Kazakh, the official language of Kazakhstan, is a Turkic language with its unique grammatical structures and vocabulary. One of the essential components of understanding and mastering Kazakh is grasping the use of adverbs of degree. These adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, providing additional information about the intensity or extent of the action or quality they describe. In this article, we will explore the different types of Kazakh adverbs of degree, their modification, and how to use them effectively in sentences.
What Are Adverbs of Degree?
Adverbs of degree are words that provide information about the intensity, degree, or level of an action, adjective, or another adverb. They answer questions such as “how much?”, “to what extent?”, and “how?” In English, common adverbs of degree include words like “very,” “quite,” “too,” “almost,” and “enough.” Similarly, Kazakh has its own set of adverbs of degree that perform the same function.
Basic Kazakh Adverbs of Degree
Here are some common Kazakh adverbs of degree with their English translations:
– өте (öte) – very
– тым (tym) – too
– өте көп (öte köp) – very much
– аз (az) – little, few
– сәл (säl) – slightly
– мүлдем (müldem) – absolutely, entirely
– жеткілікті (jetkilikti) – enough
– шамалы (shamaly) – somewhat
– анағұрлым (anagurlım) – much more
These adverbs are used to modify adjectives, verbs, or other adverbs to give more precise information about the degree or intensity of the quality or action.
Using Adverbs of Degree with Adjectives
When adverbs of degree modify adjectives, they typically precede the adjective they modify. Here are some examples:
– Ол өте ақылды. (Ol öte aqyldy.) – He/She is very smart.
– Бұл тым қиын. (Bul tym qiyn.) – This is too difficult.
– Ол сәл шаршаған. (Ol säl sharshagan.) – He/She is slightly tired.
– Үй жеткілікті үлкен. (Üy jetkilikti ülken.) – The house is big enough.
In these examples, the adverbs of degree “өте,” “тым,” “сәл,” and “жеткілікті” modify the adjectives “ақылды,” “қиын,” “шаршаған,” and “үлкен,” respectively.
Using Adverbs of Degree with Verbs
When adverbs of degree modify verbs, they typically come before the verb in the sentence. Here are some examples:
– Ол өте жақсы оқиды. (Ol öte jaqsy oqidı.) – He/She reads very well.
– Олар тым көп сөйлейді. (Olar tym köp söyleydi.) – They talk too much.
– Мен сәл күтемін. (Men säl kütemin.) – I wait a little.
– Ол мүлдем білмейді. (Ol müldem bilmeydi.) – He/She doesn’t know at all.
In these sentences, the adverbs of degree “өте,” “тым,” “сәл,” and “мүлдем” modify the verbs “оқиды,” “сөйлейді,” “күтемін,” and “білмейді,” respectively.
Using Adverbs of Degree with Other Adverbs
Adverbs of degree can also modify other adverbs to provide more information about the extent or intensity of the action described by the main adverb. Here are some examples:
– Ол өте тез жүгірді. (Ol öte tez jügirdi.) – He/She ran very quickly.
– Олар тым баяу жүрді. (Olar tym bayau jurdi.) – They walked too slowly.
– Біз сәл ертерек келдік. (Biz säl erterek keldik.) – We came a bit earlier.
– Ол мүлдем дұрыс жасады. (Ol müldem durys jasady.) – He/She did it absolutely correctly.
In these examples, the adverbs of degree “өте,” “тым,” “сәл,” and “мүлдем” modify the adverbs “тез,” “баяу,” “ертерек,” and “дұрыс,” respectively.
Comparative and Superlative Forms
Kazakh also uses adverbs of degree to form comparative and superlative structures. The comparative form is used to compare the intensity or degree of two actions or qualities, while the superlative form is used to express the highest degree of intensity or extent among three or more actions or qualities.
Comparative Form
To form the comparative degree in Kazakh, you can use the adverb “анағұрлым” (anagurlım) or “көбірек” (köbirek) before the adjective or adverb. Here are some examples:
– Ол анағұрлым жақсы оқиды. (Ol anagurlım jaqsy oqidı.) – He/She reads much better.
– Бұл көбірек қиын. (Bul köbirek qiyn.) – This is more difficult.
In these examples, “анағұрлым” and “көбірек” modify the adjectives “жақсы” and “қиын” to indicate a higher degree of the qualities they describe.
Superlative Form
To form the superlative degree, you can use the adverb “ең” (eñ) before the adjective or adverb. Here are some examples:
– Ол ең жақсы оқушы. (Ol eñ jaqsy oqushy.) – He/She is the best student.
– Бұл ең қиын тапсырма. (Bul eñ qiyn tapsyrma.) – This is the most difficult task.
In these sentences, the adverb “ең” is used to express the highest degree of the qualities described by the adjectives “жақсы” and “қиын.”
Intensifiers and Downtoners
Kazakh adverbs of degree can also function as intensifiers or downtoners. Intensifiers increase the intensity or degree of the action or quality, while downtoners decrease it.
Intensifiers
Some common intensifiers in Kazakh include:
– өте (öte) – very
– тым (tym) – too
– мүлдем (müldem) – absolutely
Examples:
– Ол өте ақылды. (Ol öte aqyldy.) – He/She is very smart.
– Бұл тым қиын. (Bul tym qiyn.) – This is too difficult.
– Ол мүлдем дұрыс жасады. (Ol müldem durys jasady.) – He/She did it absolutely correctly.
Downtoners
Some common downtoners in Kazakh include:
– сәл (säl) – slightly
– аз (az) – little, few
– шамалы (shamaly) – somewhat
Examples:
– Ол сәл шаршаған. (Ol säl sharshagan.) – He/She is slightly tired.
– Мен аз күтемін. (Men az kütemin.) – I wait a little.
– Бұл шамалы қиын. (Bul shamaly qiyn.) – This is somewhat difficult.
Common Mistakes and Tips
When learning to use Kazakh adverbs of degree, language learners often make some common mistakes. Here are a few tips to avoid these pitfalls:
1. **Word Order**: Remember that adverbs of degree typically precede the adjectives, verbs, or other adverbs they modify. Ensure you place them correctly in the sentence.
2. **Context**: Pay attention to the context in which the adverb of degree is used. Some adverbs may have different meanings depending on the context. For example, “аз” can mean “little” or “few,” so consider the surrounding words to determine the appropriate meaning.
3. **Overuse**: Avoid overusing adverbs of degree in your sentences. While they can add emphasis and precision, using too many can make your sentences sound unnatural. Use them judiciously to enhance your communication.
4. **Practice**: Practice using adverbs of degree in different sentences to become more comfortable with their usage. Try creating sentences with various adverbs of degree to see how they modify the meaning.
Conclusion
Understanding and using Kazakh adverbs of degree is essential for mastering the language and communicating effectively. These adverbs provide valuable information about the intensity, degree, or extent of actions and qualities, allowing you to express yourself more precisely. By learning the basic adverbs of degree, their modification, and usage in sentences, you can enhance your Kazakh language skills and become a more confident speaker. Practice regularly, pay attention to context, and avoid common mistakes to make the most of these valuable linguistic tools.
