1.Degrees of comparison of German adjectives: general rules
2.
3.
4. Exceptions
1. Degrees of comparison of German adjectives: general rules.
Degrees of comparison of German adjectives just like in Russian, they are divided into positive, comparative and superlative.
positive degree adjective is the adjective itself in dictionary form.
comparative formed by adding the adjectival suffix "-er" to the stem. And in the sentence, the comparative degree is used with the union als (than):
Gestern trainierte er langer, als heute. (Yesterday he trained longer than today.)
Schneller, höher, starker! (Faster, above, stronger!)
In superlatives the particle "am" is placed before the adjective, and the suffix "-st" + the ending "en" is added to the base of the adjective:
Gestern waren die Anweisungen von seinem Trainer am klarsten.(Yesterday, the instructions of the coach were the clearest)
In the superlative degree, the particle "am" is placed before the adjective, and the suffix "-st" + the ending "en" is added to the base of the adjective:
2. Features of the superlative degree of comparison of German adjectives
The superlative degree of the adjective with the particle "am" is unchanged and in sentences with the correct word order it comes after the subject and the predicate, or most often at the end of the sentence:
Sein Training war gestern am schwersten. (His workout yesterday was the hardest.)
The superlative degree of an adjective with a definite article is in a sentence before a noun and is declined in different cases, like a regular adjective:
der schwerste Training - hardest workout
3. Degrees of comparison of German adjectives with root vowels - a, -o, -u
However, there are adjectives that form degrees of comparison with their own characteristics.
In monosyllabic adjectives (that is, with only one root and no suffix) that have vowels "a", "o", "u" at the root, comparative and superlative degrees of comparison of German adjectives lead to the replacement of these vowels, respectively, with "ä" [a-umlaut], "ö" [o-umlaut], "ü" [u-umlaut]. (except: bunt, falsch, klar, froh, satt, schlank, stolz, voll, zart):
warm (warm) - wärmer (warmer) - am wärmsten (warmest)
rot (red) - röter (redder) - am rötesten ( reddest)
klug (smart) - klüger (smarter) - am klügsten (smartest)
bunt - bunter - am buntesten
falsch-falscher-am falschesten
klar–klarer–am klarsten
froh - froher - am frohsten
satt-sutter-am sattesten
schlank-schlanker-am schlanksten
stolz - stolzer - am stolzesten
voll-voller-am vollsten
zart–zarter–am zartesten
4. Exceptions
Adjectives forming degrees of comparison in a special way:
hoch - höher - am höchsten (high - higher - highest (highest))
nah - näher - am nächsten (nearest - closer - closest, closest)
viel - mehr - am meisten (many - more - most)
gut - besser - am besten (good - better - the best)
gern - lieber - am liebsten (willingly - willingly - most willingly)
wenig - minder - am mindesten (little - less - least of all),
bald - eher - am ehesten (soon - rather - most likely).
5. Exercises to reinforce the topic
1. Put the adjective in comparative degree.
1. Der Herbst ist (kalt) als der Sommer. 2. Mein Vater ist (alt) als meine Mutter. 3. Ich stehe (früh) als meine Schwester. 4. Berlin ist (gross) als Bonn. 5. Die Wolga ist (lang) als die Oka. 6. Der Löwe ist (stark) als der Hase. 7. Die Jacke ist (billig) als der Pelzmantel.
2. Insert the correct endings of adjectives in comparative or superlative degrees and.
1. Das Wetter ist heute (schön) als gestern.
2. Er ist in der Klasse am (fleißig).
3. Laufst du (schnell) als deine Freundin?
4. Dieser Text ist am (schwer).
5. Wann ist der (lang) Tag des Jahres?
6. Ich gehe ins Kino (gern) als ins Theater.
3. Paste correct form adjective or adverb in the positive, comparative or superlative degree.
Von allen Jungen in seiner Klasse ist er (klein)_____ .
Deine alte Frisur gefiel mir (gut)______ als die neue.
Mein Stein flog genauso (weit)________ wie deiner.
Nachts ist es hier im Wald noch (dunkel) ______ als jetzt.
Das ist der (lustig) ______ Film aller Zeiten.
Wir hatten in diesem Urlaub (schlecht) _______ Wetter als im letzten.
4. Selectrightoption:
1. Der Fluss Wolga in Russland ist ... als die Elbe in Deutschland.
a) länger b) langer c) am längsten
2. Werner hat Schokolade gern, aber … ißt er Torte.
a) am schönsten b) am besten c) am liebsten
3. Ich sehe heute nicht gern fern, ich lese … ein Buch.
a) gerner b) lieber c) schöner
4. Der Fernsehturm in Berlin ist hoch, aber der Fernsehturm in Moskau ist ...
a) hocher b) hoher c) hoher
5. Der Spatz ist klein, aber der Kolibri ist ... .
a) am kleiner b) die kleinste c) am kleinsten
6. Auf dem Tisch liegen zwei Buntstifte. Der Buntstift links ist … als der Buntstift rechts.
a) kurzer b) der kurzeste c) kürzer
7. In Antarktis ist das Klima … als in der Arktis.
a) kalter b) kalter c) am kaltestem
8. Die Hausaufgabe in Mathematik war schwer, aber …Schüler haben alles richtig gerechnet.
a) die meisten b) die vielsten c) am meisten
German adjectivesdenoting quality,(also adverbs)in German have three degrees of comparison:
—
positive(der Positive) :
dick (thick)
- comparative
(der Komparativ) :
dick er(thicker)
- excellent(der Superlative) :
am dick sten (der dick ste) (the thickest)
The main form of the adjective is the positive degree. She names the quality of the subject without comparison, to this extent adjectives are given in the dictionary.
The positive degree serves as the basis for the formation of two other degrees of adjectives.
comparative
The comparative form is formed by adding the suffix -er to the short form of the adjective and shows that this feature is inherent in some object or phenomenon to a greater extent than another:
klein- kleiner, laut— lauter, alt- alter, gross - grösser
When forming comparative and superlative degrees of comparison, most monosyllabic adjectives with root vowels -a, -o, -u accept umlaut:
alt- alter - am altesten
gross- grösser - am grössten
jung- Junger- am jungsten
Derbruderist ä lter alsSchwester - Brother is older than sister
DieseSchuleist größ er AlsunserHaus This school is bigger than our house
Ihr ä lterer Bruder — Her older brother
seine jü ngere Schwester — His younger sister
The comparative degree of adjectives in a sentence can be used:
as a nominal part of the predicate
Diese Bild ist schöner. This picture is more beautiful (more beautiful).
Jenes Gebaude ist kleiner. That building is smaller.
as a definition. In this case, the adjective comes before the noun and is declined like an adjective in the positive degree. Those. to a comparative degree (on -er), taken as a basis, the usual endings of adjectives are added:
Dortscheinteinehellere Lampe . - There is a brighter light.
Wir suchen eine kleinere (größere) Wohnung. - Myischemmé smaller (larger) apartment.
Ich brauche ein en billigere n computer. - I need a cheaper computer (the article has changed).
If after the adjective in a comparative degree there is a comparison, then the union is used als:
Dein Koffer ist leichter als meiner - Your suitcase is lighter than mine.
The comparative degree of adjectives can also be reinforced by adverbs such as viel (much, much), immer (here: everything), noch (still), bedeutend (significantly).
Die Tage wurden immer k ürzer. “The days were getting shorter.
DieserSportleristjetztnochstärker . This athlete is even stronger now.
Gestern war es bedeutend wärmer. “Yesterday was much warmer.
An adjective in the comparative degree can also turn into a noun:
Nothing interesting. - Nothing interesting.
Es gibt nichts Interessant er es als Fussball. - There is nothing more interesting than football.
Haben Sie nicht etwas Billigeres? - Do you have something cheaper?
Der Klügere gibt nach. - (More) smart yields.
. Superlatives
Superlatives shows that a given attribute is inherent in some object or phenomenon inthe highest degree compared to others:
Erist der beste Schüler in der Klasse. - He is the best student in the class.
Sie ist die schönste Frau in der Stadt. - She is the most beautiful woman in the town.
The superlative form is formed by adding the suffix — st or, if the adjective ends in — d, — t, — s, — x, — z, -ß , — los, — haft, then the suffix — est:alt- am ä ltesten, jung- amjü ngsten, gross- amgröß ten
Die ä lteste Dame - the oldest lady
Dasjü ngste kind - the youngest child
Superlative adjectives can also act in a sentence in two functions:
as a nominal part of the predicate and has an invariable form. It is formed by a particle am and suffix -sten: am kleinsten (smallest, smallest), am schönsten (most beautiful, most beautiful), am größten (largest, largest)
Dieses Zimmer ist am kleinsten. This room is the smallest.
Unsere Stadt ist am schönsten. — Our city is the most beautiful.
as a definition. Then the adjective agrees with the noun being defined in gender, number and case, that is, it takes a case ending and stands with a definite article. It is declined according to the same rules as an adjective in a positive degree. Nominative: der kleinste Tisch, die hellste Lampe, das größte Fenster, Genitive: des kleinsten Tisches, der hellsten Lampe, des größten Fensters.
Adjectives that take umlaut in the comparative degree retain it in the superlative degree as well.
Some adjectives are allowed forms, as withumlaut, So and without:
glatt- glatter— am glattesten
glatt- glatter— am glattesten
You should remember the degrees of comparison 6 adjectives, because their education is not subject to general rules:
gut | besser | am besten |
Viel | mehr | am meisten |
gern | lieber | am liebsten |
hoch | hoher | am hochsten |
nah | naher | am nahsten |
bald |
03/10/2014 MONDAY 00:00
GRAMMAR
In this article we will look at comparison and degrees of comparison - Vergleich und Vergleichsstufen.
1. When stating equality, the construction is used so + positive adjective + wie or ebenso + positive adjective + wie:
Sie ist so alt wie ich.
She is the same age as me.
Er ist ebenso klug wie sie.
He is as smart as she is.
Die Tochter ist so groß, wie ihre Mutter ist.
The daughter is as tall as her mother.
When negated, this construction expresses the inequality:
Die Tochter ist nicht so groß wie ihre Mutter.
The daughter is not as tall as her mother.
2. The main form of expression of inequality is the construction: comparative adjective + als:
Die Mutter ist größer als ihre Tochter.
The mother is taller than her daughter.
The second member of this comparative construction can be a subordinate clause:
Der Enkel ist größer, als sein Großvater gewesen ist.
The grandson is taller than his grandfather was.
When negated, this construction expresses equality:
Der Sohn ist nicht größer als sein Vater.
A son is not superior to his father.
3. To indicate a lesser degree of quality when comparing, it is used weniger + positive adjective + als:
Diese Stadt ist weniger schön als jene.
This city is not as beautiful as that one./This city is less beautiful than that one.
4. When comparing two qualities of one person or object, the construction is used mehr + positive adjective + als:
Er ist mehr schlau als klug.
He is more cunning than smart.
5. When comparing two qualities of one person or object and when excluding the second quality, constructions are used eher + positive adjective + als:
Sie ist eher gleichgültig als ärgerlich.
She is more indifferent than angry.
6. Comparison expresses construction noch einmal/doppelt + so + positive adjective + wie; zweimal + so + positive adjective + wie etc.:
Er ist noch einmal so groß wie ich.
He is twice as tall as me.
Mein Zimmer ist doppelt so groß wie das Zimmer meines Bruders.
My room is twice the size of my brother's.
Deutschland ist fast neunmal so groß wie die Schweiz.
Germany is almost nine times the size of Switzerland.
7. Comparison can be strengthened or weakened with the help of particles:
- The comparison is positively enhanced by the particles ebenso, genauso, geradeso:
Er ist ebenso klug wie sie.
He is just as smart as she is.
Er ist genauso klug wie sein Bruder.
He's just as smart as his brother.
Sie ist geradeso groß wie er.
She is exactly the same height as him.
- Comparative Comparison Can Be Amplified by Particles viel, weit, bedeutend, wesentlich:
Er ist viel größer als sein Bruder.
He is much taller than his brother.
Er ist weit größer als sein Bruder.
He is much/much taller than his brother.
Er ist bedeutend/wesentlich größer als sein Bruder.
He is significantly/substantially taller than his brother.
Comparison can be weakened in a comparative degree by particles etwas, ein bisschen, ein wenig:
Der Weg war etwas anstrengender.
The road was somewhat/slightly more tiring.
- Superlatives can be enhanced by particles weitaus, bei weitem:
Er ist der weitaus Beste unter den Kandidaten.
He far/significantly outperforms all candidates.
In addition, to enhance the superlative degree can be used aller-, allerbest-, allerletzt- etc.:
Er war der allerälteste Einwohner.
He was the oldest resident.
In German, there are three degrees (steps) of comparison of adjectives (adj.) - positive (Positiv), comparative (comparative) (Komparativ) and excellent (excellent) (Superlativ).
Positive step. adj., as in Russian, is a derivative, from which the rest of the step is formed. comparisons.
App. in comp. step. (Komparativ) are formed with the suffix –er. For example:
Die erste Stunde ist sehr wichtig - The first lesson is very important. - Die letzte Stunde ist noch wichtiger - The last lesson is even more important.
App. in excellent step. are formed with the definite article, the suffix –(e)st and the ending –e.
Es ist der wichtigste Tag in meinem Leben.
There is another form for adj. in excellence. step.:
am adj. -(e)sten.
In this form, App. stands at the end of a sentence and in some cases takes on the character of an adverb. For example:
Heute ist es am kältesten. “Today is the coldest.
Most monosyllabic adj. with vowels a, o, u at the root of the word in cf. and superior. step. gain an umlaut. For example:
App. do not receive an umlaut in cf. and superior. step if:
1) At the root of the word is the diphthong au:
laut (loud) - lauter (louder) - der lauteste (the loudest)
2) App. end in suffixes -ig, -bar, -er, -et:
teuer (expensive) - teurer (more expensive) - der teurste (most expensive)
fleissig (diligent) - fleissiger (more diligent) - der fleissigste (the most diligent)
dankbar (grateful) – dankbarer (thankful) –der dankbarste (most grateful)
3) Monosyllabic adj. are an exception:
froh (joyful) - froher (more joyful) - der frohste (the most joyful)
klar (understandable) – klarer (understandable) – der klarste (most understandable)
voll (complete) - voller (more complete) - der vollste (most complete)
There are a number of adj., which in the comparison. and superior. step. are formed according to their own, different from the general rules. They can serve as both adjectives and adverbs, and their form of formation is cf. and superior. step. should be remembered.
Comp. step. adj. used in a sentence most often with the union als (than). For example:
Dieses Maedchen ist juenger als seine Freundinnen. This girl is younger than her friends.
However, app. in comp. step. can also be used as a definition. AT this case before adj. the article is placed.
Ich brauche eine genauere Bescreibung dieses Mannes. I need a more detailed description of this person.
App. in excellence. step. most often used as a definition.
Dieses Kleid ist das beste im Geschaeft.
Du siehst heute am besten aus.
Pay attention to the use of adj. in excellence. step. in the phrase "one of the (most)...".
In this case, the following construction is used: einer (eine, eines) + Genitiv Plural.
Sie ist eine der schönsten Sängerinnen in der Welt. She is one of the most beautiful singers in the world.
Das ist eines der besondersten Bücher, die ich gelesen habe. This is one of the most unusual books I have ever read.
Declension adj. in comp. and excellent step. carried out in the same way as the declension adj. in a positive way. There are also strong and weak endings here.
The degrees of comparison of adjectives are one of the simple topics of the German language.
There are three forms of adjectives: regular, comparative, and superlative. For example: beautiful, more beautiful, most beautiful. And in German they are formed according to a completely understandable pattern:
schnell - fast
schnell+er - faster
am schnell + sten - the fastest
Well, it’s also worth noting the superlatives that stand directly in front of the object and characterize it: der / die / das schnell + ste- the fastest / the fastest / the fastest
Der Mount Everest ist der höchste Berg der Welt.- Mount Everest is the largest mountain in the world.
The degrees of comparison of some German adjectives need to be memorized, as they are exceptions and have special forms.
good: gut - besser - am besten
high: hoch–höher–am höchsten
close: nah – näher – am nächsten
many: viel - mehr - am meisten
But in most German books, these three forms are presented precisely in the section "degrees of comparison of German adjectives."
And that's it? No. Where is it! You are not in English class. German - would not be German, if everything was so easy and simple. As always, there is something to stumble on and even fill yourself with a big bump.
So! We get rid of stumbling in a folk way. Namely, we take and remember. No sorcery...
What should you pay attention to? Where are they, traitorous elements?
Degrees of comparison of German adjectives
The thing is that you need to remember a few rules that I will list ...
1. If the adjective ended with the letters: -d, -t, -s, -ss, -ß, -sch, -z, -tz, -x - then the ending -est is added to it in a superlative degree (instead of just -st ):
wild - wilder - am wildest en
heiß - heißer - am heißes ten
2. The second nuance: some adjectives can change vowels at the root: the vowel acquires an umlaut. What exactly? A lot of short adjectives - consisting of one syllable:
arm-ärmer-amärmsten
jung - jü nger - am jü ngsten
3. In the comparative degree, adjectives that end in -el and -er lose e:
dunkel - dunkl er - am dunkelsten
teuer - teurer - am teuersten
And now everything. It takes a little practice, and it is very quickly remembered, not like this one from German grammar.
Some comparative constructions
With this topic, it is immediately worth considering comparative offers.
For example: this book is more interesting than that one, but this blanket is as warm as that one….
Remember the following formulas:
Same = so…wie (adjective does not change)
Not the same (bigger, better, prettier) ≠ als… (adjective changes: acquires a comparative degree: adjective + er)
Berlin ist grösser als Hannover. Berlin is bigger than Hannover.
Hannover ist so groß wie Leipzig. - Hannover is the same as Leipzig.
We will consider the comparative proposal and constructions in more detail in a separate article, for now this is enough 🙂 Good luck!