Viel degree of comparison. Degrees of comparison of adjectives – Die Steigerung der Adjektive. Superlative degree of adjectives in German

Degrees of comparison of adjectives in German are represented by several forms: positive (Positiv), comparative (Komparativ), superlative (Superlativ) and absolutely superlative (Elativ).

Table 1 “Degrees of comparison of adjectives in German.”

Thanks to the table, you can understand that degrees of comparison of adjectives in German online can be divided according to the following criteria:

• The basic (positive) form (der Positiv), is characterized by a neutral definition without a pronounced attribute or quality. For example, a high level - ein hohes Niveau - this level is simply high, and not the highest or unsurpassed height.
• Comparative degree - the quality of an object or phenomenon is superior to similar properties or qualities of the object with which the comparison is being made, they may also be inferior to them. For example, a higher level - das höhere Niveau - this level, when compared, is higher than the original one.
• Superlative degree (der Superlativ) - the properties of an object or phenomenon are unsurpassed, that is, there are no analogues. Used to compare three or more objects or phenomena.

Comparative degree of adjectives in German

Comparative degree of adjectives in German language is formed with the suffix -er, which is added to the positive form. We suggest that you familiarize yourself in tabular form with the basic rules for the formation of a comparative degree.

Table 2 " Comparative degree of adjectives in German».

Superlative degree of adjectives in German

The superlative degree is formed by adding the suffix (e)st to the positive degree. Let's take a closer look at the superlative degree of the adjective.

Table 3 "Excellent" degree of comparison of German adjectives».

Degrees of comparison of adjectives in German: exceptions

Degrees of comparison of adjectives in German have such exceptions that do not obey the above rules. It is necessary to memorize such degrees of comparison.

Table 4 "Exceptions in degree adjective in German».

Exercises for degree of comparison of adjectives in German

To consolidate the material covered, we suggest testing your knowledge. Degrees of comparison of adjectives in German exercises

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 as in the Russian language, they are divided into positive, comparative and superlative.

Positive degree adjective is the adjective itself in dictionary form.

comparative is formed by adding the suffix “-er” to the adjective stem. And in a sentence the comparative degree is used with the conjunction als (than):

Gestern trainierte er langer, als heute. (Yesterday he trained longer than today.)

Schneller, höher, stärker! (Faster, higher, stronger!)

Superlative The particle “am” is placed before the adjective, and the suffix “-st” + ending “en” is added to the base of the adjective:

Gestern waren die Anweisungen von seinem Trainer am klarsten.(Yesterday the coach’s instructions were clearest)

In the superlative degree, the particle “am” is placed before the adjective, and the suffix “-st” + 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 an adjective with the particle “am” is invariable and in sentences with the correct word order it comes after the subject and predicate or, most often, at the end of the sentence:

Sein Training war gestern am schwersten. (His training yesterday was the hardest.)

The superlative degree of an adjective with a definite article is found in a sentence before a noun and is declined in different cases, like a regular adjective:

der schwerste Training - the 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), having vowels “a”, “o”, “u” as roots, 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 ( the reddest)

klug (smart) - klüger (smarter) - am klügsten (smarter than most)

bunt – bunter – am buntesten

falsch – falscher – am falschesten

klar – klarer – am klarsten

froh – froher – am frohsten

satt – satter – am sattesten

schlank – schlanker – am schlanksten

stolz - stolzer - am stolzesten

voll – voller – am vollsten

zart – zarter – am zartesten

4. Exceptions

Adjectives that form degrees of comparison in a special way:

hoch - höher - am höchsten (high - higher - highest (highest))

nah - näher - am nächsten (close - closer - closest, closest)

viel - mehr - am meisten (a lot - more - most of all)

gut - besser - am besten (good - better - the best)

gern - lieber - am liebsten (willingly – most willingly – most willingly)

wenig – minder – am mindesten (little – less – least of all),

bald – eher – am ehesten (soon – most likely – most likely).

5. Exercises to reinforce the topic

1. Put the adjective in the 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 the comparative or superlative degree And.

1. Das Wetter ist heute (schön) als gestern.

2. Er ist in der Klasse am (fleißig).

3. Läufst 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. Insert the correct form of the 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. Selectcorrectoption:

1.Der Fluss Wolga in Russland ist … als die Elbe inDeutschland.

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 derFernsehturm 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) kälter 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

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, such adjectives as: langsam (slow), frostig (frosty), stattlich (noticeable).
Adjectives with diphthongs, that is, two vowels in the root, do not have an umlaut: laut (loud), faul (lazy).

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 (many – 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 similar qualities 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

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.

The adjective denoting quality has in German, as in Russian, three degrees of comparison: positive (Positiv), comparative (Komparativ), excellent (Superlativ).

The basic form of an adjective is the positive degree. It names the quality of an object without comparison, to this extent adjectives are given in the dictionary.

The positive degree serves as the basis for the formation of the other two degrees of adjectives.

Comparative degree of adjectives in German

The comparative degree of adjectives in German is formed using the suffix -er, which is added to the base of the positive degree of the adjective:

Most monosyllabic adjectives with root vowels a, o, u(alt, arm, groß, jung, kalt, kurz, lang, stark, schwach, etc.) are accepted to a comparative extent by umlaut*.

The comparative degree of adjectives is translated into Russian by adjectives in the comparative degree.

• as a nominal part of the predicate:

When comparing objects with different degrees of quality, the comparative degree of adjectives is often accompanied by a conjunction als:

The comparative degree of adjectives can also be enhanced by such adverbs as immer (here: everything), noch (yet), viel (much, much), bedeutend (significantly):

• as a definition. In this case, the adjective comes before the noun and is declined like an adjective in the positive degree:

Superlative degree of adjectives in German

The superlative degree in German is formed using the suffix -(e)st**, which is added to the base of the positive degree. Adjectives that take umlaut in the comparative degree also retain it in the superlative degree.

Superlative adjectives can also serve two functions in a sentence:
• as a nominal part of the predicate:

The superlative adjective as a nominal part of the predicate has an unchangeable form. It is formed using a particle am and suffix -sten.

• as definition:

The German superlative adjective in its defining function agrees with the defined noun 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 the positive degree.

The defined noun, as in Russian, can be omitted.