivel. Determination ivo often corresponds to the English if as instrutivo. Executivo. 34. The infinitives of verbs are often used as plural nouns. Dizer. To say. Os dizeres. The sayings. Poder. To be able. Os poderes. The powers. Aumentatives. 35. Aumentatives are formed by the addition of the suffixes. On, arão, aça, anha, aix, azio, and onna, as here illustrated. Casa. House. Casarão. Big house. Monte. Hill, heap. Montanha. Mountain. Mulher. Woman. Mulheraça. Big woman. Porta. Door. Portão. Gate. Rapaz. Poi. Rapagão. Big fellow. Rato. Rat. Ratão. Big rat. Nariz. Nose. Narigão. Big nose. A. An additional augmentative effect is produced by giving a masculine ending to a feminine noun. Mulherão. An enormous woman or an Amazon. B. The augmentatives sometimes convey an idea of ridicule or irony. For example, ratão is used as a slang expression for a queer fellow. Diminatives. 36. Diminatives are formed by the use of the following suffixes. Inho, inha. Livro. Book. Livrinho. Little book. Zinho, zinha. Mão. Hand. Mãozinha. Little hand. Etu, eta. Folha. Leaf. Folheto. Pamphlet. Itu, ita. Mosca. Fly. Mosquito. Net. Ochi. Câmara. Room. Camarote. Cabin on ship. Ola. Fazenda. Estate. Fazendola. A small farm. Ulu, ula. Corpo. Body. Corpusculo. Molecule. Inno, inna. Pequeno. Small. Pequenino. Very small boy. Eti. Pobre. Poor. Pobrete. Rather poor. Ilho. Cinto. Belt. Cintilho. Hatband. In. Câmara. Room. Camarim. Dressing room. Ela. Costa. Side. Costela. Rib. Ejo. Lugar. Place. Lugarejo. Small town. Isco. Chuva. Rain. Chuvisco. Drizzling rain. Thereseven. A still further arbitrary diminutive effect is produced by a repetition or drawing out of the syllables of the usual diminatives, as Pequenininho, or Pequeninozinho. Very, very small. Fariate. Another class of diminatives includes certain proper names. These, however, do not always imply a smallness, but they are used as terms of endearment or compassion and as nicknames. The names for José are Zé, Zézé, Zéca, Zézinho, Josézinho, Zéquinho, Juca, Juquinha, Joca, Casuso, Zusa, Zuca, Zuzu. For Francisco are used. Chico, Chiquinho, Xixi, Franciscinho, and Franciscuito. For Ana are used. Aninha, aninhas, anazinha, naninha, nicota, anicota, anica, anoca, nanoca, aniquita, naná, ná, and nazinha. For João, they are They are They are End of Chapter 3. Chapter 4 of a Brief Grammar of the Portuguese Language. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Leni. Brief Grammar of the Portuguese Language by John Casper Brenner. Chapter 4. Adjectives. 39. The adjectives have gender, number, and degree of comparison. They agree in gender and number with their nouns. Mulher sensata, a sensible woman. Homens velhos, old men. When mesmo and proprio are used in connection with the pronoun, they must agree with the noun so represented. Eu mesmo, or eu mesma, according as the speaker is masculine or feminine. C. When there is more than one noun, the adjective usually agrees with the last one. Desejos e virtudes puras. Pure aims and pure virtues. D. When the nouns have different numbers, the adjective is generally plural. Os soldados e o seu chefe cheios de coragem. The soldiers and their leader full of courage. E. There may be a plural noun with singular adjectives expressing parts as As gramáticas portuguesa, francesa e inglesa. Plural. Forty. Adjectives form their plurals like nouns. Bonito. Handsome. Feminine. Bonita. Plural. Bonitos. Feminine. Bonitas. Fácil. Easy. Plural. Fáceis. For the various plural endings, see paragraph 20. Feminine. Forty-one. Adjectives have the feminine in a, or remain unchanged according to the following rules. A. Adjectives with the masculine ending in o, change that vowel to a. Bello. Fine. Feminine. Bella. Be. Adjectives ending in o, either drop the o as son. Feminine. Son. Or change the o to ona as chorão. Chorona. Sabichão. Sabichona. Valentão. Valentona. Si. Adjectives ending in or, except particular, singular, and comparative which are unchanged. Ad. A. Encantador. Charming. Feminine. Encantadora. Di. Proper adjectives ending in z and l, add a. Français. Feminine. Françaisa. French. Espanyol. Feminine. Espanyola. Spanish. I. Those ending in eu, change to e. Hebreu. Feminine. Hebreia. Hebrew. But judeu. Becomes judia. And sandeu. Becomes sandia. Those ending in u, add a. Cru. Feminine. Crua. Nu. Feminine. Nua. Other adjectives have the same form in both genders. Fácil. Masculine and feminine. Easy. Felice. Masculine and feminine. Happy. Azú. Masculine and feminine. Blue. Melhoch. Masculine and feminine. Better. Cortaix. Masculine and feminine. Corius. Prudente. Masculine and feminine. Prudent. Ruin. Masculine and feminine. Bad. G. The following however are irregular. Masculine. Bom. Feminine. Boa. Good. Masculine. Mau. Feminine. Ma. Bad. Comparison. Forty-two. The regular comparative adjectives are formed by placing mais, more or menos. Less before the positive. Escuro. Dark. Mais escuro. Darker. Or menos escuro. Less dark. Forty-three. The relative superlative is formed by placing the definite article before the comparative form. O mais escuro. The darkest. Forty-four. The absolute superlative is derived directly from the Latin and has the termination imo. The precise formation varies according to the termination of the positive from which it is derived. One. And the positive ends in ao, eu, ar, or o, éd,íssimo. Natural. Naturalíssimo. Hábil. Hábilíssimo. Singular. Singularíssimo. Cru. Cruíssimo. Two. Cruíssimo. Two. When the positive ends in vel, that ending becomes bilíssimo. Notável. Notabilíssimo. Three. When the positive ends in um, or um, the em is changed to em before the finalíssimo. Bom. Boníssimo. Comum. Comuníssimo. Four. Four. When the positive ends in um, that termination becomes aníssimo. São, saníssimo. But cristão, cristianíssimo. Five. When the positive ends in aix, iix, oix, the final z is changed to si before theíssimo. Aldaís. Aldaíssimo. Feliz. Felicíssimo. Velóis. Velossíssimo. Six. When the positive ends in i or o, these terminations change toíssimo. Excelente. Excelentíssimo. Altíssimo. Ei. Ei. Positives ending in co and go change those letters to cu and ju beforeíssimo in order to retain the hard sounds. Rico. Riquíssimo. Vago. Vagíssimo. The following are exceptional absolute superlative forms derived from Latin roots. Acre. Acérrimo. Amigo. Amissíssimo. Aspero. Asperrimo. Celebre. Celeberrimo. Cristão. Cristianíssimo. Cruel. Crudellíssimo. Difícil. Difícilimo. Doce. Dulcíssimo. Fácil. Facilimo. Fiel. Fidelíssimo. Frio. Frigidíssimo. Doce. Dulcíssimo. Fácil. Facilimo. Fiel. Fidelíssimo. Frio. Frigidíssimo. Livre. Libérrimo. Mísero. Miserrimo. Nobre. Nobilíssimo. Pobre. Palpérrimo. Coloco eu. Pobríssimo. Sábio. Sapientíssimo. Sábio. Sapientíssimo. Sábio. Sábio. Sábio. Sábio. Sábio. Sábio. Sábio.alamom. Sagrado. Sacratíssimo. Salubre. Saluberrimo. Table of comparison. Opositive, alto. High. Comparative. Mais alto. Higher. Absolute superlative. Altíssimo. Highest. Relative superlative. O mais alto. The highest. Grande. Great. Mais grande. In colloquial Portuguese, certain superlative forms are used to strengthen an expression or statement, as mesmíssima causa, precisely the same thing, see paragraph 93. But even hear such expressions as coisíssima nenhuma, not the slightest thing, though strictly speaking, a noun does not admit of such comparison, portuguesíssimo, as sometimes used to mean very thoroughly Portuguese. D. The absolute superlative may also be expressed by the use of various adverbs, we, or muito, very, bastante, quite, or sumamente, exceedingly, e the relative superlative takes de of, o mais valente de todos, the bravest of all, f. Comparatives of superiority or inferiority, take que, de que, and do que, then, mais belo do que a rosa, more beautiful than the rose. Certain other comparatives take de, a mais de 20 anos, menos de uma légua, more than 20 years ago, less than a leap. D. The forms, maior, greater, menor, smaller, pior, worse, melhor, better, are followed by que, maior que a serra, bigger than the mountain. But the forms superior, inferior, interior, and exterior take a, to, instead of que. Ele é inferior a seu irmão, his inferior to his brother. Irregular comparisons, 45. Several irregular adjectives derive their comparative and their absolute superlative forms directly from the Latin, but the relative superlative is formed in the usual way, by placing o, the before the comparative, positive, bom, good, comparative melhor, absolute superlative ótimo, relative superlative, o melhor, mau, bad, pior, péssimo, o pior, grande, great, maior, máximo, o maior, alto, high, superior, supremo, o superior, baixo, low, inferior, ínfimo, o inferior, muito, much, mais, no absolute superlative, relative superlative, o mais, pequeno, small, menor, mínimo, o menor, pouco, little, menos, no absolute superlative, relative superlative, o menos, aumentative and diminutive adjectives, 46. Aumentative and diminutive adjectives are formed like aumentative and diminutive nouns. Novo, nu, novinho, quite nu, for rules C, paragraph 35 and 36. The adjectives, like the nouns, are often used as terms of endearment. Bonitinho, from bonito, pretty, is often used to mean quite pretty, very pretty, pretty little deer. Syntax of nouns and adjectives, 47. In general, the noun precedes the adjective, homem trabalhador, a working man, 48. This order may be inverted, mau sinal, or sinal mau, a bad sign. This inversion, however, is not arbitrary, but is determined by emphasis, the rule for which cannot be fully stated, but must be acquired by observation and practice. 49. In general, the adjective precedes when it denotes a quality which necessarily belongs to the noun, and when the adjective and noun might almost be regarded as a compound word. 50. The adjective follows when it denotes a quality to which a special attention is directed, but when the attention is to be directed to the noun and the adjective is of minor importance, the adjective precedes the noun. 51. The following cases illustrate the difference in meaning due to the position of the adjective. Boa noite, good night, noite boa, a fine night, certo dia, a certain day, dia certo, a fixed day. Certo relogio, a certain clock, relogio certo, a clock that keeps good time. Pobre homem, poor man, homem pobre, a man who's poor. Bom ano, a prosperous year, ano bom, new year. Santa casa, a hospital, casa santa, a sacred house. Nosso padre, our priest, padre nosso, the lord's prayer, simples homem, a mere man, homem simples, a plain man. Grande homem, an eminent man, homem grande, a large man. A. In the cases cited, the expressions are readily translatable, but in many instances the distinctions do not admit of such brief definitions. In the following cases, the English translation given is inadequate and explanations are required that cannot be given briefly. Altos céus, and céus altos, high heavens, santos padres, and padres santos, holy fathers, primeira causa, and causa primeira, first cause, longos dias, and dias longos, long days. Fifty-two. In certain cases, inversions are not allowed. In the following instances, for example, the words must be in the order given, as if they were compounds. Deus Padre, God the Father, estrela fixa, a fixed star, mão direita, deputado federal, federal deputy, congressman, ilustríssimo senhor, most illustrious mister, código civil, the civil code. Fifty-three. The words pouco, little, and muito, many, much, when used as adjectives usually precede their nouns. Poucas cosas, a few things, há poucos dias, a few days ago, muito barulho, much noise. Fifty-four. The adjectives, hungry, thirsty, sleepy, and cold, are expressed by the use of and the nouns meaning hunger, etc. Estou com fome, sede, sono, frio, I am hungry, thirsty, sleepy, cold. End of Chapter 4. Chapter 5 of A Brief Grammar of the Portuguese Language. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Lenny. A Brief Grammar of the Portuguese Language by John Casper Brenner. Chapter 5 Numerals. Fifty-five. The Cardinals. Quatorze, quinze, dezesseis, dezessete, dezoito, dezenove, vinte, vinte e um, or vinte e uma, vinte e dois, vinte e duas, trinta, quarenta, cinquenta, sessenta, setenta, oitenta, noventa, cem, cento e um, or cento e uma, cento e dois, or cento e duas, duzentos, feminine, duzentas, trezentos, feminine, trezentas, quatorcentos, feminine, quatorcentas, quinhentos, feminine, quinhentas, seiscentos, feminine, seiscentas, setcentos, feminine, setcentas, oitocentos, feminine, oitocentas, novecentos, feminine, novecentas, mil, footnote. The word conto, which formerly meant a million in counting, is used only with reis, um conto de reis, a thousand new reis, and a footnote. Mil e um, or mil e uma, dois mil, or duas mil, um milhão, 56. The cardinal numbers have the same form for both genders, except in the cases of um, uma, um, dois, duas, dois, and those ending in centos, or centas, 57. The cardinal numbers are often used in place of the ordinals, especially to denote the days of the month, except primeiro, the first, as hoje é sete, today is the seventh, página vinte, page twenty, século dezoito, for décimo oitavo século, the eighteenth century. Fifty-eight, except when used in place of the ordinals, the cardinals always precede the noun, a vinte dias, twenty days ago. The ordinals. Fifty-nine, the ordinal numbers are variously derived. One, by the use of the suffix eiro, primeiro, first, terceiro, third, two, from the Latin forms, segundo, second, sexto, sixth, three, by the use of the suffix sessimo, vigésimo, twentieth, centésimo, hundredth. A. The ordinals have gender and number like other adjectives. B. The ordinals are used either as nouns or as adjectives. Um sexto, a sixth, or uma sexta parte, a sixth part. Um segundo, however, is not used for a half, nor um terceiro, for a third when fractions are meant. C. Fractions, paragraph sixty-one. primeiro, first, segundo, second, terceiro, third, etc. quarto, quinto, sexto, sétimo, oitavo, nono, décimo, um décimo, décimo primeiro, duodécimo, décimo segundo, décimo terceiro, décimo quarto, décimo quinto, décimo sexto, décimo sétimo, décimo oitavo, décimo nono, vigésimo, vigésimo primeiro, vigésimo segundo, trigésimo, quadragésimo, quinquagésimo, sexagésimo, septuagésimo, octogésimo, nonagésimo, centésimo, sixty, inflection of the cardinals um, dois, and multiples of cento, duzentos, feminine duzentas are treated as adjectives. The ordinals are all treated as adjectives, except as indicated at paragraph fifty-nine b, sixty-one, the fractions, half, metade, metade do dinheiro, half of the money, meio, or meia, meia hora, half an hour, a third, terço, or terça, uma terça parte, two-thirds, dois terços, or duas terças partes, a fourth, um quarto, or uma quarta parte, three-fourths, três quartos, a fifth, um quinto, a sixth, um sexto, a seventh, um sétimo, one eighth, um oitavo, one ninth, um nono, a tenth, um décimo, a, in the reading of fractions above tenths, the suffix avo, derived from the term oitavo, is used to express the divisor, one eleventh, um onzeavo, or a um décima parte, nine eleventh, nove onzeavos, one twelfth, um dozeavo, one twentieth, um vinteavo, thirteen twentieth, treze vinteavos, forty-one fifty-fourth, quarenta e um cinquenta e quatro avos, one hundredth, um centésimo, one thousandth, um milésimo, sixty-two, multiplication, the word veish, time is used with the cardinal numerals to express multiplication, uma vez, or simples, once, duas vezes, twice, três vezes, three times, etc., example, três vezes três são nove, three times three are nine, a, these expressions are also used, dois tantos, twice as many, três tantos, three times as many, as many more, b, proportionals, duplice, dobrado, dobro, duplo, double, triplo, três dobrado, três dobro, triple, quadruplo, quadruplo, décuplo, tenfold, centuplo, a hundredfold, uma dúzia, a dozen, vintena, a score, centenares, hundreds, milhares, thousands, múltiplo, many times, sixty-three, numeral substantives, cento, a hundred, mil, a thousand, milheiro, thousand, the fractions and the proportional numbers are treated as substantives, sixty-four idioms, the following are illustrations of idioms in common use in connection with the numerals, que horas são, what time is it, são três e um quarto, it is quarter past three, é uma hora, it's one o'clock, faltam vinte para três, colloquial, it lacks 20 minutes of three, a quantos estamos hoje do mês, what day of the month is it, this is the fifteenth, quantas léguas são daqui a cidade, how many leagues is it from here to the city, são duas, it is two, que idade tem o senhor, how old are you, literally what age has the gentleman, tenho vinte tantos anos, i am twenty odd years old, oito dias, a week, literally eight days, quinze dias, a fortnight, literally fifteen days, há vinte anos, twenty years ago, also these twenty years, a causa de vinte anos, some about twenty years ago, há duas horas, two hours ago, and these two hours, daqui a quinze dias, a fortnight, hence, the days of the week are numbered from Monday to Friday as follows, domingo, Sunday, segunda-feira, Monday, terça-feira, Tuesday, quarta-feira, Wednesday, quinta-feira, Thursday, sexta-feira, Friday, sábado, Saturday, end of chapter five,