In this chapter, the following concepts are explained:
- strong declension
- weak declension
- present participle and comparative declension
- comparative and superlative formation
Labial mutation (aka. u-umlaut) is marked by an L before the ending.
Front mutation (aka. i-umlaut) is marked by an F before the ending.
Just like nouns, some adjectives inject a -j- or -v- between the stem and the ending, depending on the stems of their Proto-Germanic ancestors (a-, ō-, ja-, jō-, wa- and wō-stems). The distinction between the adjectives which make either or none of the injections is not made in this page.
Strong declension
Masculine declension
| case | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | -r | -ir |
| genitive | -s, -ar | -ra |
| dative | L -um | L -um |
| accusative | -an | -a |
Feminine declension
| case | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | L -∅ | -ar |
| genitive | -rar | -ra |
| dative | -ri | L -um |
| accusative | -a | -ar |
Neuter declension
| case | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | -t | L -∅ |
| genitive | -s | -ra |
| dative | L -u | L -um |
| accusative | -t | L -∅ |
Weak declension
Masculine declension
| case | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | -i | L -u |
| genitive | -a | L -u |
| dative | -a | L -um |
| accusative | -a | L -u |
Feminine declension
| case | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | -a | L -u |
| genitive | -u | L -u |
| dative | -u | L -um |
| accusative | -u | L -u |
Neuter declension
| case | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | -a | L -u |
| genitive | -a | L -u |
| dative | -a | L -um |
| accusative | -a | L -u |
Present participle and comparative declension
Masculine declension
| case | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | -i | -i |
| genitive | -a | -i |
| dative | -a | L -um |
| accusative | -a | -i |
Feminine declension
| case | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | -i | -i |
| genitive | -i | -i |
| dative | -i | L -um |
| accusative | -i | -i |
Neuter declension
| case | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | -a | -i |
| genitive | -a | -i |
| dative | -a | L -um |
| accusative | -a | -i |
Comparative and superlative formation
-ari, -astr
| positive | comparative | superlative |
|---|---|---|
| -r | -ari | -astr |
-ri, -str with front mutation
| positive | comparative | superlative |
|---|---|---|
| -r | F -ri | F -str |
Irregularities
Some adjectives had their comparative and superlative forms based on different stems than those of their positive forms.
| positive | comparative | superlative |
|---|---|---|
| gamall | ellri | ellztr |
| góðr | betri | beztr |
| illr, vandr | verri | verstr |
| lítill | minni | minnstr |
| margr | fleiri | flestr |
| mikill | meiri | mestr |
Some comparative and superlative forms developed by analogy from positive forms that were adverbs. These positive forms are indicated in parentheses, and do not exist as adjectives, but rather as adverbs.
| positive | comparative | superlative |
|---|---|---|
| (aptr) | eptri | epztr, aptastr |
| (fyrir) | fyrri | fyrstr |
| (of) | øfri, efri | øfstr, efstr |
| (út) | ýtri | ýztr |
| (austr) | eystri | austastr |
| (vestr) | vestri | vestastr |
| (norðr) | norðarri | norðastr |
| (suðr) | sunnar | sunnastr |