Adjectives – comparisons and superlatives
Gut – besser – am Besten, schön – schöner – am Schönsten. Grundstufe, Höherstufe und Höchststufe heißen die drei Formen von Adjektiven im Deutschen. „Adjective“, „comparative“ and „superlative“ heißen diese Formen im Englischen. Testen Sie, ob Sie sie einsetzen können.
Exercise – comparisons
One of these sentences is correct. The others have mistakes. Can you correct them?
1) Can you come more early than 9 o’clock? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2) He always thinks he’s more important than he is. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3) This exercise is easyer than the last one. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4) I have not travelled far . The farest I have been is Sweden. . . . . . . .
Answers: 1) earlier; 2) correct; 3) easier; 4) furthest
This is how you form the comparative and superlative of adjectives
- if the adjective is short, we add -er and -est
| adjective | comperative | superlative |
| old | older | oldest |
| quick | quicker | quickest |
- if it is long, we put “more” or “most” in front of it
| adjective | comperative | superlative |
| expensive | more expensive | most expensive |
| beautiful | more beautiful | most beautiful |
- some adjectives have special forms
| adjective | comperative | superlative |
| good | better | best |
| bad | worse | worst |
| far | further | furthest |
If the word ends in a vowel and a consonant (hot, wet), the consonant is doubled (hotter, wetter). A “y” at the end of a word changes to “ie” (heavier, easiest).