Question 1

What is the root adjective for masivísimo, and how do we attach the ending?

Accepted Answer

The root is masivo (massive). To form this absolute superlative, drop the final vowel (-o) and add the suffix -ísimo. Since it describes the noun exoplaneta, it remains in the masculine singular form.

Question 2

Why does masivísimo have a written accent mark on the second 'i'?

Accepted Answer

Adding the -ísimo suffix always shifts the word's spoken stress to the first 'i' of the suffix. This makes it an esdrújula word (stressed on the third-to-last syllable). In Spanish, all words stressed on the third-to-last syllable must have a written accent mark.

Question 3

Wait, exoplaneta ends in -a. Why do we use un and the masculine adjective masivísimo?

Accepted Answer

Just like its base word planeta, exoplaneta is a masculine noun despite ending in -a. Many Spanish scientific or academic words of Greek origin that end in -ta (like el cometa or el astronauta) are masculine, so they require masculine articles and adjectives.

Question 4

Doesn't quizás trigger the subjunctive? Why is descubriremos in the indicative future tense?

Accepted Answer

Words like quizás and tal vez can actually take either the subjunctive or the indicative! Using the indicative here (descubriremos) shows that the speaker feels quite confident that this discovery will happen. If they wanted to express more doubt, they would use the subjunctive (quizás descubramos).

Quizás descubriremos un exoplaneta masivísimo.

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