Degrees of Adjectives: Very, Quite
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'shat' to mean 'very' and 'bavakan' to mean 'quite' before your adjective to change its intensity.
- Place 'shat' before the adjective to increase intensity: 'shat geghetsik' (very beautiful).
- Place 'bavakan' before the adjective to indicate a moderate level: 'bavakan lav' (quite good).
- These words do not change based on the gender or number of the noun.
Intensifier Placement
| Intensifier | Adjective | Resulting Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
|
shat
|
lav
|
shat lav
|
very good
|
|
shat
|
mec
|
shat mec
|
very big
|
|
bavakan
|
dzhvar
|
bavakan dzhvar
|
quite difficult
|
|
bavakanin
|
erkar
|
bavakanin erkar
|
quite long
|
|
shat
|
urax
|
shat urax
|
very happy
|
|
bavakan
|
maqur
|
bavakan maqur
|
quite clean
|
Meanings
These words function as degree adverbs that modify adjectives to express the intensity of a quality.
High intensity
Used to emphasize a high degree of a quality.
“Shat mec tun”
“Shat arag meqena”
Moderate intensity
Used to indicate a sufficient or moderate degree.
“Bavakan dzhvar xndir”
“Bavakanin erkar tchanaparh”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
shat + Adj
|
Shat lav e
|
|
Affirmative
|
bavakan + Adj
|
Bavakan lav e
|
|
Negative
|
shat + Adj + che
|
Shat lav che
|
|
Negative
|
bavakan + Adj + che
|
Bavakan lav che
|
|
Question
|
shat + Adj + e?
|
Shat lav e?
|
|
Question
|
bavakan + Adj + e?
|
Bavakan lav e?
|
|
Short Answer
|
Shat
|
Shat
|
|
Short Answer
|
Bavakan
|
Bavakan
|
Formalitätsspektrum
Filmy shat lavn e. (Talking about a movie)
Filmy shat lav e. (Talking about a movie)
Filmy shat lav er. (Talking about a movie)
Filmy shat lavna! (Talking about a movie)
Intensifier Map
High Intensity
- shat very
Moderate Intensity
- bavakan quite
Intensity Scale
Beispiele nach Niveau
Ays tuny shat mec e.
This house is very big.
Ays girk'y bavakan lav e.
This book is quite good.
Eghanaky shat taq e.
The weather is very hot.
Dasery bavakanin dzhvar en.
The lessons are quite difficult.
Nra meqenan shat arag e.
His car is very fast.
Ays tchashy bavakan hamov e.
This meal is quite tasty.
Menq shat urax enq.
We are very happy.
Ays xndiry bavakanin parz e.
This problem is quite simple.
Nra patmutyuny shat hetaqrqir er.
His story was very interesting.
Ays ashxatanqy bavakanin hognetsucich e.
This work is quite tiring.
Shat vat lur staca.
I received very bad news.
Ays koshiknery bavakanin harmar en.
These shoes are quite comfortable.
Ays cragiry shat ardyunavet e.
This program is very effective.
Ir vitchaky bavakanin kayun e.
His situation is quite stable.
Shat karevor voroshum kayacrecinq.
We made a very important decision.
Ays motecumy bavakanin norarar e.
This approach is quite innovative.
Nra eluyty shat tpavorich er.
His speech was very impressive.
Ays iravitchaky bavakanin bard e.
This situation is quite complex.
Shat xorimast xosqer asac.
He said very profound words.
Ays metodnery bavakanin ardyunavet en.
These methods are quite effective.
Ays gitakan ashxatanqy shat himnavor e.
This scientific work is very well-founded.
Nra nkaragrutyan mej bavakanin manramasnutyun ka.
There is quite a lot of detail in his description.
Shat vtangavor iravitchakum haytnvecinq.
We found ourselves in a very dangerous situation.
Ays orinachaputyuny bavakanin aknhayt e.
This pattern is quite obvious.
Leicht verwechselbar
Learners often use 'shat' for everything.
Learners try to modify verbs with these.
Learners think they are different words.
Häufige Fehler
lav shat
shat lav
shati lav
shat lav
bavakanin lav e
bavakan lav e
shat-i mec
shat mec
shat-er lav
shat lav
bavakanin-i
bavakanin
shat-a lav
shat lav
shat-ov lav
shat lav
bavakan-ner
bavakan
shat-ic
shat
shat-i-n
shat
bavakan-i-n-er
bavakanin
Satzmuster
Ays ___ shat ___ e.
Ays ___ bavakan ___ e.
Shat ___ lur staca.
Ays motecumy bavakanin ___ e.
Real World Usage
Shat geghetsik nkar e!
Shat lav!
Ays ashxatanqy bavakanin dzhvar e.
Hyuranocy shat maqur e.
Tchashy bavakan hamov er.
Ays metodnery bavakanin ardyunavet en.
Keep it simple
Placement matters
Use 'bavakanin'
Emphasis
Smart Tips
Use 'shat' to show enthusiasm.
Use 'bavakan' to be precise.
Use 'bavakanin' for a professional tone.
Default to 'shat' as it is safer.
Aussprache
Shat
The 'sh' is a soft sound, similar to 'ship'.
Bavakan
The 'v' is a standard labiodental fricative.
Emphasis
SHAT lav!
High pitch on the intensifier for emphasis.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Think of 'Shat' as 'Shot' of energy (very strong) and 'Bavakan' as 'Bav' (enough) for a moderate amount.
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a thermometer. 'Shat' is at the very top (red), 'Bavakan' is in the middle (yellow).
Rhyme
Shat is very, Bavakan is quite, use them right and you'll be bright.
Story
Armen was very (shat) hungry, so he ate a lot. He was quite (bavakan) full after the meal. He felt very (shat) happy.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Describe three things in your room using 'shat' and three using 'bavakan' in 5 minutes.
Kulturelle Hinweise
These intensifiers are standard and used universally in Armenia.
Usage is similar, though some vocabulary choices for adjectives might differ.
Often influenced by the host country's language structure, but 'shat' remains the primary intensifier.
These are native Armenian roots.
Gesprächseinstiege
Aysor eghanaky shat taq e, che?
Ays tchashy bavakan hamov e, aynpes che?
Dzer ashxatanqy shat dzhvar e?
Ays nor cragiry bavakanin hetaqrqir e, che?
Tagebuch-Impulse
Häufige Fehler
Test Yourself
Ays tuny ___ mec e.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Mec shat e.
Shat lav e.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
A: Eghanaky ___ taq e. B: Ayo, shat taq e.
e / shat / mec / tuny
Add 'shat' to 'urax'.
Score: /8
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercisesAys tuny ___ mec e.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Mec shat e.
Shat lav e.
Match: shat, bavakan
A: Eghanaky ___ taq e. B: Ayo, shat taq e.
e / shat / mec / tuny
Add 'shat' to 'urax'.
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
No, 'shat' modifies adjectives. Use 'shat' with verbs only if it means 'a lot' (e.g., 'shat em utum' - I eat a lot).
Yes, they are interchangeable variants.
No, they are invariant.
No, that would be redundant.
Yes, they are standard in all registers.
Use 'chaphazanc' instead of 'shat'.
It is the most common intensifier in Armenian.
Yes, 'shat vat' (very bad).
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
very / quite
English intensifiers are more numerous.
sehr / ziemlich
German intensifiers can sometimes inflect.
très / assez
French word order is strictly fixed.
totemo / kanari
Japanese intensifiers are adverbs that can sometimes be used with verbs.
jiddan / lil-ghaya
Word order is the main difference.
hen / bijiao
Chinese 'hen' is often used even when 'very' isn't emphasized.
