_the cow_, =mãi=, _mother_, =costureira=, _seamstress_, =rainha=,
_queen_.
_b._ +Note.+--In cases of sex distinction there are generally two
forms, as =moço=, _young man_, =moça=, _young woman_, =poeta=, _poet_,
=poetisa=, _poetess_. There are, however, some words which have the
same form for both genders, such as =martyr=, =jovem=, and =tigre=,
which may be either masculine or feminine.
_c._ In some cases there is no masculine form of a noun: =rã=, _frog_,
=abelha=, _bee_, =formiga=, _ant_, =aguia=, _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 =femea=, _female_; =o salmão macho=, _the male
salmon_, or =a onça femea=, _the female panther_; =o corvo macho=, _the
male crow_.
_d._ Nouns not implying sex distinction ending in:
=a= or =ã=. Except =dia=, _day_, =mappa=, _map_, and words from
the Greek ending in =ma=: =aroma=, =clima=, _climate_, =diploma=,
=dogma=, =emblema=, =idioma=, =poema=, =thema=, =problema=,
=symptoma=, =epigramma=.
=ade=, as =caridade=, _charity_.
=ude=, as =virtude=. Except =alaude=, =ataude=, =açude=, =almude=,
=grude=.
=gem=. Except =pagem=, _page_, and =selvagem=, _savage_, which may be
of either gender.
=ie=, as =planicie=.
=27.= =Common Terminations.=--The following terminations are common to
both genders: Words ending in
{ Masc. =alcatraz=, =ananaz=, =anthraz=, =cabaz=, =cartaz=,
=az= { =gaz=, =lilaz=, =rapaz=.
{ Fem. =paz=, =tenaz=.
{ Masc. =arnez=, =convez=, =freguez=, =jaez=, =mez=, =pez=,
{ =revez=, =xadréz=.
=ez= { Fem. =altivez=, =honradez=, =fez=, =mudez=, =pequenhez=,
{ =rapidez=, =redondez=, =rez=, =solidez=, =surdez=,
{ =tez=, =timidez=, =torquez=, =vez=.
{ Masc. =almofariz=, =giz=, =matiz=, =nariz=, =paiz=, =pleuriz=,
=iz= { =tapiz=, =verniz=.
{ Fem. =buiz=, =cerviz=, =cicatriz=, =codorniz=, =matriz=,
{ =perdiz=, =raiz=, =sobrepelliz=.
{ Masc. =albernoz=, =algoz=, =aljaroz=, =arroz=, =cadoz=, =coz=,
=oz= { =retroz=.
{ Fem. =foz=, =noz=, =voz=.
{ Masc. =alcaçuz=, =alcatruz=, =arcabuz=, =capuz=, =cuzcuz=,
=uz= { =lapuz=, =obuz=.
{ Fem. =cruz=, =luz=.
{ Masc. =broche=, =café=, =carcere=, =codice=, =corte=, =dente=,
{ =epitome=, =tapete=, =traquete=, =valle=, =vertice=.
=e= { Fem. =arte=, =ave=, =chave=, =corte=, =crise=, =fé=, =fome=,
{ =libré=, =lide=, =nave=, =neve=, =ponte=, =ralé=,
{ =rede=, =saude=, =sé=, =sebe=, =sede=, =sege=,
{ =torre=, =torrente=.
{ I. Augmentatives, even though derived
{ from feminine original. Examples:
{ =caixão= (=caixa=), =portão= (=porta=), =mulherão=
{ (=mulher=).
{ Masc. { II. Those in =ão= and not derived from
{ { words of the third declension of the
{ { Latin: =coração=, =grão=, =sabão=, =siphão=,
=ão= { { =trovão=.
{ { Words so ending derived from words of the
{ { third declension in the Latin: =acção=,
{ { =constituição=, =dicção=, =execução=, =feição=,
{ Fem. { =instituição=, =legião=, =lentidão=, =mansidão=,
{ =multidão=, =opinião=, =rebellião=, =região=,
{ =resolução=, =servidão=, =solidão=, =união=. (But
{ =pão= from _panis_ and =sermão= from _sermo_
{ are both masculine.)
=28.= =Nouns of Opposite Sex.= (See Exercise IX, page 129.)--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
I. By adding =a= to the masculine form:
=auctor=, author =auctora=, authoress
=cantor=, singer (_male_) =cantora=, singer (_female_)
=inglez=, Englishman =ingleza=, Englishwoman
=senhor=, gentleman =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=.
II. By changing final =o= or =e= to =a=, as
=hospede=, guest (_male_) =hospeda=, guest (_female_)
=mano=, brother =mana=, sister
=mestre=, teacher (_male_) =mestra=, teacher (_female_)
=moço=, young man =moça=, young woman
=parente=, kinsman =parenta=, kinswoman
III. By changing the terminal to =inha=, =essa=, =eza=, =neza=, =ola=:
=barão=, baron =baroneza=, baroness
=conde=, count =condessa=, countess
=gallo=, cock =gallinha=, hen
=hespanhol=, Spaniard =hespanhola=, Spanish woman
=principe=, prince =princeza=, princess
_b._ _Related but irregular_ forms of nouns of opposite sex are the
following:
MASCULINE FEMININE
=avô=, grandfather =avó=, grandmother
=dom=, sir, lord =dona=, lady
=frade=, friar (_ant. freire_) =freira=, nun
=ladrão=, thief =ladra=, woman thief
=perú=, turkey-cock =perua=, turkey-hen
=rapaz=, lad =rapariga=, girl
=rei=, king =rainha=, queen
=réo=, defendant =ré=, female defendant
_c._ _Unrelated_ when not derived from the same word:
=boi=, ox =vacca=, cow
=cavallo=, horse =egua=, mare
=genro=, son-in-law =nora=, daughter-in-law
=pai=, father =mãi=, mother
_d._ _Identical_ when the same word may be of either gender:
=camarada= (_m._ or _f._), companion. =jovem= (_m._ or _f._), a young
man _or_ young woman =guia=, guide =sentinella=, sentinel
=29.= =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
=bago= }
=barco= }
=bodo= }
=caneco= }
=cantharo= }
=carreiro= }
=cerco= }
=cesto= }
=cevo= }
=chuço= }
=cimo= }
=cinto= }
=corno= }
=encosto= }
=fabrico=[20]}
=folho= }
=fosso= }
=friso= }
=fruto= }
=gorro= } The feminine forms
=grito= } differ only in ending
=horto= } in =a= instead of =o=.
=jarro= }
=lanço= }
=lenho= }
=madeiro= }
=marujo= }
=modo= }
=pago= }
=poço= }
=ponto= }
=porto= }
=ramo= }
=ribeiro= }
=rio= }
=sacco= }
=saio= }
=sapato= }
=tacho= }
=taleigo= }
=trilho= }
=troco= }
=vallo= }
=veio= }
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 =bago= is one kind of a =baga= (_berry_).[21]
=30.= =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:
MASCULINE MEANING FEMININE MEANING
=banho= bath =banha= lard
=barro= clay =barra= bar (_of stream_)
=caso= case =casa= house
=espinho= thorn =espinha= spinal column (_but_ =espinhas=
=de peixe=, fish-bones)
=escolho= cliff =escolha= choice
=peito= breast =peita= bribe
=prato= plate =prata= silver
=queixo= jaw =queixa= complaint
=solo= soil =sola= sole leather
The same word sometimes occurs as a noun, adjective, or verb; in such
cases the nature of the word is indicated by the context.
=31.= 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:
MASCULINE MEANING FEMININE MEANING
=o capital= principal (_money_) =a capital= chief city
=o chrisma= ointment =a chrisma= sacrament of
confirmation
=o cura= curate =a cura= cure
=o guarda= warder =a guarda= care
=o lingua= interpreter =a lingua= tongue
=o lente= lecturer =a lente= lens
=o sota= groom =a sota= queen (_at cards_)
QUALIFYING SUFFIXES
(See Exercise X, page 130)
=32.= 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 =ista=, =isme=, =ite=,
and =izar= are from the Greek. Only the more important of them can be
mentioned here.
+Examples+
ORIGINAL
TERMINATION WORD MEANING WITH SUFFIX MEANING
=-ada= =limão= lemon =limonada= lemonade
=marmelo= quince =marmelada=[22] marmalade
=mulher= woman =mulherada= a lot of women
=baixo= low =baixada= low ground
=faca= knife =facada= a knife cut
=-agem= =homem= man =homenagem= homage
=vassalo= vassal =vassalagem= vassalage
=-al= =café= coffee =cafezal= field of coffee
(The =z= in =cafezal= is for the sake of euphony.)
=banana= banana =bananal= field of bananas
=milho= corn =milhoral= field of corn
=-ado= =consul= consul =consulado= consulate
=-cida= =rei= king =regicida= king-killer
=formiga= ant =formicida= ant-killer
=-aria= =cavallo= horse =cavallaria= cavalry
=porco= hog =porcaria= filth
=-ario=[23] =botica= apothecary’s =boticario= apothecary
shop
=-eiro-a=[24]=mina= mine =mineiro= miner
=chá= tea =chaleira= teakettle
(_or_ kettle)
(The =l= in =chaleira= is for euphony.)
=-ense= =Brasil= Brazil =brasiliense= Brazilian
=-ez= =França= France =francez= French
=-eza= =rico= rich =riqueza= riches
=pobre= poor =pobreza= poverty
=-ude= =quieto= (_adj._) quiet =quietude= (_n._) quietude
=-udo= This suffix expresses abundance or intensity, as
=cabeça= head =cabeçudo= big-headed,
pig-headed
=beiço= lip =beiçudo= 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 _fy_: =clarificar=, _to clarify_, =purificar=, _to purify_,
=classificar=, _to classify_; others ending in =mente= corresponding
to the English ending _ly_, as =grandemente=, _grandly_, =claramente=,
_clearly_, =escuramente=, _darkly_; and in =ista= corresponding to
the English _ist_, as =capitalista=, _a capitalist_, =dentista=,
=socialista=, etc. Many words ending in =orio= correspond approximately
to English words ending in _ory_: =consistorio=, =repertorio=. Many
endings in =ico= correspond to the English ending _ic_, as =artistico=,
=symbolico=; many in =avel=, =evel=, and =ivel= correspond to the
English endings _able_ and _ible_, as =notavel=, =veneravel=,
=indelevel=, =risivel=, =terrivel=. The termination =ivo= often
corresponds to the English _ive_, as =instructivo=, =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_.
+Augmentatives+
=35.= =Augmentatives= are formed by the addition of the suffixes =ão=,
=arão=, =aça=, =anha=, =az=, =azio=, and =ona= as here illustrated.
ORIGINAL MEANING AUGMENTATIVE MEANING
=casa= house =casarão= big house
=monte= hill, heap =montanha= mountain
=mulher= woman =mulheraça= big woman
=porta= door =portão= gate
=rapaz= boy =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_.
+Diminutives+
(See Exercise XI, page 131)
=36.= =Diminutives= are formed by the use of the following suffixes:
SUFFIX ORIGINAL MEANING DIMINUTIVE MEANING
=-inho-a= =livro= book =livrinho= little book
=-zinho-a= =mão= hand =mãozinha= little hand
=-eto-a= =folha= leaf =folheto= pamphlet
=-ito-a= =mosca= fly =mosquito= gnat
=-ote= =camara= room =camarote= cabin (_on ship_)
=-ola= =fazenda= estate =fazendola= a small farm
=-ulo-a= =corpo= body =corpusculo= molecule
=-ino-a= =pequeno= small =pequenino= very small (boy)
=-ete= =pobre= poor =pobrete= rather poor
=-ilho= =cinto= belt =cintilho= hat-band
=-im= =camara= room =camarim= dressing room
(_of theater_)
=-ella= =costa= side =costella= rib
=-ejo= =lugar= place =lugarejo= small town
=-isco= =chuva= rain =chuvisco= drizzling rain
=37.= A still further arbitrary diminutive effect is produced by a
repetition or drawing out of the syllables of the usual diminutives, as
=pequenininho= or =pequeninozinho=, _very, very small_.
=38.= Another class of diminutives includes certain proper names.
These, however, do not always imply smallness, but they are used as
terms of endearment or compassion and as nicknames. The names for
=José= are: =Zé=, =Zezé=, =Zéca=, =Zezinho=, =Josezinho=, =Zequinho=,
=Júca=, =Juquinha=, =Jóca=, =Cazuzo=, =Zuza=, =Zuca=, =Zuzu=; for
=Francisco= are used: =Chico=, =Chiquinho=, =Chichi=, =Francisquinho=,
and =Francisquito=; for =Anna= are used: =Anninha=, =Anninhas=,
=Annazinha=, =Naninha=, =Nicota=, =Annicota=, =Annica=, =Annóca=,
=Nanóca=, =Anniquita=, =Naná=, =Ná=, and =Nazinha=; for =João= they are
=Janjão=, =Joãozinho=, =Jóca=, =Joanninho=, =Noca=; for =Maria= they
are =Mariquinha=, =Maroca=, =Mariasinha=, =Marica=, =Mariquita=.
FOOTNOTES:
[19] _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=, =aquillo=, and =tudo=. The cardinal numerals
also have no gender except =um úma=, =dois duas=, and those compounded
of =cento= as =duzentos-as=, =trezentos-as=.
[20] The accent in this case is also changed from =fabríco= to
=fábrica=.
[21] Julio Ribeiro in his _Grammatica Portugueza_, page 84, says
that the feminine form of several of these words indicates always an
increase of volume or size.
[22] 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.
[23] =-ario= is the erudite form of =-eiro=; many of the words so
ending correspond to the English termination _ary_, as =secretario=,
=sanctuario=, =vocabulario=.
[24] This ending is especially useful and is easily managed. It
corresponds in part to the English ending _er_ as illustrated in the
words _bank_, _banker_, but it has a wider application in Portuguese,
as for example: =pedra=, _stone_, =pedreira=, _stone quarry_,
=pedreiro=, _quarryman_, and sometimes _stone mason_; =sapato=,
_shoe_, =sapateiro=, _shoemaker_. The common names of many trees are
similarly derived from the names of their fruits: =pécego=, _peach_,
=pecegueiro=, _peach-tree_; =coco=, _the coco-nut_, =coqueiro=, _the
coco-palm_.
IV. ADJECTIVES
(See Exercise XII, page 132)
=39.= The adjectives have gender, number, and degree of comparison.
_a._ They agree in gender and number with their nouns; =mulher
sensata=, _a sensible woman_, =homens velhos=, _old men_.
_b._ When =mesmo= and =proprio= are used in connection with a 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 grammaticas portugueza, franceza e ingleza=.
PLURAL
=40.= Adjectives form their plurals like nouns: =bonito=, _handsome_
(f. =bonita=), pl. =bonitos= (f. =bonitas=); =facil=, _easy_, pl.
=faceis=. (For the various plural endings see § 20.)
FEMININE
=41.= 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_, f. =bella=.
_b._ Adjectives ending in =ão= either drop the =o=: as =são=, f.
=sã=, or change the =ão= to =ona= as =chorão=, =chorona=; =sabichão=,
=sabichona=; =valentão=, =valentona=.
_c._ Adjectives ending in =r= (except =particular=, =singular=, and
comparatives which are unchanged) add =a=: =encantador=, _charming_, f.
=encantadora=.
_d._ Proper adjectives ending in =z= and =l= add =a=: =francez=, f.
=franceza=, _French_; =hespanhol=, f. =hespanhola=, _Spanish_.
_e._ Those ending in =eu= change to =ea=: =hebreu=, f. =hebrea=,
_Hebrew_ (but =judeu= becomes =judia= and =sandeu= becomes =sandia=).
Those ending in =u= add =a=: =cru=, f. =crua=; =nu=, f. =nua=.
_f._ Other adjectives have the same form in both genders: =facil=, m.
f., _easy_; =feliz=, m. f., _happy_; =azul=, m. f., _blue_; =melhor=,
m. f., _better_; =cortez=, m. f., _courteous_; =prudente=, m. f.,
_prudent_; =ruim=, m. f., _bad_.
_g._ The following, however, are _irregular_:
MASCULINE FEMININE MEANING
=bom= =boa= good
=mau= =má= bad
COMPARISON
(See Exercise XIII, page 133)
=42.= 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_.
=43.= =The relative superlative= is formed by placing the definite
article before the comparative form: =o mais escuro=, _the darkest_.
=44.= =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:
I. When the positive ends in =al=, =il=, =r=, or =u=, add =issimo=:
=natural=, =naturalissimo=; =habil=, =habilissimo=; =singular=,
=singularissimo=; =cru=, =cruissimo=.
II. When the positive ends in =vel=, that ending becomes =bilissimo=:
=notavel=, =notabilissimo=.
III. When the positive ends in =om= or =um=, the =m= is changed to =n=
before the final =issimo=: =bom=, =bonissimo=; =commum=, =communissimo=.
IV. When the positive ends in =ão=, that termination becomes
=anissimo=: =são=, =sanissimo=; but =christão=, =christianissimo=.
V. When the positive ends in =az=, =iz=, =oz=, the final =z= is
changed to =c= before the =issimo=: =audaz=, =audacissimo=; =feliz=,
=felicissimo=; =veloz=, =velocissimo=.
VI. When the positive ends in =e= or =o= these terminations change to
=issimo=: =excellente=, =excellentissimo=; =alto=, =altissimo=.
_a._ Positives ending in =co= and =go= change those letters to =qu=
and =gu= before =issimo= in order to retain the hard sounds: =rico=,
=riquissimo=; =vago=, =vaguissimo=.
_b._ The following are exceptional absolute superlative forms derived
from Latin roots:
=acre= =acerrimo=
=amigo= =amicissimo=
=aspero= =asperrimo=
=celebre= =celeberrimo=
=christão= =christianissimo=
=cruel= =crudelissimo=
=difficil= =difficillimo=
=doce= =dulcissimo=
=facil= =facillimo=
=fiel= =fidelissimo=
=frio= =frigidissimo=
=livre= =liberrimo=
=misero= =miserrimo=
=nobre= =nobilissimo=
=pobre= =pauperrimo= (_coll._ =pobrissimo=)
=sabio= =sapientissimo=
=sagrado= =sacratissimo=
=salubre= =saluberrimo=
=similhante= =simillimo=
+Table of Comparison+
POSITIVE =alto=, high =grande=, great =secco=, dry
COMPARATIVE =mais alto=,[25] higher =mais grande=[26] =mais secco=
ABSOLUTE
SUPERLATIVE =altissimo=, highest =grandissimo= =sequissimo=
RELATIVE
SUPERLATIVE =o mais alto=, the highest =o mais grande= =o mais secco=
_c._ In colloquial Portuguese certain superlative forms are used
to strengthen an expression or statement, as =mesmissima cousa=,
_precisely the same thing_. (See § 93.) One even hears such expressions
as =coisissima nenhuma=, _not the slightest thing_, though, strictly
speaking, a noun does not admit of such comparison. =Portuguesissimo=
is sometimes used to mean _very thoroughly Portuguese_.[27]
_d._ The absolute superlative may also be expressed by the use of
various adverbs, =mui= or =muito=, _very_, =bastante=, _quite_, or
=summamente=, _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=, _than_: =mais bello do que a rosa=, _more beautiful than
the rose_. Certain other comparatives take =de=: =ha mais de vinte
annos=, =menos de uma legua=, _more than twenty years ago_, _less than
a league_.
_g._ The forms =maior=, _greater_, =menor=, _smaller_, =peior=,
_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=: =elle é inferior a seu irmão=, _he is 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 COMPARATIVE ABSOLUTE RELATIVE
SUPERLATIVE SUPERLATIVE
=bom=, good =melhor=[28] =optimo= =o melhor=
=mau=, bad =peior=[28] =pessimo= =o peior=
=grande=, great =maior=[29] =maximo= =o maior=
=alto=, high =superior= =supremo= =o superior=
=baixo=, low =inferior= =infimo= =o inferior=
=muito=, much =mais= =o mais=
=pequeno=, small =menor=[29] =minimo= =o menor=
=pouco=, little =menos= =o menos=
AUGMENTATIVE AND DIMINUTIVE ADJECTIVES
=46.= Augmentative and diminutive adjectives are formed like
augmentative and diminutive nouns: =novo=, _new_, =novinho=, _quite
new_. (For rules, _see_ § 35, 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_, or _pretty little
dear_.
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 signal= or =signal 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 practise.
=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 especial
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 is poor
=bom anno=, a prosperous year =anno 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 ceos= and =ceos altos=, high heavens;
=santos padres= and =padres santos=, holy fathers;
=primeira causa= and =causa primeira=, first cause;
=longos dias= and =dias longos=, long days.
=52.= 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: