Positive degree of comparison of adjectives in Russian. Degrees of comparison of adjectives

The adjective is the very part of speech without which our language cannot exist. And the point here is not only the need to impart imagery. Without adjectives, even banal specification of objects is impossible. If we don't know exact signs of this or that object, we cannot imagine it and, therefore, we can hardly predict what actions we can perform in relation to this object.

We all understand that objects cannot be the same. One of them is larger, the second is smaller, the third is heavier, and the fourth is generally darker in color. So how can we describe something that differs from other objects in its characteristics? How to highlight this difference? This is precisely why the comparative degree is needed and superlative comparisons of adjectives. Let's try to figure out what it is.

And for what?

As mentioned above, comparative is needed in order to identify an object by comparing it with another object. Usually, one of the objects is initially named so that a person can imagine what he will have to compare with, and only then the characteristics of the new object relative to the original are listed, so that, by comparing, we can get an idea of what is still unknown to us.

Comparatives and superlatives are indeed necessary in education to help the learner better understand the nature of the subject, which of course helps in successful learning. At the same time, our everyday speech would have become much more meager if it had not contained these very comparisons - then in a number of situations we simply could not express our thoughts! Forming comparatives, superlatives and adverbs (which will be discussed later) is not at all difficult. The main thing is to be able to apply them correctly.

What do we form from?

First of all, you need to understand that the comparative and superlative degrees of adjectives are a phenomenon characteristic only of qualitative parts of speech. for example, which indicate that an object belongs to someone, cannot form something similar: the ball, for example, cannot be more Tanin than Sasha, and the tail cannot be more fox than wolf. The same can be said about a table that is more wooden than a chair? Nonsense!

So be sure to remember that only the comparative degree and the superlative degree are available.

Comparative - synthetics

Let's start with the comparative degree of the adjective. First, you need to understand that it can be simple and compound, that is, it is formed either with the help of special suffixes, or by adding certain words that emphasize the difference between objects. A simple degree, also called synthetic, as mentioned above, is formed with the help of formative suffixes that are added to. The choice of suffix depends on what sound this very base ends with. For most consonant sounds (except for a few exceptions, which will be discussed below), the suffixes -ee- and -ee- are suitable: light - lighter, hot - hot and so on.

The suffix -e- is used in the following cases:

When the adjective ends in g, x, d, t (expensive - more expensive, dry - drier, rich - richer, young - younger). By the way, here, as you have already noticed, there is an alternation of the consonant sound at the root of the word, which is also an important point.
When an adjective ends with the suffix -k- (high - above, low - below).
In exceptional cases, which, unfortunately, do not lend themselves to any logic (cheap is cheaper).

And the last group of suffixes -she- and -zhe- are also used in isolated cases, more as exceptions (thin - thinner, deep - deeper).

In addition, it is impossible not to mention that there is a certain number of words in which, even when forming the comparative and superlative forms, the root itself changes (good - BETTER, bad - WORSE).

Everyday speech allows the addition of the prefix -po- to an adjective that is already in the comparative degree in order to slightly soften this difference (light - LIGHTER - LIGHTER, dear - more expensive - MORE expensive). In a sentence, this form of the adjective is most often part of a compound nominal predicate. Moreover, it does not change by gender, number and case.

Comparative - analytics

Let's move on to the compound-analytic form of the comparative degree of the adjective. Here everything is much simpler: the words “more” and “less” are used before the adjective (risky - more risky, educated - less educated). In a sentence, the analytical form fully corresponds to the functions of an ordinary adjective.

Excellent - synthetic

The superlative degree of comparison demonstrates, as the name implies, the absolute superiority of some characteristic, highest degree its manifestations. It also has synthetic (simple) and analytical (compound) forms.

“Synthetics” is formed using a series of suffixes -eysh-, -aysh-, -sh- (simple - simplest, quiet - quietest). In addition, the literary style allows the use of the prefix -nay-, which is added to the adjective in the comparative degree (small - the smallest, simple - the simplest). Here there is already a change in gender, number and cases, in contrast to the comparative degree.

Excellent - analytics

With the compound form everything is as simple as with the comparative degree. Here the words “most”, “most/least” are usually added, which are inherent in most book style(MOST successful, LEAST rational, MOST simple), and “all/all” in combination with an adjective in the comparative degree, which are used in colloquial speech(smarter than EVERYONE, more interesting than EVERYONE).

Degrees of comparison of adverbs

Now let's move on to another part of speech - an adverb. Its necessity and usefulness are undeniable. Basically, they have a lot in common. Comparative and superlative degrees of adverbs are usually much smaller and much lighter compared to adjectives.

Firstly, it should be noted that degrees of comparison are formed only by adverbs ending in -о,-е, which are based on qualitative adjectives(simple, quiet, deep).

Secondly, we still have the same two forms: comparative and superlative, with the division in the first case into simple and composite. To form a simple comparative degree, the suffixes -ee-, -ey-, -e- and -she- are used, added to the adverb without this characteristic -o, e: simply - simpler, funny - funnier. Whereas a compound form is created using already famous words“more/less” and the original form of the adverb - LESS loud, MORE free. With the superlative degree of the adverb it is even much simpler: there is no synthetic form here, and the analytical form is formed by adding a short “all” to the comparative degree of the adverb (quietly - quieter - quieter than ALL, boldly - bolder - bolder than ALL).

Let's summarize

We studied comparative and superlative degrees. A table that will help summarize and repeat all the above material is presented below.

Adjective
	Synthetic	Analytical	Synthetic	Analytical
Comparative	Suffixes: her, her, e, k, she, zhe Prefix: by (bolder, more expensive)	more/less Adjective (more daring, less expensive)	Suffixes: her, her, e, she (quieter, faster)	more/less (louder)
Excellent	Suffixes: eish, aish, sh Prefix: nai Comparative synthetic (brave, best)	most, all/all, most/least Adjective (the bravest, the most expensive)		Comparative synthetic (more beautiful than everyone)

Conclusion

The comparative degree and the superlative degree are, in principle, an elementary topic. Here it is enough to know a few suffixes to successfully perform numerous grammatical exercises. By the way, this feature of adjectives and adverbs is characteristic of many languages. Here, for example, is English: comparative and superlative degrees in this language are formed by adding either a suffix to monosyllabic words or intensifying words to polysyllabic ones. Everything here is even simpler than here! If you wish, you can master this rule without difficulty. Practice, practice and more practice!

Degrees of adjectives comparison - Degrees of comparison of adjectives

Adjectives in English do not change by number or case, they change by degrees of comparison. This applies to qualitative adjectives. Relative adjectives do not have degrees of comparison (about qualitative and relative adjectives - see the material "").

There are three degrees of comparison of qualitative adjectives in English:

1. Positive. An adjective in its usual form.
big big
2. Comparative. Shows that one object has bo? higher degree of quality than the other. Often used with the preposition than.
bigger
3. Superlative. Indicates that the object has the highest degree of quality.
the biggest

Rules for the formation of degrees of comparison

1. The comparative degree is formed by adding to the base of the word suffix -er[?r]. Superlative - suffix -est [?st]. A few nuances:
A. In adjectives with one syllable, the last letter is doubled.
hot - hotter - the hottest hot - hotter - the hottest
b. If the last letter of the adjective is -y, and there is a consonant before it, then it is replaced with -i; if it is a vowel, then -y remains unchanged.
busy - busier - the busiest
gray - grayer - the grayest gray - grayer - the grayest
V. If the last letter in an adjective is silent -e (that is, not pronounced), then when written it is omitted and merged with -e in the comparative or superlative suffix.
cute - cuter - the cutest
2. If an adjective has two or more syllables, then in the comparative degree more is used before it, and in the superlative degree - the most:
beautiful - more beautiful - the most beautiful beautiful - more beautiful - the most beautiful/most beautiful
3. There are a number two-syllable adjectives, which can change according to both the first rule and the second:
able
angry angry
clever
common common
cruel
frequent
friendly friendly
gentle
handsome
narrow narrow
pleasant
polite polite
quiet
serious serious
simple
sour sour
4. Exceptional adjectives:
good/well - better - the best
good - better - the best/best
bad - worse - the worst
bad - worse - worst
little - less - the least
small - less - the smallest/smallest
much (with uncountable)/many (with countable) - more - the most
a lot - more - most of all
old - older - the oldest
old - older - the oldest
old - elder - the eldest
elder - older - the oldest (only about people; for example: my elder brother my elder brother)
late - later - the latest/the last
late - more recent - the latest (new, latest in time)
near - nearer - the nearest
closest - closer - closest (distance)
near - nearer - next/the next
close - closer - next (in time or in order)
far - farther - the farthest
farthest - more distant - farthest (distance only)
far - further - the furthest
distant - more distant - the most distant (in the abstract sense)

In English, all adjectives can have 3 degrees of comparison: positive and superlative. And English-speaking people always use them, despite the fact that almost every one of them could already have forgotten about the names of such degrees. As a result, it has long become clear: it is not at all necessary to know all the names of the elements of the language, the main thing is to use them skillfully and correctly. IN Everyday life, you rarely have to talk about topics like grammar or vocabulary. It is possible that only children and language learners need such discussions.

Such a preface does not touch on the main topic, but simply helps to gradually focus on the material. Well, now briefly about the superlative degree of adjectives in English.

Superlative adjectives helps highlight the highest degree of quality of an object. For example: Russian adjective“cheap” in a superlative would sound like “the cheapest.” Or the adjective “good” in the superlative degree will sound like “the best.” And so on.

Now let's look at how to compose superlative degree in English.

Here we either add the suffix “est” to the end of the adjective, or we add the adverb “most” before the adjective. Usually the definite article “the” is used before a superlative adjective. Let's look at everything in more detail:

To adjectives with one syllable, add the suffix “est”:

Adjective	Translate	Superlative	Translate
cheap	cheap	cheapest	the cheapest
small	small	smallest	the smallest
hot	hot	hottest	the hottest
wide	wide	widest	the widest
nice	nice	nicest	most pleasant

Example:

The house is the cheapest in the district – This house is the cheapest in the district.
My satchel is the smallest in the class - My backpack is the smallest in the class.
It's the coldest winter I’ve ever seen – This is the coldest winter I’ve ever seen.

For adjectives with two syllables ending in er, ow or y (“y” changes to “i”) add the suffix “est”

Example:

I'm the happiest man in the world – I am the most happy man in the world.
It was the narrowest way I’ve ever gone – It was the narrowest path I’ve ever walked on.
Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world – Baikal is the deepest lake in the world.

For other adjectives with two syllables there is an adverb "most"

Adjective	Translate	Superlative	Translate
boring	boring	most boring	most boring
honest	honest	most honest	the most honest
careful	careful	most careful	the most careful

Example:

All say that he’s the most careful player in poker – Everyone says that he is the most careful player in poker.
My uncle is the most honest man in our family – My uncle is the most fair man in our family.
It's the most boring game I’ve ever seen – This is the most boring game I’ve ever seen.

Before adjectives with three or more syllables, we also use the word “most”

Adjective	Translate	Superlative	Translate
beautiful	beautiful	most beautiful	the most beautiful
expensive	Expensive	most expensive	dearest
interesting	interesting	most interesting	The most interesting

Example:

Fedor is the most dangerous fighter – Fedor is the most dangerous fighter.
This collection of book is the most interesting I’ve ever read - This is the most interesting collection of books that I have ever read.
I think Helen is the most beautiful girl in the group - I think Lena is the most beautiful in the group.

This is what all the material on this topic is based on. But any rule always has a couple of exceptions:

good – best
bad – worst

Example:

You're the best singer in your collective - You are the best singer in your collective.
It was the worst day in his holidays – It was the worst day on his holiday.

As you can see, superlative adjectives used to compare one thing with things of the same kind for a certain quality. And is often used in combination with the…in, the…of or simply the:

This is the most comfortable car in the world
This is the most interesting book of them all
This is the strongest man here

It is worth noting that superlative adjectives with a negative prefix are formed in exactly the same way as without it:

unkind – unkindest
unhappy - unhappiest
dishonest - dish mostonest

P.S. However, it would be better and more common to say no as kind as... or not as honest as... than unkindest or dishonest.

Superlative adjectives can also be combined with it’s by far or it’s easily:

It’s by far the most expensive car in the world
It’s easily the most expensive of all the cars I’ve seen

This is probably the end. Studying degrees of comparison of adjectives will help you combine and compare some objects with others, as well as formulate more colorful speech, which certainly will not hurt anyone.

For those who feel like a Jedi, we recommend taking split training

(good, yellow, interesting).

Adjectives in English do not change either by gender, or by number, or by case. Adjectives in English can only be modified by degrees of comparison.

Adjectives can be simple or derived. Simple adjectives have neither prefixes nor suffixes. Derived adjectives contain suffixes or prefixes, or both at the same time.

Adjectives form, as in Russian, two degrees of comparison: comparative and superlative. The basic form of the adjective does not express comparison and is called the positive degree.

Adjective

An adjective is a part of speech that is used to denote a characteristic of an object.

a clever boy
an English book (English book)
good butter (good butter)
a cold winter

An adjective in English has three forms of degrees of comparison:

positive degree
comparative degree
superlative degree.

Adjective degrees

Formation of degrees of comparison of adjectives

The basic form of an adjective is the positive degree. The comparative and superlative forms are usually formed from the positive degree in one of two ways:

The first way to form degrees of comparison of adjectives. If the form of an adjective in the positive degree consists of one syllable, the form of its comparative degree is formed using the suffix -er, and the superlative form - using the suffix -est, which are added to the base of the form of the positive degree.

The second way to form degrees of comparison of adjectives. From adjectives whose positive form consists of three or more syllables, the comparative degree is formed using the word more, and the superlative degree - using the word most, which are placed before the positive form of the adjective.

From two-syllable adjectives, the comparative and superlative forms are also formed using the words more and most.

Sometimes there are forms of two-syllable adjectives, formed using the suffixes -er and -est. Most often these are adjectives whose positive form ends in -у, -er, -ow.

Some adjectives form special forms of degrees of comparison, and these adjectives must be immediately memorized in all forms.

The adjective old forms degrees of comparison in two ways. In most cases, the suffix -er or -est is added to the base of the positive degree form.

However, in cases where they talk about members of the same family - “elder brother”, “eldest of the brothers”, they use the form elder (senior) or eldest (eldest).

For correct spelling forms of degrees of comparison of adjectives you need to know that when adding the suffixes -er and -est, the final letters of the adjective in the form of a positive degree change as follows:

y changes to i after a consonant and does not change after a vowel: dry dry (dry) - drier - driest But: gay (cheerful) - gayer - gayest
e is omitted: nice (good) - nicer - nicest
the consonant is doubled in one-syllable adjectives after a short vowel: big - bigger - biggest

Using an adjective

The adjective is usually used in a sentence as a definition of a noun and stands before the word being defined. An adjective can also be a nominal member of a compound nominal predicate (predicative) and in this case stand after the linking verb to be.
Not a clever boy. He's a smart boy. (Clever - definition.) .Not is clever. He is smart. (Clever is a nominal member of a compound nominal predicate.)

Not all adjectives are used in these two functions. Adjectives alive (alive), afraid (scared), asleep (sleeping), awake (awake), ill (sick) and some others are used only as a nominal member of a compound nominal predicate.

To denote a lower or lowest degree of quality of one item compared to another, the adjective is usually preceded by the word less (less, less) or least (least of all).

Additional material.

Degrees of comparison of adjectives and adverbs.

In English, just like in Russian, adjectives and adverbs have three degrees of comparison:

positive
comparative
excellent.

In English there are two ways of constructing degrees of comparison.

1. For short (one syllable) words:

Notes:

The definite article is often used with a superlative adjective; When constructing degrees of comparison of adjectives in writing:

the final consonant with the preceding short vowel is doubled: big (bigger ((the) biggest
if there is a consonant before the final -y, then -y goes into -i:
easy (easy ((the) easiest; early (earlier ((the) earliest
when adding -er u -est, the final -e is omitted: (see large above). Spelling features do not affect pronunciation.

2. For long (two or more syllables) words:

It makes no sense to lengthen the word even more, so in English we add another a short word ahead:

beautiful beautiful
more beautiful
easily easy
more easily easier
most easily

To pass values least and least of all (least) the words less and least are used respectively:

less beautiful
least beautiful least beautiful

Note:

Sometimes monosyllabic words form degrees of comparison using more / less or most / least , and conversely, words consisting of more than one syllable have -er / -est at the end; it depends only on the sound - if some form is perceived better by ear than another, it is put into the sentence: crisp - more crisp - (the) most crisp sounds better than crisp - crisper (the) crispest.

The forms of degrees of comparison of some adjectives and adverbs in English are not formed according to the rule:

Note: The word little can be either an adjective or an adverb; V in this case it is used only as an adverb little; if you need to construct degrees of comparison from the adjective small, we use the word small (see above).

Note: the forms elder / eldest are used more often when the speaker is talking about members of his family:

My father is older than my mother. My father is older than my mother.
This is my eldest son. This is my eldest son.

In most other cases, degrees of comparison of adjectives are formed using method 1:

old old er old est

The word most with indefinite article(a most) is not a degree of comparison, but means very: a most beautiful girl is a very beautiful girl.

The word most can come before a noun or pronoun in plural(often with the preposition of) and has the meaning many/most:

Most people like this. Many people like it. Most of them will not be able to come. Most of them won't be able to come.

The definite article is preserved before the superlative form even if there is no noun: Not is the best. He is the best.

To denote the comparative degree of an adjective, the word than is used; however, in order to avoid repetition of the same noun, the word one is often used as a substitute for this noun or possessive pronoun in absolute form:

My car is bigger than their one / theirs. My car is bigger than theirs.
These cigars are stronger than those ones. These cigars are stronger than those.

In the second part comparative designs You can use pronouns like in objective case(colloquial version), and accusative case(literary version, usually with an auxiliary verb):

She reads more than him/he does. She reads more than him.
You are taller than me / I am. You are taller than me.
Didn't come earlier than them / they did. He arrived earlier than them but
I know him better than her. I know him better than her.
I know him better than she does. I know him better than she does.

When comparing the same quality, the combination as ... as (same (same) ... as (s) / as (same) ... as (s) is used: She is as beautiful as my mother(She is as beautiful as my mother.

When comparing quality in negative form the combination not so ... as is more often used (not such ... as: I am not so beautiful as her / she is.(I'm not as beautiful as her.

When comparing with a multiple effect, the combination as ... as with numerals is used; the second as may be omitted if another comparison object is not mentioned in the situation:

My sister is twice as beautiful (as yours).(My sister is twice as beautiful (as yours).
His car is about three times as big (as my car).(His car is three times larger (mine).

The word half in such cases means half as much:

This liquid is half as strong (as that one).(This liquid is twice as weak (that one). I have half as much money (as you have).(I have half as much money (than you).

Sometimes a comparison can be strengthened by additional words, more often than others, much is used for this: much more / less beautiful;

The Russian version of what..., the... is translated into English language the + comparative adjective... the + comparative adjective:

The faster you come the more you will get. The faster you arrive, the more you will get.
The sooner you do it the better. The sooner you do this, the better.

01.03.2014

English adjectives do not have the morphological characteristics of case, gender and number. The only one morphological characteristics — degrees of comparison. By degrees of comparison, only qualitative adjectives- that is, those that denote any characteristic that may manifest itself to a greater or lesser extent. Such adjectives answer the question “which?” For example, the adjectives big, cheerful, beautiful can have degrees of comparison. It is not difficult to imagine something more beautiful, or someone more intelligent. But relative adjectives (bookish, yesterday) or possessive adjectives(paternal, hare) have no degrees of comparison. It is impossible to imagine anything more yesterday or less paternal.

You can practice using degrees of comparison by doing the following.

A separate topic for consideration is also the strengthening of degrees of comparison of adjectives. I dedicated an entire article to this topic.

You can practice degrees of comparison using value amplification by completing the following.

Exists three degrees of comparison: positive, comparative and superlative.

Formation of degrees of comparison of adjectives in English.

Positive degree.

Positive degree(positive degree) indicates the presence of quality. She is the adjective itself:

full (full), polite (polite), profound (thorough), noble (noble), beautiful (beautiful).

Comparative.

comparative(comparative degree) indicates greater intensity of quality. Depending on the nature of education, this degree can be simple or composite. The simple degree of comparison is formed by adding the ending -er to the base of the adjective:

full – fuller (full – fuller)

If the adjective ends in -e, then add only -r :

If an adjective ends in -y, then -y becomes -i:

happy – happier (happy – happier)

The final consonant will be doubled if the vowel in the last syllable of the word is short and stressed:

Simple form comparative degree is typical for

monosyllabic adjectives:

Full – fuller (full – fuller)

deep – deeper (deep – deeper)

big –bigger (big – bigger)

two-syllable adjectives, if the stress in them falls on the last syllable:

polite – politer (polite – more polite)

profound – profounder (thorough – more thorough)

two-syllable adjectives ending in -le, -y, -some, -ow, -er.

noble –nobler (noble – more noble)

silly – sillier (stupid – stupider)

handsome – handsomer (handsome – more beautiful)

narrow – narrower (narrow – narrower)

tender – tenderer (tender – more tender)

The rest are two-syllable and all three-or more compound adjectives have a compound comparative form. It is formed by adding the word more.

beautiful – more beautiful (beautiful – more beautiful)

curious – more curious (curious – more curious)

Here are a few example sentences using the comparative degree.

Holidays at the seaside are more splendid than in the country.

The street I live in is much narrower than this one.

Which of the two lakes is deeper?

Mary is more beautiful than her cousin.

Superlative.

Superlative(superlative degree) comparison of adjectives indicates the greatest manifestation of quality. This degree also has a simple and compound form similar to the comparative degree. In most cases, superlative degrees are placed before adjectives. article the.

The simple form is formed by adding the ending -est:

full – the fullest (full – the most complete)

deep – the deepest (deep – the deepest)

polite – politest (polite – the most polite)

happy – the happiest (happy – the happiest)

silly – the silliest (stupid – the stupidest)

big – the biggest (big – the largest)

The compound superlative form is formed by adding the word most:

beautiful – the most beautiful (beautiful – the most beautiful)

curious – the most curious (curious – the most curious)

Here are examples of use superlatives in sentences.

Bob is the cleverest man I’ve ever met.

Molly is the most attentive girl in her class.

Lack of money is our biggest problem.

Yours is the silliest joke I’ve ever heard.

Special cases of formation of degrees of comparison of adjectives.

There are a number of adjectives that form degrees of comparison not according to the rule. These adjectives and their derivatives must be remembered. Here is a complete list of such adjectives.

good – better – the best (good – best – best)

bad – worse – the worst (bad – worst – worst)

many – more – most (many – more – biggest / most)

little – less – the least (small / little – less – the smallest / least)

far – further – the furthest (far – further – the most distant (about time))

Please note the following pairs, in which, depending on semantic meaning, the forms of degrees also change:

old – older – oldest (old / older – older – oldest / eldest)

old – elder – the eldest (old / elder – older – the oldest / eldest (only in the description of brothers or sisters))

near - nearer - the nearest (close - closer - the closest (about distance))

near – nearer – the next (close – closer – next (in time))

late – later – the latest (late – later (about time) – the latest / last at the moment)

late – latter – the last (late – later (of those mentioned) – the most recent (this will not happen again) / past.