Understanding Interrogative Adjectives in Galician Grammar

The Galician language, an Ibero-Romance language native to the northwest of Spain, is a fascinating and significant part of linguistic history. One key aspect of Galician grammar that we will explore in depth is the role of interrogative adjectives, crucial components in forming questions and inquiries.

Defining Interrogative Adjectives

Interrogative adjectives function as modifiers, adding detail or specificity to nouns in question form. In Galician grammar, interrogative adjectives typically relate to the concepts of which or what, and are used in tandem with a noun to create a question about identification or selection.

Form and Usage of Interrogative Adjectives in Galician

There are two principal interrogative adjectives in the Galician language: cal and que. Each plays a specific role in forming different types of questions.

The Interrogative Adjective Cal

The word cal is used to ask questions about the qualities or characteristics of an object or concept. In this context, it can be translated as which or what in English. It is important to note that cal must agree with the gender and number of the noun it is modifying, adopting four forms as shown in the table below:

Gender/Number	Form
Masculine Singular	cal
Feminine Singular	cala
Masculine Plural	cais
Feminine Plural	calas

Examples of cal in use:

• Cal libro estás lendo? — (Which book are you reading?)
• Calas películas che gustan máis? — (Which movies do you like the most?)

The Interrogative Adjective Que

In contrast, the interrogative adjective que is used to inquire about identity or the nature of an object or concept. It is important to note that que remains invariant, meaning it maintains the same form regardless of the gender or number of the noun it modifies.

Examples of que in use:

• Que cidade é esta? — (What city is this?)
• Que cousas debo facer hoxe? — (What things should I do today?)

Applying Interrogative Adjectives to Form Sentences

When constructing a question using interrogative adjectives, the word order generally follows the structure:

1. Interrogative adjective
2. Noun
3. Verb
4. Subject

For example:

• Cala camisa compraches? — (Which shirt did you buy?)
• Que festa é mañá? — (What party is tomorrow?)

Conclusion

In summary, interrogative adjectives play a critical role in the formation of questions within Galician grammar. Utilizing the appropriate form of either cal or que to modify nouns in questions can facilitate clear communication and understanding.