24.
Exercises.
The father loves[199] his daughter[200]. Mary loves her friend[201] (fem.). The eyes of Caroline equal[202] two[203] stars[204]. He gave the money to the woman, and paid the tailor[205] at the same time[206]. Two streams[207] of the province are designated[208] by this name[209]. Various estates[210] are touched[211] by this river. These offers[212] have been made to the Colonists[213]. He delivered[214] the letter[215] to the secretary[216]. The Madeira is the most important[217] tributary[218] of the Amazon river[219]. The name of the Islands. The town is situated[220] on the left bank[221] of the river. The harbour[222] of Rio de Janeiro is the most beautiful ornament[223] of the city.
25.
On the Augmentatives
and Diminutives.
The Portuguese language has the peculiarity of the Italian and Spanish languages in making Substantives and Adjectives, by the addition of a syllable augmentative or diminutive.
- I. Augmentativos.
- homem, a man
- homemzarão, a large, powerful man
- tolo, a fool
- toleirão, a great fool
- mulher, the woman
- mulherona, a large masculine woman
- tola, the foolish woman
- toleirona, a very foolish woman.
- II. Diminutivos
- are formed by changing the final vowel into “inho”:
- casa, the house
- casinha, a pretty little house
- homem, a man
- homemzinho, a little man
- bicho, a worm
- bichinho, a little worm
- coitado, a poor man
- coitadinho, a poor little fellow
- bonito, pretty
- bonitinho, rather pretty;
- others are formed by adding: zinho, zinha or sinho, inha, as:
- coração, the heart
- coraçãozinho, dear little heart
- cão, the dog
- cãozinho, pretty little dog
- irmão, the brother
- irmãozinho, dear little brother
- cabeça, the head
- cabeçinha, pretty little head
- mão, the hand
- mãozinha, pretty little hand.
26.
The Adjective.
The Adjectives in Portuguese agree with the Substantives in gender and number.
1. Adjectives ending in e, l and z, remain unchanged in the feminine, as: