21.2 Attributive Adjectives I

We put an attributive adjective before a noun to modify the noun. We use the particle 嘅 ge3 to link an attributive adjective and a noun. Notice 嘅 ge3 is also the particle we use to form possessive constructions (See Grammar and Vocabulary 2.4).

To negate an attributive adjective, we can put the adverb 唔 (‘not’) before it.

We can put a degree word before an attributive adjective to indicate different levels of intensity of the adjective.

We can omit the particle 嘅 ge3 when using some attributive adjectives (e.g., 新 san1 ‘new’). There are no general rules to decide when we can omit 嘅 ge3.

⚠️ If we want to add a degree word, we always need the particle 嘅 ge3.

We don’t usually add a degree word before some attributive adjectives (e.g., 新開 san1 hoi1 ‘newly opened’).

If we want to indicate the quantity, we put the number and the classifier before the attributive adjective, or before the degree word if any. When the number is 一 jat1 (‘one’), the phrase can also be an indefinite noun phrase.