What is vishesham?

Vishesham (विशेषण)

Vishesham, also known as an adjective, is a word that describes or modifies a noun (संज्ञा) or pronoun (सर्वनाम). It adds detail and provides more information about the qualities, characteristics, or attributes of the noun or pronoun it modifies. Visheshams enhance clarity and understanding in sentences.

Key aspects of Vishesham:

• Function: Visheshams specify what kind, which one, how many, or what quality of the noun or pronoun is being referred to.
• Types: There are various types of visheshams, including:
  • Guna Vachak Vishesham (गुण वाचक विशेषण): Describe qualities or attributes. For example, "good," "beautiful," "red."
  • Sankhya Vachak Vishesham (संख्या वाचक विशेषण): Indicate number or quantity. For example, "one," "few," "many."
  • Pariman Vachak Vishesham (परिमाण वाचक विशेषण): Express amount or degree. For example, "much," "little," "some."
  • Sarvanamik Vishesham (सार्वनामिक विशेषण): These are pronouns used as adjectives. For example, "this," "that."
• Usage: Visheshams typically appear before the noun they modify. However, they can sometimes follow linking verbs.
• Agreement: In some languages, visheshams may need to agree with the noun they modify in terms of gender, number, and case.
• Examples: In the phrase "a beautiful flower," "beautiful" is the vishesham that describes the flower. Similarly, in " five apples," "five" is the vishesham specifying the number of apples.

Understanding visheshams is crucial for constructing clear, descriptive, and grammatically correct sentences.