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Which adjectives have the simple comparative form? Degrees of comparison

Qualitative adjectives have an inconsistent morphological feature 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 distinguish three degrees of comparison - positive, comparative and superlative. The positive degree of comparison is the initial form of the adjective, in relation to which we recognize other forms as expressing greater/lesser or greatest/smallest degrees of the attribute.

The comparative degree of the adjective indicates that the characteristic is manifested to a greater / lesser extent in of this subject in comparison with another object (Petya is taller than Vasya; This river is deeper than the other) or the same object in other circumstances (Petya is taller than he was last year; The river is deeper in this place than in that).

The comparative degree can be simple or compound.

The simple comparative degree denotes a greater degree of manifestation of a characteristic and is formed as follows:

basis of the positive degree + formative suffixes -ee(s), -e, -she/-zhe (fast-ee, higher-e, earlier-she, deeper).

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

Some adjectives have suppletive forms, that is, formed from another base: bad - worse, good - better.

When forming a simple comparative degree, the prefix po- (newer) can be added. The simple comparative degree with a prefix is used if the adjective takes the position inconsistent definition(Give me a newer newspaper) and does not require introducing into the sentence what it is being compared with this sign. If there is in a sentence both what is being compared and what is being compared with, the prefix po- introduces a conversational connotation (These boots are newer than those).

The morphological features of the simple comparative degree are uncharacteristic of an adjective. This

1) immutability,

2) the ability to control a noun,

3) use primarily as a predicate (He is taller than his father). A simple comparative degree can only occupy a position of definition in a separate position (Much taller than other students, he seemed almost an adult) or in a non-separated position with the prefix po- in the position after the noun (Buy me fresher newspapers).

The compound comparative degree denotes both a greater and lesser degree of manifestation of a characteristic and is formed as follows:

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

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

1) the compound comparative degree is broader in meaning, since it denotes not only a greater, but also a lesser degree of manifestation of a characteristic;

2) the compound comparative degree changes in the same way as the positive degree of comparison (original form), i.e., according to gender, number and cases, and can also appear in a short form (more beautiful);

3) the compound comparative degree can be either predicate or non-separate and separate definition(A less interesting article was submitted to this journal. This article is less interesting than the previous one.)

The superlative degree of comparison indicates the greatest/smallest degree of manifestation of the characteristic ( highest mountain) or to a very large/small degree of manifestation of the trait (the kindest person).

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

The simple superlative degree of comparison of an adjective denotes the greatest degree of manifestation of a characteristic and is formed as follows:

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

When forming simple superlatives comparisons can be used the prefix nai-: the kindest.

The morphological features of the simple superlative degree of comparison of adjectives are the same as those of the positive degree, i.e., variability by gender, number, case, use of the attribute and predicate in the syntactic function. Unlike the positive degree, the simple superlative degree of comparison of an 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 characteristic and is formed in three ways:

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

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

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

The forms of the compound superlative degree, formed by the first and second methods, have morphological features characteristic of the positive degree, i.e. they change according to gender, number and cases, and may have short form(most convenient), act both as a definition and as a nominal part of the predicate. Forms of the compound superlative degree, formed in the third way, are unchangeable and act primarily as the nominal part of the predicate.

Not all qualitative adjectives have forms of 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 simple comparative and superlative degrees may be due to

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

2) with lexical meaning adjective: the meaning of the degree of manifestation of a characteristic can already be expressed at the base of the adjective - in its root (barefoot - * barefoot) or in the suffix (fat-enn-y - * fatter, evil-yush-y - * feisty, whitish - *whiter, bluer - *bluer).

Compound forms of degrees of comparison are not formed only for words with a semantic limitation, i.e. in the second case. Thus, there are no forms *more feisty, *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 positive degree endings to the stem: Ø for masculine, -а for feminine, -о/-е for middle, -ы/-идла plural(deep-Ø, deep-a, deep-o, deep-i).

A short form is not formed from qualitative adjectives, which

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

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

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

The short form has grammatical differences from full form: it does not change according to cases, in a sentence it appears primarily as a nominal part of the predicate (cases such as the red maiden, the white combustible stone are phraseologically 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 for some adjectives the following semantic differences are possible between them:

1) short form means overexposure a sign with a negative assessment, cf.: short skirt - short skirt;

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

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

Transition of adjectives from category to category

It is possible for an adjective to have several meanings belonging to different categories. In school grammar this is called “the transition of an adjective from category to category.” Yes, y relative adjective a meaning characteristic of qualitative ones may develop (for example: iron part (relative) - iron will (qual.) - metaphorical transfer). Possessives may have meanings characteristic of relative and qualitative ones (for example: fox hole (possessive) - fox hat (relative) - fox habits (qualitative). Qualitative adjectives, used terminologically, function as relative (voiceless consonants). When In this case, the adjective retains the type of its declension, but often changes morphological characteristics: qualitative ones lose degrees of comparison and a short form (for example, it is impossible to say * This consonant is deaf), and relative ones, on the contrary, can acquire these characteristics (With each word his voice became more and more honeyed , and his habits are becoming more and more fox-like.).

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 in relation to this object we will be able to perform.

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 and superlative degree of comparison of adjectives are needed. 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 become much more sparse if it did not contain 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 also 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 last group The suffixes -she- and -zhe- are also used in isolated cases, more as exceptions (thin - thinner, deep - deeper).

In addition, one cannot fail to mention that there is a certain amount words in which, 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). Besides, 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 for the most part in the 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 a 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 the compound form is created using the already known words “more/less” and the original form of the adverb - LESS loudly, MORE freely. 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 (boldest, 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!

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. 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 own 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 degree

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 put before this adjective the 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 there are certain rules that need to be followed:

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.

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 is 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.

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

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

From which adjectives can we form degrees of comparison?

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

Qualitative - means the characteristics by which an object or living creature may have in different degrees: sweet, sweeter, the sweetest.
Relative - they call the signs of an object or living creature according to 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.

Only from the first category can the comparative and superlative degrees of adjectives be formed (charming - more charming, the most charming), since it is impossible to 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: 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 example above, 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 this example it 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, ringing - 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 are usually the province of colloquial speech.
Sometimes the comparative degree of adjectives in Russian is formed using a different word stem: bad - worse.

It's worth remembering that simple form cannot be formed from every qualitative adjective. It so happened historically that it is simply impossible to form it from some words. For example, from adjectives such as “grand” or “businesslike”. After all, you can’t say: “grower” or “more businesslike.”

Unlike the positive, the simple comparative degree has no ending and does not change. For example, the adjective “light” changes according to gender and number: “light”, “light”, “light”, etc. In addition, it is declined according to cases. But the comparative degree of the adjective - “lighter” - is unchanged.

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

Complex shape

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 modifiers: “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 - caring. Similar to the comparative, the superlative may also lose 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 stated above, in comparative form it is invariably “lighter”. But in the superlative degree - “brightest”, it can change: “brightest”, “brightest”.
The compound form is formed by adding the words "most", "least" or "most" ("most", "most", "most") to the 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.”

As for the syntactic role, adjectives in this degree, as a rule, act as predicates: “A most amazing journey.” Less often - definitions: “It was a story about an amazing journey.” And in complex form, they most often serve as definitions: “He was smarter than everyone else at school.”

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.

The topic of comparative degrees of adjectives itself 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.

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 is 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. Each of them expresses a different level of possession of an object or a specific specific quality. For example: a resourceful boy (positive), but he can be more resourceful (comparative), and in a certain life situation even become the most resourceful (excellent).

From which adjectives can we form degrees of comparison?

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

Qualitative - means attributes that an object or living being can have in different degrees: sweet, sweeter, sweetest. Relative - they name the attributes of an object or living being in their relation to circumstances, actions or other persons, things: a telephone call, a wooden building. Possessive - indicate that something belongs to someone: Pushkin’s stanza, father’s parting words. Only from the first category can the comparative and superlative degree of adjectives be formed (charming - more charming, the most charming), since it is impossible to 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: cheerful - cheerfully (more cheerfully).

Comparative degree of adjectives in Russian

Information about comparative forms

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. It is worth remembering that not every qualitative adjective can form a simple form. It so happened historically that it is simply impossible to form it from some words. For example, from adjectives such as “grand” or “businesslike”. After all, it is impossible to say: “grower” or “more businesslike.” Unlike the positive, the simple comparative degree does not have an ending and does not change. For example, the adjective “light” changes according to gender and number: “light”, “light”, “light”, etc. In addition, it is declined according to cases. But the comparative degree of the adjective – “lighter” – is unchanged. In this form, words, as a rule, perform the syntactic role of a predicate: “Words of love are sweeter than honey,” and in some cases - definitions: “Make the jam sweeter.”

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 a complex form are inflected by case, change by number and accordingly by 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

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.” As for the syntactic role, adjectives in this degree, as a rule, act as predicates: “A most amazing journey.” Less often - definitions: “It was a story about an amazing journey.” And in complex form, they most often serve as definitions: “He was smarter than everyone else at school.”