Comparative and superlative adjectives are used very often both in speech and in writing. And this applies not only to the Russian language. Today we are interested in foreign vocabulary, namely the comparative and superlative degree in English. Nowadays, there is more and more need to communicate on it. In order to speak correctly, and to be understood correctly by the surrounding foreigners, you need to study the rules for the formation of these degrees.

What is an adjective

Before we talk about how the comparative and superlative degrees are formed in English, let's take a quick look at the adjective itself. What is this part of speech? In a nutshell, an adjective is used when we need to describe a certain object, person or process. Answering questions what?, what?, what?, what?, this part of speech helps us not only describe them, but also compare them with each other, and also declare the superiority of one or another object or character.

• We live in this big home for a very long time.
• Old the park looks a lot better early in the morning.
• We are the youngest experts in this area.

The highlighted words clearly show what function the adjective performs in the sentence. This function is a definition. And in this sense there is no difference between Russian and English.

Degrees of comparison: rule

Comparative and superlative adjectives are two of the three forms in which this part of speech can be used. There are three levels of comparison:

• Positive - here the adjective has its initial form, for example: white, fat, tall, good, etc.
• Comparative - this form is used when we want to compare something with something, show the advantage of something over something, for example: better, taller, fatter, smarter, smaller, etc.
• Excellent - we use this option when we want to show that someone or something has the highest degree of quality, for example: the highest, the most expensive, the best, the least, etc.

The choice of the variant of the word also depends on what idea you want to convey to the interlocutor. We will consider all possible rules for the formation of both degrees separately.

comparative

In the grammar of the English language, there are rules by which both comparative and superlative degrees are formed. Exercises to check the understanding of this topic are aimed at ensuring that you correctly form this or that degree with any adjective. First, let's look at the comparative form. In order to form a comparative form from any adjective, you need to follow these rules:

• If the word is one-syllable or two-syllable, but the stress falls on the first syllable, then we add the suffix "er" to it: smart (smart) - smarter (smarter); hard (heavy) - harder (harder).

• If the word has the ending "e", one letter "r" is added to it: large (large) - larger (larger); polite (polite) - politer (more polite).

• If a monosyllabic word ends with a consonant letter preceded by a short vowel, then the last letter doubles when a suffix is ​​added: big (big) - bigger (more); hot (hot) - hotter (hotter).

• If the adjective ends with the letter "y", when a suffix is ​​added, it changes to "i": noisy (noisy) - noisier (more noisy); easy (simple) - easier (easier).

• If an adjective has more than two syllables, no suffix is ​​added to it. We put the comparative adverb “more” before this adjective, which means “more” in Russian: beautiful (beautiful) - more beautiful (more beautiful); interesting (interesting) - more interesting (more interesting).

• If it is necessary to indicate that the quality is lower than that of another object, then instead of the aforementioned word, we take “less”, translated as “less”: beautiful (beautiful) - less beautiful (less beautiful); interesting (interesting) - less interesting (less interesting).

Thus, we can easily form sentences where we want to compare the qualities of different objects.

Superlatives

Comparative degree and superlative degree are very easily formed by Russian-speaking users, since the concept of comparison and superiority is very similar to what we know in Russian. So, for the formation of the last degree, we need to apply concepts such as “most, most / least”. But here there are certain rules that must be followed:

• If the word has one syllable, we add the suffix “est” to such an adjective, while the article “the” will stand before the newly formed word: smart (smart) - the smartest (smartest); hard (heavy) - the hardest (the hardest).

• If there is an “e” ending at the end of the word, we will use only the “st” suffix: large (large) - the largest (largest); polite (polite) - the politest (the most polite).

• If a word ends in a consonant preceded by a short vowel, we double the last letter in the letter. In speech, this does not manifest itself in any way: big (big) - the biggest (largest); hot (hot) - the hottest (hottest).

• If the last place in the word is the letter y, when adding a suffix, we change it to i: noisy (noisy) - the noisiest (noisiest); easy (simple) - the easiest (simplest).

• For long polysyllabic words, there is another way of formation. We put the adverb “the most” before the word, which translates as “the most, the most, the most”: beautiful (beautiful) - the most beautiful (most beautiful); interesting (interesting) - the most interesting (most interesting).

• If it is necessary to indicate that the quality is the lowest, then instead of the word “most”, we take “the least”, translated as “least”: beautiful (beautiful) - the least beautiful (least beautiful); interesting (interesting) - the least interesting (least interesting).

• There are words that have two components. In this case, we also put the indicated adverbs in front of them: easy-going (sociable) - more easy-going (more sociable) - the most easy-going (most sociable); easy-going (sociable) - less easy-going (less sociable) - the least easy-going (least sociable).

Comparative and Superlative: Exception Words

There are words that, despite all existing rules, form degrees in their own way. These words need to be learned by heart. The comparative degree and superlative degree of such words are listed in a separate table.

When using a word consisting of two components, one of which is an exception, it is necessary to use its form: good-looking (beautiful) - better-looking (more beautiful) - the best-looking (most beautiful).

Set phrases

Both the comparative degree and the superlative degree are used in sentences as part of special constructions. Most often these options are:

• The “the… the…” construction. The more I read, the more I know. The more I read, the more I know.
• The “as… as…” construction. He is as tall as his brother. He is as tall as his brother.
• The “not so… as…” construction. She is not so fit as me. She's not as skinny as me.

These are the most common variants of sentences in which we use the mentioned degrees of comparison.

Which acts as the original form: kind - kinder, more / less kind, kindest, kindest, kindest of all.

It expresses the attribute of a given object beyond comparison with the attribute of another object, in relation to the degree of manifestation of the attribute, it is neutral.

comparative

Comparative forms denote:

1. A sign that is manifested in one subject to a greater extent than in another.

• Elbrus above Kazbek.
• This first sound was followed by another, harder and lingering...
• (I. S. Turgenev)
• Further experiments were more complex than the previous ones.
• (Academician I.P. Pavlov)

2. A sign that manifests itself differently in the same object at different times, is contained either to a greater or lesser extent.

• I am now more modest became in desire
• My life or you dreamed of me ...
• (S. A. Yesenin)
• Faith has become more restrained than it was.

Comparative degree can be simple(consist of one word) and composite(composed of two words).

Comparative Degree Education

Qualitative adjectives with suffixes do not have a simple comparative degree - sk -, -ov -, -l -, -n -(they don’t have short forms either!): friendly, massive, bloody, emaciated, etc. This also includes adjectives with the suffix - to - such as fusible, bulky, heavy, separate non-derivative words (flat, dilapidated, proud, sloping) and words denoting animal colors: brown, savrasy, etc.

Superlatives

Superlatives denote:

1. A feature that is manifested in a given subject to the highest degree or more than in all other subjects.

• Elbrus - highest from the mountains of the Caucasus.
• In this group Ivanov - most capable and hardworking student.
• you today the best.

2. The ultimate degree of quality without comparison with other subjects, including as part of set expressions: the kindest soul, the worst enemy.

• Has come the most important stage in your life.
• Everything needs to be figured out smallest details.

Superlative education

Qualitative adjectives with suffixes do not form a simple superlative form - sk -, -n -, -ov -(-ev -), -to -, -ast -, -ist -: native , business , loud , loud , colorful , sprawling , thoroughbred , many words with suffixes - Liv -, -chiv -, -ovate - (-evat -): boisterous, talkative, whitish.

Qualitative adjectives have a non-constant morphological sign of degrees of comparison.

School grammar indicates (see, for example, complex 2) that there are two degrees of comparison - comparative and superlative. It is more correct to single out three degrees of comparison - positive, comparative and excellent. The positive degree of comparison is the original form of the adjective, in relation to which we are aware of other forms as expressing a greater / lesser or greater / lesser degree of attribute.

The comparative degree of the adjective indicates that the attribute manifests itself to a greater / lesser degree in this object compared to another object (Petya is higher than Vasya; This river is deeper than the other) or the same object in other circumstances (Petya is higher than he was last year; The river is deeper here than there).

The comparative degree can be simple and compound.

A simple comparative degree indicates a greater degree of manifestation of a trait and is formed as follows:

the basis of a positive degree + formative suffixes -ee(s), -e, -she/-same (quick-her, higher-e, earlier, deeper).

If there is an element k / ok at the end of the stem of a positive degree, this segment is often truncated: deep - deep.

Some adjectives have suppletive, i.e. formed from a different stem, forms: bad - worse, good - better.

When forming a simple comparative degree, a prefix can be attached to - (newer). A simple comparative degree with a prefix is ​​used if the adjective occupies the position of an inconsistent definition (Give me a newer newspaper) and does not require the introduction into the sentence of what this attribute is being compared with. If the sentence contains both what is being compared and what is being compared with, the prefix adds a colloquial connotation (These shoes are newer than those).

Morphological features of a simple comparative degree are uncharacteristic of an adjective. it

1) immutability,

2) the ability to control a noun,

3) use mainly in the function of the predicate (He is higher than the father). The position of definition can be occupied by a simple comparative degree only in a separate position (Much taller than other students, he seemed almost an adult) or in a non-isolated position with a prefix after a noun (Buy me fresher newspapers).

Composite comparative degree denotes both a greater and a lesser degree of manifestation of a feature and is formed as follows:

element more/less + positive degree (more/less high).

The difference between a composite comparative degree and a simple one is as follows:

1) the composite comparative degree is wider in meaning, since it denotes not only a greater, but also a lesser degree of manifestation of a feature;

2) the composite comparative degree changes in the same way as the positive degree of comparison (initial form), i.e., according to gender, numbers and cases, and can also stand in a short form (more beautiful);

3) a compound comparative degree can be both a predicate and a non-isolated and isolated definition (A less interesting article was presented in this journal. This article is less interesting than the previous one.)

The superlative degree of comparison indicates the largest / smallest degree of manifestation of the attribute (the highest mountain) or the very large / small degree of manifestation of the attribute (the kindest person).

The superlative degree of comparison, like the comparative one, can be simple and compound.

A simple superlative degree of comparison of an adjective denotes the highest degree of manifestation of a feature and is formed as follows:

the basis of a positive degree + formative suffixes -eysh- / -aysh- (after k, g, x, causing alternation): good-eysh-y, high-aysh-y

When forming a simple superlative degree of comparison, the prefix best-: best-kindest can be used.

The morphological features of a simple superlative degree of comparison of adjectives are the same as those of a positive degree, i.e., variability in gender, number, cases, the use of a definition and a predicate in the syntactic function. Unlike the positive degree, the simple superlative adjective does not have a short form.

The compound superlative degree of comparison of adjectives denotes both the greatest and the least degree of manifestation of a feature and is formed in three ways:

1) the element is the most + positive degree (the smartest);

2) element most / least + positive degree (most / least smart);

3) a simple comparative degree + an element of everything / everyone (He was smarter than everyone).

The forms of the compound superlative degree, formed in the first and second ways, have morphological features characteristic of a positive degree, i.e. they change by gender, number and case, can have a short form (the most convenient), act both as a definition and as a nominal part predicate. Compound superlative forms formed in the third way are invariable and act mainly as a nominal part of the predicate.

Not all qualitative adjectives have degrees of comparison, and the absence of simple forms of degrees of comparison is observed more often than the absence of compound forms.

The absence of a simple comparative and superlative degree may be due to

1) with the formal structure of the adjective: if the adjective contains a suffix that matches the suffixes of relative adjectives, it may not have a simple comparative degree (skinny - *skinnier, *skinniest, advanced - *more advanced);

2) with the lexical meaning of the adjective: the value of the degree of manifestation of the attribute can already be expressed in the basis of the adjective - in its root (barefoot - * barefoot) or in the suffix (thick-enn-th - * thicker, evil-yushch-th - * furious, white-oval-th - * whitish, blue-enk-th - * bluer).

Compound forms of degrees of comparison are not formed only for words with a semantic restriction, that is, in the second case. So, there are no forms *more furious, *less whitish, but there are forms less emaciated, more advanced.

Completeness / brevity of adjectives

Qualitative adjectives have a full and a short form

The short form is formed by adding a positive degree of endings to the stem: Ø for the masculine, -a for the feminine, -o / -e for the middle, -ы / -and for the plural (deep-Ø, deep-a, deep-o, deep- and).

A short form is not formed from quality adjectives that

1) have suffixes characteristic of relative adjectives -sk-, -ov-/-ev-, -n-: brown, coffee, fraternal;

2) designate the colors of animals: brown, black;

3) have suffixes of subjective assessment: tall, blue.

The short form has grammatical differences from the full form: it does not change by case, in the sentence it appears mainly as a nominal part of the predicate (cases like the beautiful girl, the white combustible stone are phraseologized archaic); the short form acts as a definition only in a separate syntactic position (Angry at the whole world, he almost stopped leaving the house).

In the position of the predicate, the meaning of the full and short forms usually coincides, but some adjectives may have the following semantic differences between them:

1) the short form denotes an excessive manifestation of a sign with a negative assessment, cf.: the skirt is short - the skirt is short;

2) the short form denotes a temporary symptom, the full one is permanent, cf.: the child is sick - the child is sick.

There are such qualitative adjectives that have only a short form: glad, much, should.

Transition of adjectives from category to category

It is possible for an adjective to have several meanings related to different categories. In school grammar, this is called "the transition of an adjective from category to category." So, a relative adjective can develop a meaning characteristic of qualitative ones (for example: iron part (relative) - iron will (qual.) - metaphorical transfer). Possessives may have meanings that are characteristic of relative and qualitative ones (for example: fox hole (possessive) - fox hat (relative) - fox habits (qualitative). Qualitative adjectives used terminologically function as relative (deaf consonants). In this case, the adjective retains the type of its declension, but often change morphological features: qualitative ones lose their degrees of comparison and short form (for example, you can’t say * This consonant is deaf), while relative ones, on the contrary, can acquire these features (With each word, his voice became more and more honeyed , and habits - more and more fox.).

Adjectives and adverbs in many languages ​​of the world have degrees of comparison. In English these are Positive Degree, Comparative Degree and Superlative degree, in Polish - rywny, wyższy, najwyższy, in French - le positif, le comparatif, le superlatif. The Russian language was no exception, it has a positive, comparative and superlative degree of adjectives. How do they differ and what are their forms?

Degrees of comparison: types, table

The ability to form degrees of comparison is possessed by adjectives and adverbs formed from them.

There are three of them:

• Positive.
• Comparative.
• Excellent.

Each of them expresses a different level of possession of an object or a particular quality.

For example: resourceful boy ( positive), but it can be more resourceful ( comparative), and in a certain life situation, even become the most resourceful ( excellent).

What adjectives form degrees of comparison?

As you know, all adjectives in the Russian language are divided into several categories.

• Qualitative - means signs that an object or a living being can have in different degrees: sweet, sweeter, the sweetest.
• Relative - they call the signs of an object or living being in their relation to circumstances, actions or other persons, things: a telephone call, a wooden building.
• Possessive - testify to the belonging of something to someone: Pushkin's stanza, father's parting words.

Only from the first category can a comparative and superlative degree of adjectives be formed (charming - more charming, the most charming), since one cannot say: “a more wooden building” or “the most Pushkin stanza”.

Adverbs that come from the qualitative category of adjectives can also form degrees of comparison: peppy - peppy (more peppy).

Comparative degree of adjectives in Russian

Before proceeding to consider the comparative degree, it is worth mentioning a little about the positive. This is the name of the initial degree of comparison (boring). In fact, it is considered a degree of comparison only formally. But the next is the comparative degree of the adjective (more boring, more boring). It serves to show that a certain object or person has a given quality in more / less quantity than someone / something else. For example: "This tea is stronger (stronger) than the one we drank yesterday."

Information about comparative forms

In the above example, you can see that the comparative degree in Russian can be formed in the following ways: with the help of suffixes or by adding an additional word (in this example, it is “more”). It turns out that we can distinguish 2 forms of the comparative degree of adjectives in Russian: simple and compound, or, as it is sometimes called, complex.

Ways to form a simple shape

There are several ways to form it.

• With the help of suffixes -ee, -ee, -e, -she added to the base: peppy - more peppy. However, it is worth remembering that if suffixes of the comparative degree of adjectives -e, -she are used, then alternation of consonants at the root of the word may occur, and suffixes -k, -ok, -ek can be completely abolished. For example: narrow - narrower, sonorous - louder.
• Sometimes a simple form can be formed by adding all the same -her, -her, -e, -she, as well as the prefix on-. For example: soon - quickly, quickly - quickly. Adjectives formed in this way, as a rule, are the lot of colloquial speech.
• Sometimes the comparative degree of adjectives in Russian is formed using a different stem of the word: bad - worse.

It is worth remembering that a simple form can not be formed from every quality adjective. It so happened historically that it is simply impossible to form it from some words. For example, from such adjectives as "tall" or "business". After all, you can’t say: “bigger” or “more businesslike”.

Unlike the positive, the simple comparative degree has no ending and does not change. For example, the adjective "light" changes by gender and number: "light", "light", "light", etc. In addition, it is inflected for cases. But the comparative degree of the adjective - "lighter", is unchanged.

In this form, the words, as a rule, perform the syntactic role of the predicate: "Words of love are sweeter than honey", and in some cases - definitions: "Make the jam sweeter."

complex shape

Unlike a simple one, it is formed not with the help of suffixes or prefixes, but by adding the words "more" or "less" to the adjective in a positive degree. For example: "Rembrandt was a more brilliant artist than most of his contemporaries, but he was truly appreciated years after his death."

Adjectives in a complex form decline in cases, change in numbers and, accordingly, in gender, while "more" and "less" remain unchanged. For example: more powerful (powerful, powerful, powerful).

Both in simple form and in compound form, comparative adjectives in a sentence act as predicates or definitions: "Their relationship was closer and more elevated than that of anyone around."

Having considered the information on the comparative degree, it is now worth moving on to the study of the superlative. And it will help not to forget how the comparative degree of adjectives is formed - a table.

It briefly outlines all the information about simple and complex forms and their formation.

Brief information about superlatives of comparison

It serves to demonstrate that a certain object or living being is absolutely superior to any other in a certain quality, which is represented by them in the highest measure.

For example: "The house of the third piglet was the most durable and the wolf could not destroy it."

A little about superlatives

Knowledge of how the simple and complex comparative degree of adjectives is formed will help to deal with this topic. In the case of a superlative degree, both of its forms have similar names: simple and compound (complex) and are formed according to the corresponding principle.

They are formed according to the same principle:

• A simple one is formed by adding the suffixes -eysh, -aysh to the stem: caring - caring. Similarly with the comparative, the superlative can also have the stem suffix -k: low, inferior. A word formed with a simple superlative form declines in cases and changes in numbers and genders. While the comparative degree of an adjective in a simple form is devoid of this property. For example: "light". As mentioned above, in comparative form it is invariably - "lighter". But in the superlative degree - “the brightest”, it can change: “the brightest”, “the brightest”.
• The compound (complex) form is formed by adding the words "most", "least" or "most" ("most", "most", "most") to the adjective in a positive degree. For example: the brightest, the least entertaining, the most funny. In some cases, the comparative degree of the adjective plus the word "all" may also participate in the formation. For example: "This girl completed the task the fastest in the class." As with the compound comparative, the adjective in the superlative changes in the same categories. And the additional words: "most" or "least" remain unchanged: "The wolf ran the shortest way to Grandma's house and got ahead of Little Red Riding Hood." However, "most" also changes: "The wolf ran the shortest way to Grandma's house and got ahead of Little Red Riding Hood."

As for the syntactic role, adjectives in this degree, as a rule, act as predicates: "The most amazing journey." Less often - definitions: "It was a story about an amazing journey." And in a complex form, they most often play the role of definitions: "He was smarter than everyone in school."

Superlatives and Comparatives of Adjectives: Exercises to Consolidate Knowledge

To better remember all the material presented, it is worth practicing by doing a few fairly simple exercises.

By itself, the topic of comparative degrees of adjectives is quite easy. However, in order to avoid mistakes, it is worth remembering the basic rules, especially since in most European languages ​​adjectives also have 3 degrees of comparison. Therefore, having figured out what they are in Russian, you can safely take on the study of the grammar of foreign languages.

Quality adjectiveshave degrees of comparison. They express a greater or lesser degree of quality in a given subject compared to another subject.
For example: (My house is more beautiful than your house). sometimes the comparison takes place within the same object (increase or decrease) in different periods of its development, i.e. at the present moment, compared to its past state.
For example: (Demand for a product has become higher than last year).

Adjectives have two degrees of comparison:
comparative;
excellent.

1.Comparative adjective means that some feature is manifested to a greater or lesser extent in one subject than in another.
For example: I am happier than you. Your briefcase is heavier than mine. My dog ​​is smarter than yours.

The comparative degree is:
A) simple
B) difficult

BUT) Simple comparative degree formed with suffixes:
"her" (s): For example: beautiful - more beautiful, smart - smarter, cold - colder;
"e" (with alternation of the last consonant of the stem or without alternation):
For example: big - more, short - shorter, sweet - sweeter;
"she": For example: old - older, young - younger.
Sometimes, when forming the comparative degree of an adjective, a different root is used.
Good is better, bad is worse, small is less.
Adjectives in the form of a simple comparative degree do not change and do not have endings!

B) Compound Comparative is formed from the full form of the positive degree of the adjective with the help of particles more and less.
Big - more (less) big, beautiful - more (less) beautiful.

2) Superlative adjectives.
The superlative degree shows that some feature is manifested in the given subject to the greatest extent, in comparison with the same feature in other homogeneous subjects.
This is my best game; He is the smartest boy in the class.

Superlatives are:
A) simple
B) difficult
The superlative degree of an adjective can change by gender, number, and case.
(We approached the highest mountains).

BUT) simple superlatives formed with the help of suffixes "eysh", "aysh".
For example: stupidest, deepest, rarest, closest
Sometimes, when forming the superlative degree of an adjective, a different root is used.
For example: Good is the best, bad is the worst.
B) Compound Superlative is formed from the full form of the positive degree of the adjective using the particles most, most and least.
For example: Small - the smallest, the smallest, the least small, smart - the smartest, the smartest, the least smart.

Adjectives in the superlative degree, like the full forms of the positive degree of adjectives, change in gender, number and case.

Publication date: 01/28/2012 17:58 UTC

• Morphological analysis of the adjective in Russian.
• Full and short forms of adjectives. Declension and spelling of case forms of adjectives in Russian.
• The concept of an adjective. Morphological features of adjectives. Classes of adjectives in Russian.