Degrees of comparison are variable morphological feature quality adjectives. There are different forms of positive, comparative and superlative degrees: new - newer - newest; warm - more/less warm - the warmest.
The initial form is a positive degree, naming a feature without correlating it with homogeneous features of other objects ( new house); from it, by adding inflectional suffixes or auxiliary words, simple and compound forms of comparative and superlative degrees are formed.
comparative indicates that the designated feature is characteristic of a given object to a greater extent than for another object (or for the same object, but in a different period of time): Our apple tree is taller than the neighbor’s; Today this girl was more talkative than yesterday.
Simple form the comparative degree is formed by adding to the base of the adjective the inflectional suffixes -ee/-ee, -e, as well as the non-productive suffix -she: warm - warmer, warmer (colloquial); loud - louder; thin - thinner. The form deeper (from deep) uses the suffix -zhe. If there is a suffix ‑k- or ‑ok- at the end of the stem, it is often truncated: low - lower; distant - further. From the adjectives small, bad, good, the comparative forms are formed by changing the root: less, worse, better. IN colloquial speech to the simple form of the comparative degree the prefix po- is often added, meaning the incompleteness of the manifestation of the attribute (`a little`): older - older, less - less.
Often the formation of a simple form of comparative degree is prevented by lexical meaning words; for example, it is not formed from adjectives with an “absolute” qualitative meaning such as deaf, bald, dead, blind or from adjectives denoting a subjective assessment speaking sign: enormous, blue.
The compound form of the comparative degree is formed using the auxiliary words more, less: more beautiful, less loud. The meaning of this form is broader than the meaning of forms of the louder type, since not only a greater, but also a lesser degree of intensity of the attribute is expressed (the simple form of the comparative degree indicates only a greater degree of the attribute).
The syntactic functions of the compound form are also wider than those of the simple comparative form. The simple form is usually part of a compound predicate: This essay was more meaningful than the previous one. The compound form can perform the functions of not only a predicate, but also a definition: This time the student wrote a more meaningful essay. The compound form can be formed from almost any qualitative adjective, however, is perceived as a somewhat bookish form and is used less often in colloquial speech than the simple comparative form.
The superlative degree of adjectives indicates that the attribute of an object, denoted by this form, is presented in its maximum manifestation, to the highest degree compared to the same attribute in other compared objects: the smartest student in the class, the most Light room or for this item in other periods of its existence: Today, workers received their highest wages in six months.
Superlatives can also be simple or compound. The simple form is formed by adding to the base of the adjective the inflectional suffix -eysh-: beautiful - the most beautiful or -aysh- (the latter suffix is attached only to the stems on k, g, x): thin - the thinnest. The prefix nai- is often added to this form: the most beautiful, the thinnest. From adjectives small, bad, good shape The superlative degree is formed by changing the root: lesser, worse, better.
The superlative compound form is formed in several ways:
1) by adding to the form of the positive degree the auxiliary word most: the smartest;
2) by adding to the form of the positive degree the auxiliary words most, least: most intelligent, least capable;
3) by adding to the simple form of the comparative degree the auxiliary word all (if the characterized object is inanimate) or all (if the characterized object is animate): The smartest thing was the investigation conducted by a private detective; The student Ivanov turned out to be the most capable.
The most common compound form is the most intelligent type, used as both a predicate and a definition. Forms like smartest/all are used only as a predicate. Forms of the most/least capable type have the broadest meaning, denoting both the highest and lowest degree of manifestation of a characteristic, however, these forms are used primarily in book speech (in business, scientific, newspaper and journalistic styles).
Modern Russian literary language/ Ed. P. A. Lekanta - M., 2009
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 positive, comparative and superlative adjectives. How are they different and what are their forms?
Degrees of comparison: types, table
Adjectives and adverbs derived from them have the ability to form degrees of comparison.There are three of them:
- Positive.Comparative.Excellent.
From which adjectives can we form degrees of comparison?
As you know, all adjectives Russian language are divided into several categories.
- Qualitative - means characteristics that an object or living creature can possess in different degrees: sweet, sweeter, sweetest. Relative - names the signs of an object or living creature in their relation to circumstances, actions or other persons, things: phone call, wooden building Possessive - indicate that something belongs to someone: Pushkin’s stanza, father’s parting words.
Adverbs that come from the qualitative category of adjectives can also form degrees of comparison: cheerful - cheerfully (more cheerfully).
Comparative degree of adjectives in Russian
Before moving on to consider the comparative degree, it is worth mentioning a little about the positive degree. This is the name given to the initial degree of comparison (boring). In fact, it is considered only formally as a degree of comparison. But the next one 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 greater/lesser 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: using suffixes or by adding an additional word (in in this example this is “more”). It turns out that we can distinguish 2 forms of the comparative degree of adjectives in the Russian language: simple and compound, or as it is sometimes called, complex.Methods for forming a simple shape
There are several ways to form it.- Using the suffixes -ee, -ey, -e, -she, added to the base: cheerful - more cheerful. However, it is worth remembering that if suffixes of the comparative degree of adjectives -e, -she are used, then alternation of consonants in the root of the word may occur, and the suffixes -k, -ok, -ek may be eliminated altogether. For example: narrow - narrower, voiced - louder. Sometimes a simple form can be formed by adding the same -ee, -ey, -e, -she, as well as the prefix po-. For example: soon - quickly, quickly - quickly. Adjectives formed in this way, as a rule, are the province of colloquial speech. Sometimes the comparative degree of adjectives in the Russian language is formed using a different word stem: bad - worse.
Complex shape
Unlike the 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 the 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 complex form they decline according to cases, change according to numbers and, accordingly, according to 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 serve as predicates or definitions: “Their relationship was closer and more elevated than that of anyone around them.” .Having considered the information about the comparative degree, it is now worth moving on to studying the superlative degree. And it will help you not to forget how the comparative degree of adjectives is formed - the table. It briefly outlines all the information about simple and complex forms and their formation.
Brief information about superlatives
It serves to demonstrate that a certain object or living being is absolutely superior to any other in a certain quality, which is represented in it to the highest degree.For example: “The third little pig’s house was the strongest and the wolf could not destroy it.”
A little about superlatives
Knowledge of how simple and complex comparative degrees of adjectives are formed will help you understand this topic. In the case of the 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:
- The simple one is formed by adding the suffixes -eysh, -aysh to the stem: caring – most caring. Similar to the comparative, the superlative may also have the stem suffix -k: low, lowest. A word formed using a simple superlative form is declined according to cases and changes according to 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 - “brightest”, it can change: “brightest”, “brightest”. The compound (complex) form is formed by adding the words “most”, “least” or “most” (“most”, “most”, “ most") to an adjective in the positive degree. For example: the brightest, the least entertaining, the funniest. 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 faster than anyone in the class.” As with the comparative form, the superlative adjective changes according to the same categories. And the additional words: “most” or “least” remain unchanged: “The wolf ran the shortest route to Grandma’s house and got ahead of Little Red Riding Hood.” However, “most” also changes: “The wolf ran the shortest route to Grandma’s house and got ahead of Little Red Riding Hood.”
Superlative and comparative degrees of adjectives: exercises to consolidate knowledge
To better remember all the material presented, you should practice by doing a few fairly simple exercises.- In this task you need to form all possible forms of degrees according to the model: attractive, more attractive, more attractive, most attractive, most attractive, most attractive. In this exercise, you need to select both superlative forms of the adjective, mark the suffixes and underline the alternating letters, according to the patterns. In this task you need to find errors and explain them. 1. Petrov is the best player in the entire team. 2. Things were getting worse in our company. 3. The air in the room became increasingly heavier. 4. Our enterprise turned out to be more successful. 5. Natasha’s shoes are cheaper than Sveta’s. In this exercise you need to compare 2 objects of different properties, according to the example: French and German (euphonious). – French is more euphonious than German. 1. Autumn and winter (warm). 2. Masha’s closet and Dima’s closet (convenient). 3. Laptop and smartphone (expensive). 4. Vladimir and Maxim (serious). 5. Katya and Valya (handsome). 6. Kyiv and Lvov (young).
The comparative and superlative degrees of adjectives are used very often, both verbally and in writing. And this applies not only to the Russian language. Today we are interested in foreign vocabulary, namely comparative and superlative degrees in English language. Nowadays, there is an increasing need to communicate in it. In order to speak correctly and to be correctly understood by the foreigners around you, you need to study the rules for the formation of these degrees.
What is an adjective
Before we talk about how comparatives and superlatives are formed in English, let's take a quick look at the adjective itself. What part of speech is this? In a nutshell, an adjective is used when we need to describe an object, person or process. Answering questions which one?, which one?, which one?, which ones?, this part of speech helps us not only describe them, but also compare them with each other, as well as declare the superiority of a particular object or character.
- We live in it big home for a very long time.
- Old the park looks much better better early in the morning.
- We are the youngest experts in this field.
The highlighted words clearly show what function the adjective performs in a sentence. This function is 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 degrees 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, to 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 smallest, etc.
The choice of word option also depends on what idea you want to convey to your interlocutor. We'll look at everything possible rules education of both degrees separately.
comparative
In English grammar, there are rules by which both comparative and superlative degrees are formed. Exercises to check your understanding of this topic are aimed at ensuring that you correctly form one degree or another 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 (heavier).
- If a word ends in “e”, one letter “r” is added to it: large (large) - larger (more); polite (polite) - politer (more polite).
- If a one-syllable word ends with a consonant letter preceded by a short vowel sound, then the last letter is doubled when a suffix is added: big (large) - bigger (more); hot (hot) - hotter (hotter).
- If the adjective ends with the letter “y”, when adding a suffix it changes to “i”: noisy (noisy) - noisier (noisier); easy (simple) - easier (simpler).
- If an adjective has more than two syllables, no suffix is added to it. We precede this adjective comparative adverb“more”, which translated into Russian means “more”: beautiful (beautiful) - more beautiful (more beautiful); interesting (interesting) - more interesting (more interesting).
- If you need to indicate that the quality is lower than that of another object, then instead of the above-mentioned 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.
Superlative
Comparatives and superlatives are formed very easily by Russian-speaking users, since the concept of comparison and superiority is very similar to what we know in Russian. So, to form the last degree, we need to apply concepts such as “most, most/least”. But here too there is certain rules to follow:
- If the word has one syllable, we add the suffix “est” to such an adjective, and the article “the” will appear before the newly formed word: smart (smart) - the smartest (smartest); hard (heavy) - the hardest (the heaviest).
- If there is an ending “e” at the end of a word, we will only use the suffix “st”: large (large) - the largest (largest); polite (polite) - the politest (the most polite).
- If a word ends with a consonant preceded by a short vowel sound, we double the last letter in the letter. This does not manifest itself in speech: big (large) - the biggest (largest); hot (hot) - the hottest (hottest).
- If the last place in a 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” in front of the word, which translates as “the most, the most”: beautiful (beautiful) - the most beautiful (the most beautiful); interesting (interesting) - the most interesting (the most interesting).
- If you need to indicate that the quality is the lowest, then instead of the word “most,” we take “the least,” translated as “the least”: beautiful (beautiful) - the least beautiful (least beautiful); interesting (interesting) - the least interesting (least interesting).
- There are words consisting of 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 (the most sociable); easy-going (sociable) - less easy-going (less sociable) - the least easy-going (least sociable).
Comparative and superlative degrees: words of exception
There are words that, despite everything existing rules, form degrees in their own way. Such words must be learned by heart. The comparative and superlative degrees of such words are included in a separate table.
Positive | Comparative | Excellent |
|
small | |||
farther, further | the farthest, the furthest |
||
the oldest, the eldest |
|||
the latest, the last |
When using a word consisting of two components, one of which is an exception word, you need to use exactly its form: good-looking (beautiful) - better-looking (more beautiful) - the best-looking (the most beautiful).
Set phrases
Both the comparative degree and the superlative degree are used in sentences as part of special constructions. Most often these are the following options:
- The construction “the... the...”. The more I read, the more I know. The more I read, the more I know.
- The construction “as... as...”. He is as tall as his brother. He is as tall as his brother.
- The construction “not so... as...”. She is not so fit as me. She's not as slim as me.
These are the most common variants of sentences in which we use the mentioned degrees of comparison.
Here
Adjectives can have degrees of comparison: comparative and superlative.
The comparative degree of an adjective indicates that a characteristic characteristic of an object is manifested in it to a greater or lesser extent than in another object or objects:
Your briefcase is heavier than mine.
Your briefcase is heavier than mine.
The superlative degree indicates that in some one way the subject is superior to all other subjects:
Yerevan is the most ancient city peace.
The comparative degree of adjectives has two forms:
simple and compound.
Simple form of comparative adjective
is formed by adding the suffixes -ee (-ee), -e, -she to the base of the initial form of the adjective:
kind - kinder, young - younger, thin - thinner.
The suffix of adjectives -k- (-ok-, -ek-) can be dropped if a simple
the comparative form is formed using the suffixes -e, -she.
In this case, there is also an alternation of consonants in the root:
low - lower, high - higher, thin - thinner.
Some adjectives have a comparative form with a different stem:
good is better, bad is worse, small is less.
The forms of the comparative degree in -ee(s), -e, -she can be joined by the prefix po-, which enhances or softens the degree of manifestation of the characteristic in one of the objects:
kinder (s), softer, thinner.
These forms, as well as forms like bolder, are characteristic of colloquial speech:
By nightfall the wind became stronger. The nights have become warmer.
The simple form of the comparative degree is unchangeable,
has no endings, but acts as a predicate in a sentence
or (less commonly) definitions:
Kind words are better than soft pie. Put on a warm coat.
The simple form of the comparative degree cannot be formed from all adjectives (timid, tall, businesslike, etc.).
The compound form of the comparative degree is formed by adding the words more or less to the initial form of the adjective:
fast - faster, loud - less loud.
The second word in the compound form of the comparative degree changes according to gender, case and number:
deeper snow, deeper river, along deeper rivers.
Adjectives in the compound form of the comparative degree in a sentence can be predicates and modifiers:
Our arguments are more subtle and profound. No one could give more convincing arguments.
When forming a compound comparative form
Avoid mistakes like more beautiful.
The superlative degree of adjectives has two forms:
simple and compound.
The simple superlative form of adjectives is formed by adding the suffixes -eysh- (-aysh-) to the base of the initial form of the adjective:
modest - the most modest, great - the greatest.
Before -aysh- there is an alternation of consonants:
strict - the strictest, quiet - the quietest.
The suffix -k- may appear: close - closest.
The simple form of the superlative degree changes according to gender, number,
cases. In a sentence it is a predicate or (less often) a definition:
The journey is most interesting. This was a story about an interesting journey.
The simple superlative form is most often used in literary speech.
Adjectives in Russian. They are indispensable when it is necessary to compare one characteristic of an object or phenomenon with another. Let's try to understand the intricacies of this topic.
Adjective
Before you start studying the topic “Degrees of comparison of adjectives in the Russian language,” you need to find out how this part of speech differs from all others. And it really has a lot of features. It is difficult to imagine our speech without this colorful, graceful group. With the help of adjectives we describe appearance (short, handsome, homely), character (kind, grumpy, difficult), age (young, elderly). However, not only human qualities, but also many other things can be represented with their help. For example, none piece of art cannot do without the use of adjectives. And even more so the lyrics. Thanks to this part of speech, stories, poems, novels acquire expressiveness and imagery.
Helps to form such artistic media, as epithets (dazzling beauty, wonderful morning), metaphors heart of stone), comparisons (looks like the happiest; the sky is like an azure watercolor).
A distinctive feature of adjectives is their ability to form short forms. The latter always play the role of a predicate in a sentence, which gives this part of speech another advantage - it gives dynamics to any text.
What is a degree?
Anyone who studies the Russian language faces this question. Degrees of comparison of adjectives are a characteristic that helps to compare one object with another.
For example, there are two balls in front of us. They are exactly the same, only one of them is slightly different in size. We need to compare them with each other and draw a conclusion: one ball more another. We can approach this issue from the other side and note that one ball less than the second one. In both cases, we used a word that characterizes the degree of comparison of these objects.
Now let’s add to our items another one of the same kind, but much larger. We need to differentiate it from others. How will we do this? Of course, use comparison. Only now you need to indicate that the third ball is immediately different from the first and second. In this case we will say that he biggest among them.
This is precisely why we need them. We will describe each of their types in detail below.
comparative
When we have an adjective in front of us that no one compares with anything, it is characterized by a positive degree. But if one object needs to be compared with another, then we will use the comparative degree of the adjective.
It has two subspecies. The first is called simple, or suffixal. This means that the word used in this degree has a suffix characteristic of it.
For example: This table chic. Neighbor's table more luxurious ours.
In the first case, the adjective is in the positive degree. In the second, the suffix “ee” was added to it and with the help of this they compared one table with another.
The second type is the composite degree. As the name suggests, its formation occurs not with the help of morphemes, but with the use of special words.
For example: This project is very successful. The last project was more successful.
The word “more” helps us compare one project to another.
Another example: We received valuable information. The previous one turned out to be less valuable.
Now, using the word “less”, we indicated a feature that manifested itself to a lesser extent.
It is worth remembering that degrees of comparison of adjectives in the Russian language, regardless of variety, are formed only from Neither possessive nor relative have this ability.
Superlative
In some situations, we need not just to compare one object or phenomenon with another, but to distinguish it from all others similar to it. And here the degrees of comparison of adjectives in Russian will also come to our aid. This degree of comparison is called excellent, which already implies the highest limit.
Like comparative, it has two varieties.
Using suffixes, a simple degree is formed.
For example: Ivanov strongest of all the athletes on the team.
The word “strong” with the suffix -eysh- formed and distinguished the athlete Ivanov from other members of the national team.
Next example: New tulle the most beautiful from those that I have seen.
IN in this case the auxiliary word "most" gave this sentence the same meaning as in the previous example. This form is called compound.
Sometimes it can be accompanied by the prefix nai- for emphasis: the most beautiful.
Peculiarities
In some cases, forms of degrees of comparison of adjectives have exceptions.
These include the words “good” and “bad.” When we begin to compare objects with their help, we will encounter some difficulties.
For example: We held good evening. Let's try to form a chain of degrees of comparison.
In a simple comparative we will see that the word “good” does not exist. It is replaced by “better.” And for the word “bad” we’ll choose “worse”. This phenomenon in Russian is called suppletivism of fundamentals. This means that the word needs to change dramatically in order to form a comparative degree.
Conclusion
Thus, we managed to find out not only the basics, but also some nuances on the topic “Degrees of comparison of adjectives in the Russian language.”
Now this rule will not cause you any difficulties, since it is not at all complicated.