Russian grammar - The short form adjectives велик and мал |
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There are no short forms for the adjectives большой (big, many) and маленький (small, few). Instead use short forms of великий (great) and малый (small): • великий ⇒ велик (masc. singular); велика (fem. singular); велико (neu. singular); велики (all plurals) -- This should be used with caution - if not having the sense of 'too big' for clothing etc., it can mean 'great' rather than size. • малый ⇒ мал (masc. singular); мала (fem. singular); мало (neu. singular); малы (all plurals) Recall that short forms adjectives are exclusively predicative so they must follow a verb (including the absent Russian present tense 'to be'). |
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Куртка слишком велика.
The jacket is too large.
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Его горе велико.
His sorrow is great.
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Эти туфли малы.
These shoes are too small.
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Марина ещё слишком мала.
Marina is still too small.
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Ты ещё слишком мал.
You (informal) are still too small (young).
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Этот город не мал.
This city is not small.
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Площадь очень мала.
The square is very small.
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Эти ещё недостаточно велики.
These are not yet big enough.
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Велосипед слишком велик.
The bike is too big.
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