Adjunktivet

Adjunktivet is a term used in Scandinavian grammatical traditions to denote the definite form of the noun adjektiv, i.e., the adjective. In Swedish, Norwegian (Bokmål) and Danish grammar, adjektivet refers both to the word class of adjectives and to the specific adjective when it is used in its definite form. The term appears in grammars and dictionaries that discuss adjectives as a distinct part of speech.

In ordinary use, adjectives describe properties of nouns, such as color, size, or quality. When adjectives are treated as linguistic units, grammarians may refer to adjektivet as the adjective category or as an individual adjective in its definite form. The definite form is used with definite nouns or determiners and can appear in phrases like the Swedish den röda bilen, the Norwegian den røde bilen, and the Danish den røde bil. These forms illustrate how the adjective data inflects to mark definiteness in each language.

Morphology and cross-language notes: Adjektivet, as a noun, is employed in linguistic discussions to distinguish the adjective from other parts of speech. The precise inflection of adjectives for gender, number, and definiteness varies among Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish, but the general pattern is to mark the adjective when the noun is definite. In practice, adjektivet is often linked to the noun it describes and agrees with it in grammatically relevant features.

Etymology and related terms: The term adjektiv comes from Latin adjectivus, via Old French adjectif, and entered Scandinavian grammars through historical language contact. See also adjektiv, adjektivitet, and grammatical terminology for adjectives in the respective languages.