Adjectives first
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Adjectives before the noun (gl-)
English puts the adjective before the noun (an angry dog). Ageben can too: add l as the second letter (/ɡ/ + l + root + ending), and that adjective describes the next noun instead of the one before it. This lets you choose the order for meter or emphasis, and it frees the spot after the noun for another adjective. (cue: l ≈ lean: the word leans toward the noun ahead.)
glonumul zodozel.[gl-angry | z-dog]
"an angry dog"
A bl- word the adjective hosts still follows it, and a /w/ word still sits immediately before it (welazem glonumul zodozel = a very angry dog). On /ɡ/, this extra l only moves the adjective; the word means the same either way. On /b/, bl- is a different job, not a different order. A noun must come after it: with no noun to lean on, write a plain /ɡ/ adjective after the noun instead (zodozel gonumul). It leans on a call the same way.
glonumul yodozel.[gl-angry | y-dog]
"Angry dog!" (calling)
Practice
Short drills for Beginner. Try each item before opening Show answer.
Setting: a depot yard
New words:
| English | Ageben | Cue |
|---|---|---|
| train | edavol | 🚆 |
| blue | obulol | 🔵 |
| stand | vuzuvel | 🧍 |
Review:
| English | Ageben |
|---|---|
| Azozon | azozon |
| Alazun | alazun |
| Ahelan | ahelan |
| police | ebayol |
| sleepy | uzemel |
| very | welazem |
| sit | vehohel |
| see | vayebel |
English → Ageben
1. A sleepy Alazun stands. (sleepy first)
Show answer
gluzemel zalazun vuzuvel.
[gl-sleepy | z-Alazun] | v-stand
2. Ahelan sees a blue train. (blue first)
Show answer
zahelan globulol dedavol vayebel.
z-Ahelan | [gl-blue | d-train] | v-see
3. A sleepy police officer sits. (sleepy first)
Show answer
gluzemel zebayol vehohel.
[gl-sleepy | z-police] | v-sit
Ageben → English
1. welazem gluzemel zebayol vehohel.
Show answer
[[w-very | gl-sleepy] | z-police] | v-sit
A very sleepy police officer sits.
2. welazem globulol zedavol vuzuvel.
Show answer
[[w-very | gl-blue] | z-train] | v-stand
A very blue train stands.
3. gluzemel zahelan vuzuvel.
Show answer
[gl-sleepy | z-Ahelan] | v-stand
A sleepy Ahelan stands.
Pick one
1. Azozon sees a sleepy Ahelan. (sleepy first) zazozon gluzemel dahelan vayebel. or zazozon dahelan guzemel vayebel.
Show answer
zazozon gluzemel dahelan vayebel.
z-Azozon | [gl-sleepy | d-Ahelan] | v-see
gl- leans on the noun ahead; a plain /ɡ/ after the noun would still be sleepy Ahelan, but sleepy would not come first.
Fix it
1. A blue train stands. (blue first) gobulol zedavol vuzuvel.
Show answer
globulol zedavol vuzuvel.
[gl-blue | z-train] | v-stand
An adjective before its noun takes gl-; a plain /ɡ/ word describes the noun before it.