Przymiotnic

Przymiotnic is a term that may appear in linguistic discussions as a nonstandard or historical label for a word category that behaves like an adjective in syntax but does not always belong to the conventional class of adjectives in a language. In standard Polish grammar, the closest and most widely used terms are przymiotnik (the part of speech) and przymiotniczny or przymiotnikowy (adjectival). When the word przymiotnic is used, it is typically described as relating to adjectives in a broad sense, sometimes including adjectives formed from nouns (denominal adjectives) or participial adjectives derived from verbs.

In Polish, adjectives are a distinct part of speech that inflect for gender, number, and case to agree with the nouns they modify. They can express qualities such as color, size, or state, and they can appear in attributive position before a noun or as predicates after linking verbs. Adjectives can also form degrees of comparison (positive, comparative, superlative). Denominal adjectives, which are derived from nouns, are a common source of adjectival material.

The term przymiotnic is not standard in formal grammar references. When encountered, it should be treated with caution, and the more precise terms przymiotnik or przymiotniczny should be used to avoid ambiguity. Its usage is typically limited to historical or typological discussions rather than contemporary Polish grammar education.

See also: przymiotnik, przymiotniczny, denominal adjective, participle, adjective.