Lang comparative degree. Degrees of comparison of simple adjectives. Formation of degrees of comparison of adjectives in inflected form

Dieses Haus ist modern. This house is modern.

Jenes Haus ist moderner. That house is more modern.

Das ist das modernste Haus. This is the most modern house.

Quality may be inherent, may be inherent in this or that object to a greater or lesser extent, therefore qualitative adjectives (adj.) have in German, as in Russian, three degrees (degrees) of comparison: positive (der Positiv), comparative ( der Komparativ) and excellent (der Superlativ).

In the sentence Dieses Haus ist modern adj. simply denotes the quality of an object (this house). This form, which is called the initial form, is called the positive step. It indicates the quality of an object or process without regard to other objects or processes.

The sentence Jenes Haus ist moderner says that the object (that house) has a given quality to a greater extent than any other object. This form is called comparative degree..

In the sentence Das ist das modernste Haus adj. indicates that this subject is of the highest degree. quality. This form is called the superlative step...

Education of degrees of comparison

Comparative step. is formed from the base of the positive step. using the suffix – er. Excellent step. is formed from the base of the positive step. using the suffix –(e)st. Adj. ending in –d,-t,-s, -β,-z,-sch receive –e between the root and the suffix –st. For example: weit-weit-e-st.

Excellent step. has 2 forms:

1) The first form of the superlative step. formed with am + -ste-n: klein- am kleinsten; (small - least of all, least of all) fleißig- am fleißigsten; (diligent - more diligent than all (all); am ältesten; (old - older than all (all);

2) The second form is formed according to the rule, using the suffix –(e)st, and is used if adj. stands before the noun, playing the role of a definition. Adj. inflected and used with the definite article, for example: der kleinste Haus (the smallest house)), der fleißigste Student (the most diligent student); der älteste Sohn (eldest son).

Monosyllabic adj. with root vowels –a, -o, -u in the formation of comparative and superlative steps. comparisons usually get an umlaut:

stark - stärker - am stärksten;

lang- länger- am längsten;

warm- wärmer- am wärmsten;

kalt- kälter- am kältesten;

groß- größer- am größten;

kurz- kürzer- am kürzesten;

jung- jünger- am jüngsten.

Without umlaut, degrees of comparison form:

1) Adj. with diphthong –au:

laut- lauter- am lautesten (loud)

grau- grauer- am grausten (gray)

faul- fauler- am faulsten (lazy)

blau- blauer- am blausten (blue)

2) Adj. with suffixes –el, -er, — en, -e, — bar, -sam, -ig, — lich, — haft:

dunkel – dunkler- am dunkelsten (dark)

mager – magerer- am magersten (thin, skinny)

munter – munterer – am muntersten (cheerful)

tapfer- tapferer – am tapfersten (brave)

offen-offener – am offensten (open)

modern – moderner – am modernsten (modern)

gerade – gerader- am geradesten (straight)

dankbar – dankbarer – am dankbarsten (grateful)

langsam – langsamer- am langsamsten (slow)

sparsam – sparsamer – am sparsamsten (thrifty, economical)

mutig-mutiger – am mutigsten (courageous)

frostig – frostiger – am frostigsten (frosty)

artig – artiger – am artigsten (obedient)

stattlich – stattlicher – am stattlichsten (prominent, noticeable)

boshaft – boshafter – am boshaftesten (evil)

3) The following monosyllabic adjectives:

brav-braver – am bravsten (brave)

bunt- bunter – am buntesten (motley)

dumpf- dumpfer – am dumpfsten (deaf, muffled)

falsch – falscher – am falschesten (false, incorrect)

flach – flacher – am flachsten (sloping, flat)

froh – froher – am frohesten (joyful)

klar- klarer – am klarsten (clear)

knapp- knapper – am knappsten (close, limited)

rasch – rascher – am raschesten (quick)

rot-roter – am rotesten (red)

rund- runder – am rundesten (round)

sanft – sanfter – am sanftesten (soft, gentle, meek, gentle)

satt- satter – am sattesten (full)

schlank – schlanker – am schlanksten (slender)

starr – starrer – am starrsten (stubborn)

stolz- stolzer- am stolzesten (proud)

voll- voller – am vollsten (full)

wahr – wahrer – am wahrsten (truthful)

zart – zarter – am zartesten (tender)

Not as a general rule, the following adjectives are formed:

gut-besser – am besten, der beste(good - better - best of all, the best)

groβ – gröβer – am gröβten, der gröβte(big - bigger - most of all, biggest)

nah – näher – am nächsten, der nächste(close - closest - closest, closest)

hoch – höher – am höchsten, der höchste(high - above - above all, the highest)

Using degrees of comparison of adjectives

Adj. in comparative and superlative step. are used in a sentence, just like adj. in the positive degree, as a definition and nominal part of the predicate (predicative).

Let's give examples when adj. in comparative and superlative step. used as a nominal part of the predicate:

Dieser Weg ist länger. This road is longer. (This road is longer)

Dieser Film ist am interessantesten. This movie is the most interesting.

Das ist der interessanteste Film. This is the most interesting film. In this case, the full form is adj. used as a nominal part of the predicate and as a modifier of a noun.

If adj. acts as a definition, then it agrees with the word being defined in gender, number and case, i.e. used in full form. Comparative step. inflected in the same way as the positive depending on the accompanying article or pronoun, for example:

Nom.der weitere Weg

Gen.des weiteren Weges

Dat.dem weiteren Weg

Akk. den weiteren Weg

Nom.ein weiterer Weg

Gen. eines weiteren Weges

Dat.einem weiteren Weg

Akk.einen weiteren Weg

When comparing two items of equal quality, the adj. is used. in a positive degree and the adverb (eben)so “as well” and wie “as”, for example:

Bis zu diesem Dorf ist es (eben)so weit wie bis zu jener Stadt.

This village is as far away as that city.

When comparing two items with different degrees. quality used adj. in comparative step. and the adverb als “than”, for example:

Bis zu diesem Dorf ist es weiter als bis zu jener Stadt.

To express an increase in the degree of quality, the adverb immer is used in the meaning “everything” with adj. in comparative degree:

Es wird immer dunkler. It's getting darker.

To enhance the degree of quality, various adverbs can be used, most often viel and weit in the meaning of “much”, with adj. in comparative degree:

Dieses Gebäude ist viel (weit) schöner. This building is much more beautiful.

To express decreasing degrees. quality, the adverb weniger with a positive step is usually used. adjective:

Dieses Gebäude ist weniger schön. This building is less beautiful.

Sometimes comparative step. used to soften or limit the step. quality to find the average between two opposite quantities. For example, in order to convey the meaning of the Russian word “elderly”, the comparative degree is used:

ein älterer Mann old man

Comparative step. from the adjective letzt is used when talking about the two objects named above, to distinguish them:

Er bekam zwei Briefe. Den letzteren legte er in die Tasche.

He received two letters. He put the latter in his pocket.

As a definition, excellent step. the adjective is declined according to the weak declension, since the noun with a definition in the superlative step. used with the definite article:

No. der beste Student

Gen. des besten Students

Dat. dem besten Studenten

Akk. den besten Students

Instead of the definite article, it is possible to use pronouns, for example, possessive ones:

No. my best Freund

Gen. meines besten Freundes

Dat. meinem besten Freund

Akk. meinen besten Freund

If there is a comparison with the superlative degree, then the prepositions von and unter are usually used, for example:

Er ist der beste von (unter) meinen Freunden. He is the best of all my friends.

In the German language, there are three degrees (degrees) of comparison of adjectives (adj.) - positive (Positiv), comparative (comparative) (Komparativ) and excellent (excellent) (Superlativ).

Positive step. adj., as in the Russian language, is a derivative from which the rest of the steps are formed. comparisons.

Adj. in comparison step. (Komparativ) are formed using 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.

Adj. V excellent step are formed using 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 excellent step.:

am adj. -(e)sten.

In this form adj. 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 adjs. with the vowels a, o, u at the root of the word in compare. and excellent step. the umlaut will arrive. For example:

Adj. do not receive umlaut in comparison. and excellent step., if:

1) At the root of the word there is a diphthong au:

laut (louder) – lauter (louder) – der lauteste (loudest)

2) Adj. end with suffixes –ig, -bar, -er, -et:

teuer (expensive) – teurer (more expensive) – der teurste (the most expensive)

fleissig (diligent) – fleissiger (more diligent) – der fleissigste (most diligent)

dankbar (grateful) – dankbarer (more grateful) –der dankbarste (most grateful)

3) Monosyllabic adj. are an exception:

froh (joyful)–froher (more joyful)–der frohste (the most joyful)

klar (understandable) – klarer (clearer) – der klarste (most understandable)

voll (full) – voller (fuller) – der vollste (most complete)

There are a number of adj., which in comparison. and excellent step. are formed according to their own rules, different from the general ones. They can serve as both adjectives and adverbs, and their form of formation is comparable. and excellent step. should be remembered.

Comp. step. adj. used in a sentence most often with the conjunction als (than). For example:

Dieses Maedchen ist juenger als seine Freundinnen. – This girl is younger than her friends.

However adj. in comparison step. can also be used as a definition. In this case, before adj. the article is put.

Ich brauche eine genauere Bescreibung dieses Mannes. – I need a more detailed description of this person.

Adj. in excellent step. most often used as a definition.

Dieses Kleid ist das beste im Geschaeft.

Du siehst heute am besten aus.

You should pay attention to the use of adj. in excellent 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 read.

Declension adj. in comparison and excellent step. is carried out in the same way as the declension of adj. to a positive extent. There are also strong and weak endings here.

Adjective

Adjectives can be compared. German grammar, like Russian, distinguishes between three degrees of comparison.

This article presents all three degrees of comparison, the rules for their formation and examples of use.

1. Education

Correct adjectives:

<-e->:

Adjectives with endings<-e>:

Irregular adjectives:

2. Education rules

Correct adjectives:

The basic form of the comparative degree receives the ending<-er>. The attributive form of the superlative degree is used with the definite article and receives the ending<-ste>. The form of predicative use is preceded by the word , and the adjective gets the ending<-sten>:
→ schön er ~ der/die/das schön ste ~ am schön sten
→ klein er ~ der/die/das klein ste ~ am klein sten
→neu er ~ der/die/das neu ste ~ am neu sten
→ faul er ~ der/die/das faul ste ~ am faul sten
→ schnell er ~ der/die/das Schnell ste ~ am Schnell sten

Adjectives with forms having an insertion<-e->:

If the base form of the adjective ends in<-d>, <-t>, <-z>, <ß>or , then for better pronunciation an insertion is added to the superlative forms<-e->:
→wil d~der/die/das wild e ste~am wild e sten
→ schlech t~ der/die/das schlecht e ste ~ am schlecht e sten
→ stol z~der/die/das stolz e ste ~ am stolz e sten
→ hüb sch~ der/die/das hübsch e ste ~ am hübsch e sten
→ sü ß ~der/die/das süß e ste ~ am süß e sten

Adjectives with endings<-e>:

If the base form of the adjective already ends in<-e>, then the comparative form receives only the ending<-r>:
→leis e~leise r
→ müd e~müde r
→ bös e~bose r
→ gerad e~gerade r
→weis e~weise r

Adjectives with forms that have umlauts:

In some adjectives, the vowel becomes an umlaut in other forms. Most often we are talking about monosyllabic adjectives that describe a person:
→ a lt ~ ä lter ~ der/die/das ä lteste~am ä ltesten
→ st a rk~st ä rker ~ der/die/das st ä rkste ~ am st ä rksten
→gr oß ~ gr ö ßer ~ der/die/das gr ö ßte ~ am gr ö ßten
→d u mm~d ü mmer ~ der/die/das d ü mmste~amd ü mmsten
→ges u nd~ges ü nder ~ der/die/das ges ü ndeste ~ am ges ü ndesten

Irregular adjectives:

Irregular adjectives have different forms in other degrees that must be learned by heart.

3. Examples

Positive degree:

It is the basic form of an adjective and describes only one noun.

Attributive usage:
→ Petra ist ein schönes Mädchen.
(Petra is a beautiful girl.)

Predicative use:
→ Petra ist schön.
(Petra is beautiful.)

Comparative:

She compares two nouns and describes the difference between them.

Attributive usage:
→ Petra ist ein schönes Mädchen, aber Maria ist ein schöneres Mädchen.
(Petra is a beautiful girl, but Maria is a more beautiful girl.)

Predicative use:
→ Petra ist schön, aber Maria ist schöner(als ie).
(Petra is beautiful, but Mary is more beautiful (her).)

Superlative:

She compares at least three nouns and names the highest degree. When used attributively, the definite article is added.

Attributive usage:
→ Petra ist ein schönes Mädchen, Maria ist ein schöneres Mädchen, aber Eva ist das Schönste Mädchen.
(Petra is a beautiful girl, Maria is a more beautiful girl, but Eva is the most beautiful girl.)

Predicative use:
→ Petra ist schön, Maria ist schöner, aber Eva ist am schönsten(von allen).
(Petra is beautiful, Maria is more beautiful, but Eva is the most beautiful of all.)

4. Signal words

Positive degree:

so... - Also) ...
... wie- ... How
zu... - too much...

Comparative:

... als- ... how
viel... - much...
immer... - All ...

Superlative:

... von Allen- ... everyone / everything
... Genitiv - ... genitive p.

Adjectives are used not only to describe an object, person or phenomenon, but also to compare them. Adjectives in German have three degrees of comparison: positive (or basic), comparative and superlative.
Some adjectives do not change according to degrees of comparison - this is explained by the fact that not all qualities can be compared with each other.
Adverbs in German coincide with the unchangeable form of the adjective and change according to degrees of comparison in the same way.

Features of the formation of degrees of comparison

An adjective in the positive degree does not have any special endings. Endings appear only in the comparative and superlative degrees. Study the table carefully:

As can be seen from the table, comparative adjectives receive the ending "er" and in the superlative they have two options: with the preposition am And ending in "sten" or with an article and an ending "ste". These forms have the same suffix "est" but different endings. Let's look at the difference in the use of these forms using several examples:

Dises Auto ist schnell. Aber jenes Auto ist schneller. Und mein Auto is am schnellsten.
Ich habe zwei Schwester. Die schönste Schwester ist Monika.

So the form "am...sten" used without a noun, as part of a predicate.

If the adjective ends in -s, -ß, -st, -t, -tz, -z, -x, then before the suffix "est" a connecting vowel appears "e". For example: heiß – am heißesten/der heißeste

Those adjectives that end in -en, -el, -er, comparatively lose -e before -n, -l, -r, For example: trocken - trockner (dry - drier).

Another feature concerns monosyllabic adjectives with vowels a, o, u at the root. In the comparative and superlative degrees, these adjectives receive an umlaut. These adjectives include:

alt - old
arm - poor
hart - strong, harsh
kalt - cold
krank - sick
lang - long
scharf - sharp
schwach - weak
schwarz - black
stark - strong
warm - warm
groß - big
dumm - stupid
jung - young
klug - smart
kurz - short

For example: kurz – kürzer – am kürzesten, kalt – kälter – am kältesten

However, there are monosyllabic adjectives that form degrees of comparison without an umlaut. There are few of them:
stolz - proud
klar - clear
falsch - incorrect
voll - full
froh - cheerful
satt - full
brav - obedient
zart - gentle
schlank - slender, thin
rund - round

For example: falsch – falscher – am falschesten

Also, adjectives with the suffixes -er, -el, -en, -bar, -sam, -ig, -lich, haft, -e do not receive umlaut. For example, adjectives such as: langsam (slow), frostig (frosty), stattlich (noticeable).
Adjectives with diphthongs, that is, two vowels in the root: laut (loud), faul (lazy) also do not have an umlaut.

There are exceptions to every rule. The same applies to some adjectives and adverbs. They do not form degrees of comparison according to the rule and have their own forms that you just need to remember. But don’t be afraid, there aren’t many such words.

gut – besser – am besten (good – better – best)
wohl – besser – am wohlsten (good - better - best)
viel – mehr – am meisten (a lot – more – most of all)
gern – lieber – am liebsten (willingly – more willingly – most willingly)
bald – eher – am ehesten (soon – most likely – most likely)
nah – näher – am nächsten (close – closer – nearest)
hoch – höher – am höchsten (high – higher – the most)
oft – häufiger – am häufigsten (frequent - more often - most frequent)

If you want to compare something, then the union als will help you: Dein Auto ist schneller als mein. — Your car is faster than mine.

If you compare qualities that are the same as each other and want to say “the same as,” then the adjective is used in the positive degree together with the conjunctions so ... wie, ebenso ... wie, genauso ... wie.
For example: Dein Auto ist so schnell wie mein. — Your car is as fast as mine.

To say "The more the merrier" a construction is needed je...desto, For example: Je mehr, desto besser. The bigger, the better.

Lesson assignments

Exercise 1. Use adjectives to the correct degree.

1. Heute ist das Wetter (gut) als gestern. 2. Im Winter ist es (kalt) als in Frühling. 3. Hans arbeitet (viel) als Thomas. 4. Sie ist das (klug) Mädchen, das ich kenne. 5. Dieser Text ist (schwierig) als jener. 6. Dieser Haus ist (hoch) als alle Häuser hier. 7. Diese Jacke ist (teuer) in diesem Geschäft. 8. Ich trinke (gern) Tee als Kafee. 9. (wenig) habe ich auf dich gewartet. 10. Dein Koffer ist (klein) als mein.

Answer 1.
1. besser 2. kälter 3. mehr 4. klügste 5. schwieriger 6. am höchsten 7. am teuersten 8. lieber 9. am wenigsten 10. kleiner

Die Steigerungsstufen der Adjektive

Stellen Sie Adjektive in Klammern in der richtigen Form.

I. Comparative
1. Dieses Haus ist ___ (hoch), als jenes Haus mit rotem Dach.
2. Die Hunde sind ___(freundlich), als die Katzen.
3. Das Märchen ist ___ (interessant), als das Gedicht.
4. Der Weg aus Sankt-Peterburg bis Moskau ist ___ (lang), als bis Novgorod.
5. Diese Kirche ist ___ (alt), als dieses Museum.
II. Superlativ
1. Diese Schule ist ___ (modern) in unserer Stadt.
2. Die Kunstkammer ist ___ (alt) staatliche Museum in Sankt-Petersburg.
3. Ich habe ___ (schön) Mädchen unserer Klasse gern.
4. Der Hund ist ___ (gut) Freund des Menschen.
5. ___(kalt) Winter war in diesem Jahr.

III. Positive, Komparativ oder Superlativ
1. (hoch) Gebäude der Welt befindet sich in der (schön) Stadt Dubai. (The tallest building in the world is located in the beautiful city of Dubai.)
2. Das Haus, wo mein Mitschüler wohnt, ist ___ (hoch), als mein Haus. (The house where my classmate lives is higher than my house.)
3. (klug) Junge in der Klasse bekamm eine (gut) Note. (The smartest boy in the class received a good grade.)
4. ___ (gut) Lehrerin in der Schule ist unsere Klassenleiterin. (The best teacher at school is our class teacher.)
5. Dieser (hoch) Mann ist (dick), als mein Vater. (This tall man is fuller than daddy.)
6. Dieser Supermarkt ist ___ (groß), als jenes Geschäft. (This supermarket is bigger than that store.)
7. Dieses (nett) Mädchen ist meine (gut) Freundin. (This sweet girl is my best friend.)
8. Das Geschenk meiner Schwester ist ___ (gut), als mein Geschenk. (My sister's gift is better than mine.)
9. Dieser Fluss ist ___ (tief) in dieser Gegend. (This river is the deepest in the area.)
10. Dieser Junge ist ___ (stark), als sein Freund. (This boy is stronger than his friend.)

Degrees of comparison of adjectives

I. Comparative degree.
1. höher (This house is higher than that house with the red roof.)
2. freundlicher (Dogs are friendlier than cats.)
3. interessanter (A fairy tale is more interesting than a poem.)
4. länger (The road from St. Petersburg to Moscow is longer than to Nizhny Novgorod.)
5. älter (This church is older than this museum.)

II. Superlative.
1. modernste (This school is the most modern in our city.)
2. das älteste (Kunstkamera is the oldest state museum in St. Petersburg.)
3. das schönste (I like the most beautiful girl in our class.)
4. der beste (A dog is man's best friend.)
5. der kälteste (The coldest winter was this year.)

III. Positive, comparative or superlative degree of comparison
1. Das höchste Gebäude der Welt befindet sich in der schönen Stadt Dubai.
2. Das Haus, wo mein Mitschüler wohnt, ist höher als mein Haus.
3. Der klügste Junge in der Klasse bekamm eine gute Note.
4. Die beste Lehrerin in der Schule ist unsere Klassenleiterin.
5. Dieser hocher Mann ist dicker, als mein Vater.
6. Dieser Supermarkt ist größer als jenes Geschäft.
7. Dieses nette Mädchen ist meine beste Freundin.
8. Das Geschenk meiner Schwester ist besser, als mein Geschenk.
9. Dieser Fluss ist am tiefste in dieser Gegend.
10. Dieser Junge ist stärker, als sein Freund.