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The adjectives you need first

Twenty words in ten pairs — and each pair doubles what you can describe.

Quick answer

Adjectives agree with their noun: большо́й дом, больша́я кварти́ра, большо́е окно́.

Size and quality

большо́йbolshóybig
ма́ленькийmálenkysmall
хоро́шийkhoróshygood
плохо́йplokhóybad
но́выйnóvynew
ста́рыйstáryold

How it feels

краси́выйkrasívybeautiful
интере́сныйinterésnyinteresting
ску́чныйskúshnyboring
тру́дныйtrúdnydifficult
лёгкийlyókhkyeasy, light
ва́жныйvázhnyimportant

Everyday pairs

дорого́йdorogóyexpensive, dear
дешёвыйdeshyóvycheap
бы́стрыйbýstryfast
ме́дленныйmédlennyslow
горя́чийgoryáchyhot
холо́дныйkholódnycold

In use

Э́то о́чень интере́сная кни́га.This is a very interesting book.
У нас ма́ленькая кварти́ра.We have a small flat.
Ру́сский язы́к тру́дный, но интере́сный.Russian is difficult but interesting.

Short forms

Adjectives also have short forms used as predicates: Кни́га интере́сна. In everyday speech the long form is far more common — learn the short ones later.

Typical mistakes

большо́й кварти́ра

больша́я кварти́ра

The adjective takes the gender of the noun.

хоро́шый

хоро́ший

After ш only и is allowed.

Check yourself

___ кварти́ра — a small flat

кварти́ра is feminine: ма́ленькая.

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