Rule for determining of Polish adjectives?

spell of bliss

13 Oct 2006 / #1

can sum1 explain 2 me the rule for determining whether or not an adjective is supposed to follow or precede a noun?

Kowalski 7 | 621

13 Oct 2006 / #2

procede - in most cases

OP spell of bliss

13 Oct 2006 / #3

ok seems like it. but y is it after in zwiadek radziecki? or stany zjednoczone? or uniwersytet jagellonski? or bitwa stalingradzka etc.?

plg 17 | 262

13 Oct 2006 / #4

dzien dobry also . you have the noun first

OP spell of bliss

13 Oct 2006 / #5

thats true. but y? wat is the reason?

plg 17 | 262

13 Oct 2006 / #6

im not sure . ? but i'll find out for you ok

cjjc 29 | 407

19 Mar 2009 / #7

Hey plg,

This guy is still waiting ;)

I am too now...

:)

gumishu

19 Mar 2009 / #8

if you are to describe something (a quality) then it's mostly in front of the noun

postposition is when there's a new distinct notion (name) created with the adjective added
(often the case in science) - biały orzeł is different to orzeł biały
Biały orzeł is simply some white eagle.
Orzeł biały - is the (official) name of Polish national symbol.

Przedni orzeł - would be some excellent eagle
Orzeł przedni - is a name of a species (as in Latin Aquila sth ;)

but
pyszny obiad - delicious lunch
and obiad pyszny would make sense only if it were obiad 'Pyszny' - a name of some specific course (or lunch set) (there is no such thing to my knowlegde tho)

zjedonoczone stany are some states that are united (especially not considered as some specific entity)

Stany Zjednoczone - is an entity (isn't it)

tho there were some other Stany Zjednoczone before (Estados Unidos do Brasil for instance) - but then these were also entities

Stany Zjednoczone Brazylii - name of a federal state
zjednoczone stany Brazylii - those states of Brasil that are united (when there are some out of the agreement)