Obs. ii. Some verbs enter into combination as adjectives, without the intervention of any particle. 死人 ’sí niun, dead man; 孝子 h’iau‘ ’tsz, filial son; 孝女 h’iau‘ ’nü, filial daughter.
176. A few adjectives are also employed as transitive verbs. The second and fourth of the following sentences are examples. In the 1st and 3rd, the same words are adjectives.
- 喜歡得極 ’h’í hwén tuh giuh, exceedingly glad.
- 牛喜歡水 nieu ’h’í hwén ’sz, buffaloes are fond of water.
- 快快活活 k’a‘ k’a‘ weh weh, very glad.
- 伊總快活儂 í tsóng k’a‘ weh nóng‘, he will certainly be pleased with you.
Comparison of adjectives. 177. The comparative is expressed in several ways, as by—
a. 再 tsé‘, again, which precedes the adjective it qualifies.
- 勿能再少 veh nung tsé‘ ’sau, I cannot say less.
- 再大無沒 tsé‘ dú‘ m méh, there are none larger.
- 再强有否 tsé‘ giáng ’yeu ’vá? have you any cheaper?
b. 點 ’tíen, a little, follows the word that it qualifies.
- 第本書好點 tí‘ ’pun sû ’hau ’tíen, this book is better.
- 快點走 k’wá‘ ’tíen ’tseu, walk a little faster.
- 多點末者 tú ’tíen meh ’tsé, say a little more.
c. 一眼 ih ’ngan, a little, is similar in use to the last.
- 倒好一眼 ’tau ’hau ih ’ngan, this is however something better.
- 高大一眼 kau dú‘ ih ’ngan, let it be better and more.