Zmenný

Zmenný is a term used in the context of Czech grammar to describe adjectives that change their form based on the gender and case of the noun they modify. In Czech, adjectives are divided into two main groups: zmenný (variable) and nezmenný (invariant). Zmenný adjectives have different forms for each gender and case, while nezmenný adjectives have only one form that remains the same regardless of the noun's gender and case.

The zmenný adjectives are further classified into two types: hard (tvrdý) and soft (měkký). Hard adjectives end in a consonant, while soft adjectives end in a vowel or a vowel followed by a consonant. This distinction is important because the declension of nouns in Czech is influenced by whether they are hard or soft.

Examples of zmenný adjectives include words like "velký" (big), "malý" (small), and "starý" (old). For instance, the adjective "velký" changes its form depending on the gender and case of the noun it modifies. For a masculine noun in the nominative case, it would be "velký," but for a feminine noun in the nominative case, it would be "velká."

Understanding the concept of zmenný adjectives is crucial for speakers and learners of Czech, as it affects the agreement between adjectives and nouns, which is a fundamental aspect of Czech grammar.