Sketch of the Grammar and a Brief Dictionary of Albanian Language [PDF]

Zitiervorschau

Gramatika dhe Fjalor DotLingo Albanian Notes

by Blair Fraser http://dotlingo.blogspot.com

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Contents M¨esimi i p¨ergatitor

1

The Albanian Alphabet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1

Greetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1

Days of the Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2

Colours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2

The Numbers Zero to Ten . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2

Subject Pronouns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3

M¨esimi i par¨e

4

Introductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4

Vocabulary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4

Definite and Indefinite nouns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5

The Numbers 11-29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5

The Present Indicative of the Verb Jam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6

Negation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6

Telling Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6

M¨esimi i dyt¨e

8

Vocabulary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8

Present Indicative of the Regular -j Verbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9

Present Indicative of the Verb Kam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9

More Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9

M¨esimi i tret¨e

11

Vocabulary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

11

Definite form of Masculine Singular Nouns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

12

Definite form of Feminine Singular Nouns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

12

Forms of Regular Plural Nouns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

12

M¨esimi i kat¨ert

14

Vocabulary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii

14

iv

CONTENTS Ordinal Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

15

Possessive Pronouns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

15

Asking Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

16

Forming the Continuous Present with Po . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

16

M¨esimi i pest¨e

17

Vocabulary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

17

The Adjective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

18

Demonstrative Pronouns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19

To Have To and To Want To . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19

The Months of the Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19

M¨esimi i gjasht¨e

21

Vocabulary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

21

Present Conjugations of Five Common Verbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

22

Present Indicative of Verbs of the Second Kind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

23

To Be Going To . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

24

The Possessive (Genitive) Case of the Noun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

24

M¨esimi i shtat¨e

26

Vocabulary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

26

The Forms of the Noun, Part II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

27

Comparisons of Inequality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

28

Comparisons of Equality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

28

The Superlative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

29

Appendix: Supplemental Vocabulary

30

M¨esimi i p¨ergatitor

0.1

The Albanian Alphabet

Albanian is a phonetic language, which makes it much easier to learn from books. The letters don’t change sounds depending on the letters that surround them, as happens in English. The only exception to this rule is the e¨ , which is usually not pronounced, or barely pronounced, if it appears at the end of a word. a b c c¸ d dh e e¨ f g gj h i j k l ll m n nj o p q r rr s sh t th u v z zh y x xh

0.2

like the a in father like the b in bubbles like the ts in cats like the ch in chime like the d in donut like the hard th in the like the first e in letter like the u in chug, (usually silent at the end of a word) like the f in freak like the g in goats like the g in badge like the H in Heinikan like the ee in feet like the y in yes like the c in cart like the l in logical same as l like the m in maybe like the n in nooner like the ny in canyon like the o in orbit like the p in perfect like the ch in chase like the r in rug, but shorter trilled like a Scotsman like the s in super like the sh in shake like the t in tent like the soft th in thin like the oo in moon like the v in van like the z in zebra like the s in measure approximatly like the u in ukulele like the ds in feds! like the j in jar

Greetings

Mir¨em¨engjes. Mir¨edita.

Good morning. Good afternoon.

1

2

M¨esimi i p¨ergatitor Mir¨embrema. Nat¨en e mir¨e. Dit¨en e mir¨e. zoti zonja zonjusha Si jeni? Po ju si jeni? Shum¨e mir¨e. Mir¨e Keq C ¸ ka. Mirupafshim. Tungjatjeta. M¨e falni. ju lutem faleminderit s’ka gj¨e, ju lutem po jo

0.3

Good evening. Good night. Have a nice day. Mr. Mrs. Miss How are you? And how are you? Very well. Good. Bad. So-so. Good bye. See you again. Excuse me. please thank you you’re welcome yes no

Days of the Week

The days of the week are not capatilized in Albanian, and are always preceeded by e. e h¨en¨e e mart¨e e m¨erker¨e e enjte e premte e shtun¨e e diel

0.4

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Colours

Albanian adjectives differ based on the gender of the noun. This will be covered later. Here the masculine form is listed first. i kuq, e kuqe i portokall, e portokalle (i,e) verdh¨e (i,e) gjelb¨er (i,e) blu (i,e) vjollc¨e boj¨e kaf, boj¨e kafe i zi, e zez¨e (i,e) bardh¨e (i,e) gri

0.5 zero

red orange yellow green blue purple brown black white grey

The Numbers Zero to Ten zero

3 nj¨e dy tre kat¨er pes¨e gjasht¨e shtat¨e tet¨e n¨ent¨e dhjet¨e

0.6

one two three four five six seven eight nine ten

Subject Pronouns

The personal pronoun ti is the familiar form of the second person singular. It is used for addressing family, friends or children. When addressing strangers, or people in authority, use the second person plural ju. un¨e ti ai ajo ne ju ata ato

I you he, it she, it we you (pl.) they (masc.) they (fem.)

M¨esimi i par¨e

1.1

Introductions

James: Mir¨em¨engjes profesor Cooper. M¨e quajn¨e James. Zoti Cooper: Mir¨em¨engjes James. Si jeni? James: Shum¨e mir¨e, po ju? Zoti Cooper: Mir¨e falemnderit. James: Si quhet ”car” n¨e shqip? Zoti Cooper: ”Car” quhet Makin¨e. James: Falemnderit. Mirupafshim profesor. Zoti Cooper: Mirupafshim James.

1.2

Vocabulary

Sometime accents are used in Albanian dictionaries to indicate the stressed syllable. These accents are only pronunciation hints and should not be used in written Albanian. sot dit/¨e, -a, -¨e, -¨et (fem.) m¨engjes, -i, -e, -et (fem.) unversitet, -i, -e, -et (masc.) shkoll/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) klas/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) student, -i, -¨e, -¨et student/e, -ja, -e, -et d¨erras/¨e e zez¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) fshir¨es/e, -ja, -a, -at (fem.) shkum¨es, -i, -, -et (masc.) der/¨e, -a, dyer, dyert (fem.) drit´ar/e, -ja, -e, -et (fem.) mur, -i, -e, -et (masc.) or/¨e, -a, -¨e, -¨et (fem.) tavolin/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) karrig/e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) kompjuter, -i, -e, -et (masc.) let/¨er, -ra, -ra, -rat (fem.) laps, -i, -a, -at (masc.) stilolaps, -i, -a, -at (masc.) gom/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) flet´or/e, -ja, -e, -et (fem.) lib/¨er, -ri, -ra, -rat (masc.) provim, -i, -e, -et (masc.) tekst, -i, -e, -et (masc.) bibliotek/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) raft, -i, -e, -et raft librash vull¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) adres/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.)

today day morning university school class student (masc.) student (fem.) chalkboard chalkbrush chalk door window wall clock desk, table chair computer paper, letter pencil pen eraser notebook book exam textbook library shelf bookcase stamp address

4

5 kart/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) num/¨er, -ri, -ra, -rat (masc.) sht¨ep´ı, -a, -, -t¨e (fem.) n¨e n¨e Anglisht edhe, dhe shum¨e apo (i,e) af¨ert (i,e) larg (i,e) leht¨e (i,e) v¨eshtir¨e A flisni ju shqip? Si thuhet (ky, kjo) n¨e... Nuk kuptoj. Nuk marr vesh.

1.3

card number house, home in in English and many, very or close far easy difficult Do you speak Albanian? How do you say this in... I don’t understand.

Definite and Indefinite nouns

In Albanian, the indefinite articles a and some are translated as nj¨e and disa respectively. However, there is no definite article. To create the definite form of a noun, the ending of the noun is modified. In the vocabulary, nouns are listed in the definite and indefinite forms of both the singular and plural. The stem of the noun is the word up to the slash character or to the end of the word if there is no slash. All nouns are listed with their endings in the order: indefinite singular, definite singular, indefinite plural, and definite plural. For example turist/e, -ja, -e, -et lists the four forms of female tourist: nj¨e turiste = a female tourist, turistja = the female tourist, disa turiste = some female tourists, turistet = the female turists. For each noun where the gender is not obvious, the gender is listed with the noun as well. The gender will become important when we learn about adjectives. There are rules for deriving these forms of the noun which will be covered in later lessons. However, the rules are complicated and have many exceptions. Often it is simpler to memorize the four forms as you memorize each noun. turist, -i, -¨e, -¨et turist/e, -ja, -e, -et student, -i, -¨e, -¨et student/e, -ja, -e, -et shqiptar, -i, -¨e, -¨et shqiptar/e, -ja, -e, -et kanadez, -i, -¨e, -¨et kanadez/e, -ja, -e, -et anglez, -i, -¨e, -¨et anglez/e, -ja, -e, -et amerikan, -i, -¨e, -¨et american/e, -ja -e, -et italian, -i, -¨e, -¨et italian/e, -ja, -e, -et francez, -i, -¨e, -¨et francez/e, -ja, -e, -et rus, -i, -¨e, -¨et rus/e, -ja, -e, -et europian, -i, -¨e, -¨et europian/e, -ja, -e, -et

tourist (masc.) tourist (fem.) student (masc.) student (fem.) Albanian (masc.) Albanian (fem.) Canadian (masc.) Canadian (fem.) English (masc.) English (fem.) American (masc.) American (fem.) Italian (masc.) Italian (fem.) French (masc.) French (fem.) Russian (masc.) Russian (fem.) European (masc.) European (fem.)

6

M¨esimi i par¨e

1.4

The Numbers 11-29

nj¨emb¨edhjet¨e dymb¨edhjet¨e tremb¨edhjet¨e kat¨ermb¨edhjet¨e pes¨emb¨edhjet¨e gjasht¨emb¨edhjet¨e shtat¨emb¨edhjet¨e tet¨emb¨edhjet¨e n¨ent¨emb¨edhjet¨e nj¨ezet nj¨ezet e nj¨e nj¨ezet e dy nj¨ezet e tre nj¨ezet e kat¨er nj¨ezet e pes¨e nj¨ezet e gjasht¨e nj¨ezet e shtat¨e nj¨ezet e tet¨e nj¨ezet e n¨ent¨e

1.5

eleven twelve thirteen fourteen fifteen sixteen seventeen eighteen nineteen twenty twenty-one twenty-two twenty-three twenty-four twenty-five twenty-six twenty-seven twenty-eight twenty-nine

The Present Indicative of the Verb Jam

The verb jam is an irregular verb. It’s conjugations should be memorized. The personal pronouns are be used in front of the verb, however, when the subject of the verb is clear, they are often dropped. un¨e jam ti je ai/ajo e¨ sht¨e ne jemi ju jeni ata/ato jan¨e Ai e¨ sht¨e turist. Ata jan¨e turist¨e. Jam kanadez.

1.6

I am you are he/she is we are you are (pl.) they are (masc./fem) He is a (masc.) turist. They are (masc.) turists. I am Canadian.

Negation

To negate a sentance in Albanian, add a nuk or s’ before the verb. For example: Un¨e nuk jam amerikan. Ajo nuk kam libri. Ajo s’kam libri. Nuk jam kanadez.

1.7

She does not have the book. She dosn’t have the book. I am not Canadian.

Telling Time

Sa e¨ sht¨e ora? Ora e¨ sht¨e nj¨e. Ora e¨ sht¨e nj¨e e gjysm¨e. Ora e¨ sht¨e dy e nj¨ezetepes¨e. Ora e¨ sht¨e nj¨emb¨edhjet¨e e dyzet.

What time is it? It’s one. It’s one thirty. It’s two twenty-five. It’s eleven forty.

7 ¨ e von¨e (her¨et). Esht¨ Pas nj¨e ore.

It’s late (early). In one hour.

M¨esimi i dyt¨e

2.1

Vocabulary

bisedoj blej kuptoj m¨esoj ndihmoj punoj shkoj shoq¨eroj n¨e n¨e apo nga tani sot m¨e vone m¨e her¨et mengjes -i -e -et (masc.) mesdit¨e mesnat¨e pasdit/e -ja -e -et (fem.) mbr¨emj/e -a -e -et (fem.) nat/¨e -a net net¨et (fem.) nes¨er m¨engjes, -i, -e, -et (masc.) drek/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) dark/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) prind, -e, -¨er, -¨erit (masc.) n¨en/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) at/¨e, -i, e´ t¨er, e´ t¨erit (masc.) bi/r, -ri, -j, -jt¨e (masc.) bij/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) gru/a, -ja, gra, grat¨e (fem.) burr/¨e, -i, -a, -at (masc.) v¨ella, -i, v¨ellez¨er, v¨ellez¨erit (masc.) mot/¨er, -ra, -ra, -rat (fem.) burr/¨e, -i, -a, -at (masc.) gru/a, -ja, gra, grat¨e (fem.) qen, -i, -, -t¨e (masc.) mac/e, -ja, -e, -et (fem.) (i,e) gjat¨e (i,e) skurt¨er (i,e) bukur (i,e) sh¨emtuar (i,e) holl¨e (i,e) dhjamur (i,e) shtrenjt¨e (i,e) lir¨e

to talk to buy to understand to learn to help to work to go to accompany at in or from now today later earlier morning midday midnight afternoon evening night tomorrow breakfast lunch dinner parent mother father son daughter wife husband brother sister man woman dog cat tall short pretty, handsome ugly thin fat expensive cheap

8

9 (i,e) lumtur (i,e) mir¨e i keq, e keqe i zeshkan, e zeshkane i biond, e bionde i kok¨ekuq, e kok¨ekuqe i k¨endsh¨em, e k¨endsh¨eme shum¨e Kuptoj (pak) shqip. M¨esoj c¸do dit¨e. Po ky zot¨eria kush e¨ sht¨e? Po kjo zonjusha kush e¨ sht¨e? Ky/Kjo e¨ sht¨e ... G¨ezohem q¨e u njoh¨em. G¨ezohem gjithashtu. M¨e falni.

2.2

happy good bad brunette blonde red-headed nice very I understand (a little) Albanian. I study every day. And this gentleman, who is he? And this young woman, who is she? This is (masc./fem.) ... Pleasure to meet you. The pleasure is mine. (Lit. I am pleased also.) I beg your pardon.

Present Indicative of the Regular -j Verbs

The present indicative is used to translate expressions of action in the present tense. For example, I write, I am writing, or I do write. To form the present indicative, the -j is removed from the root of the verb and the following endings are added. un¨e b¨ej ti b¨en ai/ajo b¨en ne b¨ejm¨e ju b¨eni ata/ato b¨ejn¨e un¨e shkruaj ti shkruan ai/ajo shkruan ne shkruajm¨e ju shkruani ata/ato shkruajn¨e

2.3

I do you do he/she/it does we do you (pl.) do they does I write you write he/she/it writes we write you (pl.) write they write

Present Indicative of the Verb Kam

The verb kam means to have. It is an irregular verb, but it can be easily remembered by taking note of how similar it’s conjugation is to that of the verb jam, with the exception of the third person singular. un¨e kam ti ke ai/ajo ka ne kemi ju keni ata/ato kan¨e

2.4

I have you have he/she/it has we have you (pl.) have they have

More Numbers

tridhjet¨e tridhjet¨e e nj¨e

thirty thirty-one

10 tridhjet¨e e dy dyzet dyzet e tre pes¨edhjet¨e pes¨edhjet¨e e kat¨er gjasht¨edhjet¨e gjasht¨edhjet¨e e pes¨e shatat¨edhjet¨e shatat¨edhjet¨e e gjasht tet¨edhjet¨e n¨ent¨edhjet¨e nj¨eqind nj¨eqind e nj¨e dyqind n¨ent¨eqind nj¨emij¨e nj¨emij¨e e nj¨e

M¨esimi i dyt¨e thirty-two forty fourty-three fifty fifty-four sixty sixty-five seventy seventy-six eighty ninety one hundred one hundred and one two hundred nine hundred one thousand one thousand and one

M¨esimi i tret¨e

3.1

Vocabulary

studioj visitoj pranoj vall¨ezoj festoj gatuaj bisedoj d¨eshiroj m¨esoj kam nevoj¨e p¨er... d¨egjoj besoj arrij p¨erkthej paguaj udh¨etoj zot¨eroj makin/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) vall/e, -ja, -e, -et (fem.) kaf/e, -ja, -e, -et (fem.) mens/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) rrug/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) qend/¨er, -ra, -ra, -rat (fem.) djal/¨e, -i, djem, djemt¨e (masc.) vajz/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) kinem´a, -ja, -, -t¨e (fem.) mbr¨emj/e, -a, -e, -et (fem.) hotel, -i, -e, -et (masc.) drit/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) vend, -i, -e, -et (masc.) profesor, -i, -¨e, -¨et teat/¨er, -ri, -ra, -rat (masc.) pushim, -i, -e, -et (masc.) gjuh/¨e, -, -¨e, -¨et (fem.) lul/e, -ja, -e, -et (fem.) (i,e) vjet¨er (i,e) zgjuar i interesant, e interestante i madh¨eshtor, e madh¨eshtore i ri, e re disa sonte k¨etu me m¨e shum¨e m¨e pak vertet?

to study to visit to accept to dance to celebrate to cook to chat, to converse to desire, to want to teach, to learn to need..., to have need for... to listen to believe to arrive to translate to pay to travel to own, to manage car dance coffee cafeteria street downtown boy girl movie-theatre party hotel light country professor (masc.) theatre vacation, break language flower old intelligent interesting magnificant new a few tonight here with more less really?

11

12

3.2

M¨esimi i tret¨e

Definite form of Masculine Singular Nouns

Many masculine nouns add a -i or -u to the stem when creating the singular definite form. a student = nj¨e student the student = studenti The -i form is more often used, but if the stem ends in a k, g, h or a stressed i or e, then the -u form is used. Keep this rule in mind, but also remember that many nouns are irregular. The complete set of rules for creating the definite form are complicated and will be covered in their entirety in later lessons. anglezi zogu m¨engjesi m¨esuesi muri parku fshati kamarieri krahu mali peshku

3.3

the englishman the bird the morning the teacher the wall the park the village (fshat) the waiter (kamarier) the arm (krah) the mountain (mal) the fish (peshk)

Definite form of Feminine Singular Nouns

Many feminine nouns use a -a or -ja appended to the stem to create the singular definite form. a (female) friend = nj¨e shoqe the (female) friend = shoqja If the indefinite form ends in a -¨e, then the -a ending is often used. If the indefinite form ends in a -e then the ending -ja is often used. Again, many feminine nouns are irregular, in later lessons, more rules will help sort out the complicated mess. dita nata kanadezja drita rruga vallja lulja dera fytyra koha gjuha

3.4

the day the night the (female) Canadian the light the street the dance flower the door (der/¨e) the face (fytyr/¨e) the time, the occasion (koh/¨e) the language (gjuh/¨e)

Forms of Regular Plural Nouns

Plural forms of the regular indefinite, for both masculine and feminine nouns, are formed by appending a -¨e or -e to the noun stem. The plural forms of the regular definite, for both masculine and feminine nouns, are formed by appending a -t or sometimes a t¨e to the indefinite plural form. nj¨e kanadez, disa kanadez¨e

a (masc.) Canadian, some (masc.) Canadians

13 nj¨e kanadeze, disa kanadeze nj¨e student, disa student¨e nj¨e studente, disa studente nj¨e mbr¨emje, disa mbr¨emje (fem.) nj¨e mengjes, disa mengjese (masc.) kanadez¨et kanadezet student¨et studentet mbr¨emjet mengjeset

a (fem.) Canadian, some (fem.) Canadians a (masc.) student, some (masc.) students a (fem.) student, some (fem.) students an evening, evenings a morning, some mornings the (masc.) Canadians the (fem.) Canadians the (masc.) students the (fem.) students the evenings the mornings

M¨esimi i kat¨ert

4.1

Vocabulary

S’e di. besoj un¨e (nuk) duhet t¨e + verb un¨e (nuk) dua t¨e + verb telefonoj deklaroj pranoj k¨erkoj marr pun¨esim zanat, -i, -e, -et (masc.) birr/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) post/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) nd¨ertes/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) specialitet, -i, -e, -et (masc.) firm/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) fotografi, -a, -, -t¨e (fem.) qeveri, -a, -, -t¨e (fem.) majtas djathtas mal, -i, -e, -et (masc.) bot/¨e, -a, -¨e, -¨et tjet¨er plazh, -i, -e, -et (masc.) bakshish, -i, -e, -et (masc.) katund, -i, -e, -et (masc.) telefon, -i, -a, -at (masc.) televizor, -i, -¨e, -¨et (masc.) pun/¨e, -a, -¨e, -¨et (fem.) tren, -i, -a, -at (masc.) ver/¨e, -a (fem.) (i,e) shk¨elqyer (i,e) famsh¨em n¨e p¨ergjith¨esi falas (i,e) z¨en¨e (i,e) vog¨el (i,e) madh (i,e) p¨erkryer (i,e) pasur ¨ e i keq (e keqe). Esht¨ sepse gjithmon¨e pa Ikim! nganj¨eher¨e nd¨ers´a

I don’t know. believe I (don’t) have to + verb I (don’t) want to + verb to call (on the phone) to declare to receive to solicit to take (irreg.) occupation profession beer mail building specialty signature photo government left right mountain world other beach top village telephone television job train wine excellent famous generally free (of cost) busy small big perfect rich It’s a pity. because always without Let’s go! sometimes while

14

15 nes¨er dje dit¨e pushimi dit¨e pun¨e jav/¨e, -a, -¨e -¨et (fem.) muaj, -i, -, -t (masc.) vit, -i, -e, -et (masc.) Kush? C ¸ far¨e? C ¸ ’? Kur? Ku? Pse? Si?

4.2

tomorrow yesterday holiday workday week month year Who? What? What? (short for c¸far¨e?) When? Where? Why? How?

Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal numbers are adjectives. You will see adjectives in the next lesson. However, as a preview, adjectives are usually preceeded by either a i or a e. The i form is used when the adjective modifies masculine nouns, and the e form is used when it modifies feminine nouns. The definite form can be formed by relacing the final -¨e with a -i or an -a for masculine and feminine nouns respectively. (i,e) par¨e (i,e) dyt¨e (i,e) tret¨e (i,e) kat¨ert (i,e) pest¨e (i,e) gjasht¨e (i,e) shtat¨e (i,e) tet¨e (i,e) n¨ent¨e (i,e) djet¨e (i,e) nj¨emb¨edhjet¨e (i,e) dymb¨edhjet¨e (i,e) nj¨ezet i pari, e para i dyti, e dyta i treti, e treta

4.3

first second third fourth fifth sixth seventh eighth ninth tenth eleventh twelfth twentieth the first (masc.)fem the second (masc.)fem the third (masc.)fem

Possessive Pronouns

Possesive prounouns function as adjectives to denote ownership. The form of the possesive pronoun changes based on the gender and number of the noun representing the owned object. The use of the possesive pronouns will be demonstrated with examples using the masculine noun lib¨er and the feminine noun birr¨e. Just to refresh your memory: libri = the book librat = the books birra = the beer birrat = the beers libri im, librat e mi birra ime, birrat e mia libri yt, librat e tu

my book, my books my beer, my beers your book, your books

16

M¨esimi i kat¨ert

birra jote, birrat e tua libri i tij, librat e tij birra e tij, birrat e tij libri e saj, librat e saj birra e saj, birrat e saj libri yn¨e, librat tan¨e birra jon¨e, birrat tona libri juaj, librat tuaj birra juaj, birrat tuaja libri i tyre, librat e tyre birra e tyre, birrat e tyre

4.4

your beer, your beers his book, his books his beer, his beers her book, her books her beer, her beers our book, our books our beer, our beers your (pl.) book, your (pl.) books your (pl.) beer, your (pl.) beers their book, their books their beer, their beers

Asking Questions

Questions can be formed by placing the subject after the verb. Many questions of the form Is ... ? use A ...? in Albanian with the subject after the verb. Of course many questions are formed using the interrogative pronouns Kush...?, C ¸ far¨e...?, Ku...?, Kur...?, Pse...?. C ¸ far¨e b¨en ti? Ku e¨ sht¨e topi im? Kush e¨ sht¨e ai? A ke ti librin? Kur e¨ sht¨e shkolla?

4.5

What are you doing? Where is my ball? Who is he? Do you have the book? Where is the school?

Forming the Continuous Present with Po

The continuous present is used to express actions that are in the process of happening now. For example, I am eating. You are cleaning. What are you doing. In Albanian, the continuous present is formed with the help of the word po. When po is added before the verb, it changes the meaning of the verb from the present to the continuous present. C ¸ far¨e po b¨en Beni? Ku po shkoni? Po shkruaj nj¨e let¨er.

What is Beni doing? Where are you going? I am writing a letter.

M¨esimi i pest¨e

5.1

Vocabulary

tregoj plot¨esoj k¨erkoj b¨ej pyetje mbaroj provoj beb/e -ka -e -et (fem.) djal/¨e, -i, djem, djemt¨e (masc.) vajz/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) agjent, -i, -¨e -¨et aparat, -i, -e, -et (masc.) aparat fotografik qutet, -i, -e, -et (masc.) kryeqytet klim/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) kopsht, -i, -e, -et (masc.) klub, -i, -e, -et (masc.) ushqim, -i, -e, -et (masc.) dokument, -i, -e, -et (masc.) taksi, -a, -, -t¨e (masc.) mot, -i, -e, -et (masc.) udh¨etim, -i, -e, -et (masc.) jet/¨e, -a (fem.) apartament, -i, -e, -et (masc.) bank/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) kompan´ı, -a, -, -t¨e (fem.) mosh/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) stacion, -i, -e, -et (masc.) let¨ernjoftim, -i, -e, -et (masc.) list/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) let¨ersi, -a, -, -t¨e vend, -i, -e, -et (masc.) c¸el¨es, -i, -a, -at (masc.) em/¨er, -ri, -ra, -rat (masc.) flok, -u, -¨e, -¨et (masc.) divan, -i, -e, -et (masc.) tok/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) peshqir, -e, -¨e, -¨et (masc.) kostum, -i, -e, -et (masc.) en/¨e, -a, -¨e, -¨et (fem.) pirun, -i, -¨e, -¨et (masc.) thik/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) lug/¨e, -a, -¨e, -¨et (fem.) got/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) pjat/¨e, -a, -a, -at uj/¨e, -i, -¨era, -¨erat (masc.) buk/¨e, -a, -¨e, -¨et (fem.)

to tell, to say to fill out to request to ask a question to finish to try baby boy girl agent aparatus camera city capital city climate garden club food document taxi weather trip life apartment bank company age station ID card, passport list literature place key name hair sofa earth towel suit utensil fork knife spoon glass plate water bread

17

18

M¨esimi i pest¨e

shkret¨etir/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) c¸aj, -i (masc.) rrush, -i (masc.) i activ, e active i m¨erzitsh¨em, e m¨erzitshme (i,e) ngopur i nevojsh¨em, e nevojshme i privat, e private sigurisht rishtas p¨er m¨e tep¨er Ua! ngjitur mbi gjithashtu

5.2

desert tea grape active boring filled, stuffed necessary private surely recently furthermore Golly! next to over also, too

The Adjective

Adjectives are placed after the noun the modify, and they agree with the noun in number and gender. Adjectives are often pluralized by changing the ending -¨e to a -a, or changing the ending -¨e+(consonant) to (consonant)+a. This change usually happens only in the feminine plural forms. As usual, there are many irregular adjectives and exceptions to the rules. Most adjectives are preceeded by a connective article. This connective article is important, and should be considered as part of the word, which is why we have been including it in the vocabulary. The connective article for singular masculine nouns, both in the definite and indefinite form is i. For feminine singular nouns, both the definite and indefinite forms use the connective article e. In the plural form, t¨e is used for indefinite plural nouns and e is used for definite plural nouns. nj¨e lib¨er i gjelb¨er nj¨e lule e gjelb¨er libri i gjelb¨er lulja e gjelb¨er disa libra t¨e gjelb¨er disa lule t¨e gjelbra librat e gjelb¨er lulet e gjelbra nj¨e lib¨er i verdh¨e nj¨e lule e verdh¨e libri i verdh¨e lulja e verdh¨e disa libra t¨e verdh¨e disa lule t¨e verdha librat e verdh¨e lulet e verdha nj¨e djal¨e i vog¨el nj¨e vajz¨e e vog¨el djali i vog¨el vajza e vog¨el disa djem t¨e vegj¨el disa vajza t¨e vogla djemt¨e e vegj¨el vajzat e vogla nj¨e djal¨e i ri nj¨e vajz¨e e re djali i ri vajza e re disa djem t¨e re

a green book a green flower the green book the green flower some green books some green books the green books the green flowers a yellow book a yellow flower the yellow book the yellow flower some yellow books some yellow flowers the yellow books the yellow flowers a small boy a small girl the small boy the small girl some small boys some small girls the small boys the small girls a small boy a small girl the small boy the small girl some small boys

19 disa vajza t¨e ri djemt¨e e ri vajzat e reja

5.3

some small girls the small boys the small girls

Demonstrative Pronouns

The demonstrative pronouns can be used to replace regular nouns for things that are nearby or far away. You have to choose the correct demonstrative pronoun based on the gender and number of the noun it replaces. ky kjo ai ajo k¨eta k¨eto ata ato ky student kjo studente ky k¨etu kjo k¨etu k¨eta k¨etu k¨eto k¨etu ai atje ajo atje ata atje ato atje

5.4

this (masc. sing.) this (fem. sing.) that (masc. sing.) that (fem. sing.) these (masc. pl.) these (fem. pl.) those (masc. pl.) those (fem. pl.) this student (masc.) this student (fem.) this one (masc.) this one (fem.) these ones (masc.) these ones (fem.) that one (masc.) that one (fem.) those ones (masc.) those ones (fem.)

To Have To and To Want To

The construction to have to + verb can be formed by preceeding the verb with duhet t¨e. The verb is conjugated slightly differently for the second and third persons singular when used in this form. Listed is the forms for the regular -oj verbs. The construction to want to + verb is formed by preceeding the verb with the cojugated form of d¨eshiroj t¨e. Again, when used this way the verb is conjugated slightly differently with the forms for the regular -oj verbs listed. un¨e duhet t¨e shkoj ti duhet t¨e shkosh aj/ajo duhet t¨e shkoj n¨e duhet t¨e shkojm¨e ju duhet t¨e shkoni ata/ato duhet t¨e shkojn¨e un¨e d¨eshiroj t¨e shkoj ti d¨eshiron t¨e shkosh aj/ajo d¨eshiron t¨e shkoj n¨e d¨eshirojm¨e t¨e shkojm¨e ju d¨eshironi t¨e shkoni ata/ato d¨eshirojn¨e t¨e shkojn¨e

5.5 janar

I have to go you have to go he/she has to go we have to go you (pl.) have to go they have to go I want to go you want to go he/she wants to go we want to go you (pl.) want to go they want to go

The Months of the Year January

20 shkurt mars prill maj qershor korrik gusht shtator tetor n¨entor djetor

M¨esimi i pest¨e Febuary March April May June July August September October November December

M¨esimi i gjasht¨e

6.1

Vocabulary

muze, -u, -, -t¨e (masc.) piktur/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) teat/¨er, -ri, -ra, -rat (masc.) loj/¨e, -a, -¨era -¨erat (fem.) lum/¨e, -i, -enj, -enjt¨e (masc.) ur/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) nd¨ertes/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) qend/¨er, -ra, -ra, -rat (fem.) rr¨enim, -i, -e, -et (masc.) plazh, -i, -e, -et (masc.) det, -i, -e, -et (masc.) oqean, -iu, -e, -et (masc.) liqen, -i, -e, -et (masc.) mal, -i, -e, -et (masc.) kinema, -ja, -, -t¨e (fem.) film, -i, -a, -at (masc.) hotel, -i, -e, -et (masc.) dhome njeshe dhome dyshe par/e, -ja, -, -et (fem.) spital, -i, -e, -et (masc.) stacion, -i, -e, -et (masc.) stacion autobusi stacion treni aeroport, -, -e, -et (masc.) taksi, -a, -, -t¨e (fem.) metro, -ja, -, -t¨e (fem.) reklam/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) zbatim, -i, -e, -et (masc.), aplikim (masc.) revist/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) c¸e/k, -ku, -qe, -qet (masc.) c¸ek i udh¨etuesit kart krediti valixh/e, -ja, -e, -et (fem.) bagazh, -i, -e, -et (masc.) (i,e) shtrenjt¨e (i,e) lir¨e sport, -i, -e, -et (masc.) ekip, -i, -e, -et (masc.) skuad¨er futbolli rrug¨e e gjer¨e qosh/e, -ja, -e, -et (fem.) qoshe rruge bllok qyteti semafor, -i, -¨e, -¨et (masc.) af¨er larg

museum painting theatre play river bridge building downtown, center ruins beach sea ocean lake mountain cinema, movie theatre movie hotel single room double room money hospital station bus station train station airport taxi subway advertisement application magazine cheque traveller’s cheque credit card suitcase luggage expensive cheap sport team football (soccer) team avenue corner street corner city block street light close to far from

21

22

M¨esimi i gjasht¨e

(i,e) djatht¨e (i,e) majt¨e djathtas majtas perball¨e ngjitur me (i,e) rrethuar nga nd¨er, midis mesnat¨e (fem.) mesdit¨e (fem.) thek buk¨e filloj, nis d¨egjoj udh¨etoj ndjek drejtoj praktikoj shoh, shikoj kaloj koh¨en Ku ke lindur? dita e par¨e g¨ezohem sonte at¨eher¨e secili, secila akoma kurrgj¨e, asgj¨e gjithc¸ka gjithashtu deri, derisa, gjersa m¨e von¨e, pastaj pun¨etor dembel/dembele (i,e) lumtur jo i lumtur/jo e lumtur (i,e) nj¨ejt¨e kurr¨e, asnj¨eher¨e si pasoj¨e bazuar n¨e, sipas n¨e qoft¨e se

6.2

right left on the right on the left across from next to surrounded by among midnight midday, noon to toast, to break bread to begin, to start to listen to travel to attend to drive to practice to see to spend time Where were you born? the first day charmed tonight then, in that case each still nothing everything also until later hardworking lazy happy unhappy same never therefore according to if

Present Conjugations of Five Common Verbs

un¨e them ti thua ai/ajo thot¨e ne themi ju thoni ata/ato thuajn¨e un¨e shoh ti sheh ai/ajo sheh ne shohim ju shihni ata/ato shohin un¨e marr ti merr

I say you say he/she says we say you (pl.)/you (fam.) say they say I see you see he/she sees we see you (pl.)/you (fam.) see they see I receive you receive

23 ai/ajo merr ne marrim ju merrni ata/ato marrin un¨e pi ti pi ai/ajo pi ne pim¨e ju pini ata/ato pin¨e un¨e ha ti ha ai/ajo ha ne ham¨e ju hani ata/ato han¨e

6.3

he/she receives we receive you (pl.)/you (fam.) receive they receive I drink you drink he/she drinks we drink you (pl.), you (form.) drink they drink I eat you eat he/she eats we eat you (pl.), you (form.) eat they eat

Present Indicative of Verbs of the Second Kind

Verbs that end in a consonant comprise the second group of verbs in Albanian. Examples are: jap = to give, hap = to open, vendos = to put, and mbyll = to close. The endings for the Present Indicative of regular verbs of the second kind are given below. The present indicative of many verbs in Albanian have the same endings as verbs of the second kind, but have stem charges as well. Some examples of those verbs are given above (shoh, marr) others are pres and p¨ers¨eris, in which the final s changes to a t in the second and third person singular. un¨e jap ti jap ai/ajo jap ne japim ju japni ata/ato japin un¨e vendos ti vendos ai/ajo vendos ne vendosim ju vendosni ata/ato vendosin un¨e hap ti hap ai/ajo hap ne hapim ju hapni ata/ato hapin un¨e mbyll ti mbyll ai/ajo mbyll ne mbyllim ju mbyllni ata/ato mbyllin un¨e p¨ers¨eris ti p¨ers¨erit ai/ajo p¨ers¨erit ne p¨ers¨erisim ju p¨ers¨erisni ata/ato p¨ers¨erisin

I give you give he/she gives we give you (pl.)/you (fam.) give they give I put you put he/she puts we put you (pl.), you (form.) put they put I open you open he/she opens we open you (pl.)/you (fam.) open they open I close you close he/she closes we close you (pl.)/you (fam.) close they close I repeat you repeat he/she repeats we repeat you (pl.)/you (fam.) repeat they repeat

24

M¨esimi i gjasht¨e

un¨e pres ti pret ai/ajo pret ne presim ju presni ata/ato presin

6.4

I wait you wait he/she wait we wait you (pl.)/you (fam.) wait they wait

To Be Going To

Albanian has a very similar expression to the English construction to be going to. It is the simplest way of expressing future action as it only requires that do t¨e be placed in front of the verb. Do t¨e shkoj ... Do t¨e shkojm¨e ... Do t¨e blejn¨e ... Ju do t¨e merrni Do t¨e shikoj ... Ajo do t¨e ka ...

6.5

I’m going to go ... We’re going to go ... They are going to buy ... You (pl.) are going to take ... I’m going to watch ... She’s going to have ...

The Possessive (Genitive) Case of the Noun

Albanian, unlike English, has several conjugations of the noun. The Genitive case of the noun is analogous to the English possessive case, it is used to denote the possessor of an object or the performer of an action. John’s car Diana’s sister The form of the genitive case depends both on the gender of the owner, and the object that is owned. The general form is object that is owned + connective article + genitive case of owner. For masculine owners, the genitive is formed by an -it or -ut to the indefinite form of the noun, usually depending on whether the definite form of the noun ends in a i or u. For feminine owners, the genitive case is formed by adding -s or -s¨e, usually depending on whether the indefinite noun ends e¨ or not. For plural nouns, the genitive case is formed by adding -ve to the noun, irregardless of gender. The connective article depends on the gender of the object that is owned, i if masculine, e if feminine, and e if plural of either gender. libri i Agimit v¨ellai i Gjergjit motra e Agimit dhoma e muzeut kafazi i zogut libri i El¨es vendi i kinemas¨e burri i gruas¨e motra e El¨es revista e vajz¨es kafja e profesoresh¨es libri e shokve librat e shokve motra e shokve motrat e shokve libri e shoqeve librat e shoqeve motra e shoqeve

Agim’s book George’s brother Agim’s sister the museum’s room the bird’s cage Ela’s book the cinema’s seat the woman’s husband Ela’s sister the girl’s magazine the (fem.) professor’s coffee the friends’ book the friends’ books the friends’ sister the friends’ sisters the friends’ book the friends’ books the friends’ sister

25 motrat e shoqeve kafazi e zogjve dhomat e muzeve

the friends’ sisters the birds’ cage the museums’ rooms

M¨esimi i shtat¨e

7.1

Vocabulary

turiz¨em, -i, -¨e, -¨et (masc.) pushim, -i, -e, -et (masc.) udh¨etim, -i, -e, -et (masc.) aeroport, -i, -e, -et (masc.) fluturim, -i, -e, -et (masc.) bilet/¨e, -a, -, -at (fem.) bilet¨e p¨er nj¨e rrug¨e bilet¨e p¨er dy rrug¨e reservim (masc.) karriga af¨er koridorit karriga af¨er dritarit vones¨e (fem.) dhome¨e (fem.) c¸el¨es (masc.) ashensor (masc.) sapun (masc.) sh¨erbim dhome peshqir (masc.) m¨e bamje nga ... kartolin¨e (fem.) zyr¨e (fem.) zyra e turismet pasaport¨e (fem.) dogan¨e (fem.) ambasad¨e (fem.) infomacion (masc.) inspektor inspektore regjistroj vend (masc.) vende interesante q¨elloj buthje (fem.) e v¨erteta (fem.) gati bashk¨e (i,e) gjat¨e Sa e¨ sht¨e k¨embini list pritje kamera (fem.) dic¸ka ndonj¨e gj¨e para, p¨erpara se asgj¨e tjet¨er p¨er rreth e rrotull anulloj

tourism vacation trip airport flight ticket (for a plane, bus, etc.) one way ticket return ticket reservation aisle seat window seat delay room key elevator soap room service towel overlooking, with a view of ... postcard office office of tourism passport customs embassy information inspector (masc.) inspector (fem.) to register place places of interest to happen, to take place kiss truth ready together long What is the exchange rate. waiting list video camera something anything before nothing more per, for around here to cancel

26

27 pohoj, konfirmoj kam dic¸ka p¨er t¨e deklaruar kaloj koh¨en kaloj pranoj blej deklaroj firmos arrij, mb¨errij tregoj marr sh¨enoj l¨e pas paguaj kushtoj b¨ej pyetje imi/imja, timi/timja

7.2

to confirm to have something to declare to spend time to pass by to accept to buy to declare to sign to arrive to show to take to write down, to note to leave behind to pay to cost to ask a question mine

The Forms of the Noun, Part II

As mentioned before, the rules for creating the definite singular, indefinite and definite plural forms of the noun are complicated. The rules that follow serve as a good guide for creating these forms, however, as with any language, there are exceptions to watch out for. Some regular nouns and exceptions are included in the examples here. If the noun is masculine and ends with ... ... a consonant, but not a -k, -g, -h, -¨er or -¨el: bir, -i, -e, -et. ... an -¨e: djath/¨e, -i, -enj, -enjte. ... -a (but not -ua): xhaxh/a, -ai, -ez¨er -ez¨erit. ... -ua: kru/a, -i, -nj, -njt¨e. ... -¨er: lib/¨er, -ri, -ra, -rat. ... -¨el: cik/¨el, -li, -la, -lat. ... -k: shok, -u, -¨e, -¨et. ... -g: zo/g, -gu, -gje, -gjet. ... -h: krah, -u, -¨e, -¨et. ... -´e or -´a: dhe, -u, -ra, -rat. ... -´ı: ari, -u, -nj, -njt¨e. ... an accent on the last vowel: gj´u, -ri, -nj, -njt¨e. There are many exceptions within this class. If the noun denotes a person or type of person: optim´ıst, -i, -¨e, -¨et If the noun is feminine and ends with ... ... -¨e: pun/¨e, -a, -a, -at. ... -e or -o: dritar/e, -ja, -e, -et. ... a stressed vowel: sht¨ep´ı, -a, -, -t¨e. ... a consonant, but not -¨el or -¨er: kumbull, -a, -a, -at. ... -¨el: veg/¨el, -la, -la, -lat. ... -¨er or -r¨e: qend/¨er, -ra, -ra, rat. ... -ua: gr/ua, -uaja, -a, -at¨e. If the noun denotes a person or type of person: optim´ıste, -ja, -e, -et stacion, -i, -e, -et (masc.) njoft´ım, -i, -e, -et (masc.) pjep¨er (masc.) perimet¨er (masc.) num/¨er, -ri, -ra, -rat (masc.) sem´est/¨er, -ri, -rat (masc.) c¸irak, -u, -¨e, -¨et (masc.) njerk, -u, -¨e, -¨et (masc.) tre/g, -gu, -gje, -gjet (masc.)

station notice, information cantaloupe circumference number semester apprentice stepfather market

28

M¨esimi i shtat¨e

var/g, -gu, -gje, -gjet (masc.) c¸ilim´ı, -u, -nj, -njt¨e (masc.) statuj/¨e, -a, -a, -at stuf/¨e, -a, -a, -at pr´esj/e, -a, -e, -et (fem.) rr´okj/e, -a, -e, -et (fem.) energj´ı, -a, -, -t¨e (fem.) histor´ı, -a, -, -t¨e (fem.) v´etull, -a, -a, -at (fem.) kukull, -a, -a, -at (fem.) qershig¨el (fem.) xhung/¨el, -la, -la, -lat (fem.) bo/r¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) lak/¨er, -ra, -ra, -rat (fem.) c¸ikl´ıst, -i, -¨e, -¨et (masc.) c¸ikl´ıste, -ja, -e, -et (fem.) novel´ıst, -i, -¨e, -¨et (masc.) novel´ıst, -ja -e, -et (fem.) b¨erryl, -i, -a, -at (masc.) c¸el´ı/k, -ku, -qe, -qet (masc.) h´ua, -ja, -, -t (fem.) sy, -ri, -, -t¨e (masc.) ngj´ıt¨es, -i, -, -it (masc.) vend¨es, -i, -, -it (masc.) prind, -i, -¨er, -¨erit (masc.) semaf´or, -i, -¨e, -¨et (masc.)

7.3

string child statue stove comma syllable energy history eye-brow doll, pupet blueberry jungle snow cabbage cyclist (masc.) cyclist (fem.) novelist (masc.) novelist (fem.) elbow steel loan eye glue native parent stoplight

Comparisons of Inequality

Using an adjective, we can make a comparison of inequality by using the form m¨e + (i,e) + (adjective) + sesa = more + (adjective) + than. To make a similar comparison using adverbs use m¨e + (adverb) + sesa = more + (adverb) + than To compare quantities of a noun use m¨e shum¨e/pak + (noun) + sesa = more/less + (noun) + than m¨e (i,e) mir¨e m¨e (i,e) keq m¨e (i,e) gjate Jam m¨e i gjate sesa Marini. Vallezoj m¨e mir¨e sesa Marini. Kam m¨e shum¨e pare sesa Marini.

7.4

better worse taller I am taller than Marin. I dance better than Marin. I have more money than Marin.

Comparisons of Equality

To make comparisons of equality, use the forms aq + (i,e) + (adjective) + sesa = as + (adjective) + as aq + (adjective) + sesa = as + (adverb) + as aq + (noun) + sesa = as much + (noun) + as ¨ e aq mir¨e sesa ... Esht¨ Ai e¨ sht¨e aq i gjate sesa ajo.

It’s as good as He’s as tall as her.

29 Ajo meson aq shpejt sesa ai. Kam aq pare sesa Marini.

7.5

She learns as quickly as him. I have as much money as Marin.

The Superlative

The superlative is the form of the adjective used to express the tallest, the best, the worst, etc. To form the superlative in Albanian, the adjective is preceeded by m¨e (i,e) and the superlative form of the noun is used. The choice of (i,e) depends on the gender of the object described. The superlative form of the adjective usually only requires the adjective end in -i or -a depending again on the gender of the object. If the adjective ends in a -¨e, remove it before adding the -i or -a. m¨e + (i/e) + (superlative form of adjective) + ... m¨e i miri m¨e i gjati m¨e e gjata m¨e shum¨e + (noun) + sesa t¨e gjith¨e

the most + (adjective) + ... best (masc.) tallest (masc.) tallest (fem.) more + (noun) + than anyone

Appendix: Supplemental Vocabulary

A.1

The Weather

weather climate sun sky clear cloud cloudy cold cool warm hot air wind dry humid fog foggy drop raindrop ice freeze frozen hurricane storm shade dark moon full moon half moon new moon rainbow snow to snow hail to hail rain to rain lightning to lightning thunder to thunder How is the weather? How do you like the weather? It’s cold. It’s cool. It’s nice. It’s hot.

mot, -i, ie, -et (masc.) klim/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) die/ll, -lli (masc.) qie/ll, -lli, -j, -jt (masc.) i tejduksh¨em, e tejdukshme re, -ja, -, -t¨e me re (i,e) ftoht¨e (i,e) fresk¨et (i,e) ngroht¨e (i,e) nxeht¨e aj/¨er, -ri (masc.) er/¨e, -a, -¨era, -¨erat (fem.) (i,e) that¨e (i,e) lag¨esht mjegull/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) me mjegull/¨e pik/¨e, -a, -a, -at pik¨e shiu aku/ll, -lli, -j, -jt (masc.) ngrij (i,e) ngrir¨e tufan, -i, -¨e, -¨et (masc.) stuh´ı, -a, -a, -at (fem.) hij/e, -a, -e, -et (fem.) (i,e) err¨et h¨en/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) h¨en¨e e plot¨e h¨en¨e e h¨en¨e e re ylber, -i, -¨e, -¨et (masc.) bor/¨e, -a, -¨era, -¨erat (masc.) bie d¨ebor¨e bresh/¨er, -ri (masc.) bie bresh¨er shi, -u, -ra, -rat (masc.) bie shi vetetim/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) shkrept vetetim¨e bubullim/¨e, -a, -a, -at (fem.) bubullij Si e¨ sht¨e mot? A t¨e pelqen klima? ¨ e ftoft¨e. Esht¨ ¨ e fresk¨et. Esht¨ ¨ e mir¨e. Esht¨ ¨ e nxeht¨e. Esht¨

30

31 It’s humid. It’s a sunny day. It’s windy. It’s cloudy. It’s raining. It’s snowing.

¨ e lag¨esht. Esht¨ ¨ e dit¨e me diell. Esht¨ Ka er¨e. Ka re. Bie shi. Bie d¨ebor¨e.