Simple superlative. Noun adjective degree of comparison of adjective names simple form of comparative degree of adjectives base of the initial form -ee(s)-e-she

Degrees of comparison are a variable morphological feature of qualitative 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.

The comparative degree indicates that the designated attribute 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.

The simple form of 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, the prefix po- is often added to the simple form of the comparative degree, meaning the incompleteness of the manifestation of the attribute (`a little`): older - older, less - less.

Often the formation of a simple form of the comparative degree is prevented by the lexical meaning of a word; for example, it is not formed from adjectives with an “absolute” qualitative meaning such as deaf, bald, dead, blind, or from adjectives denoting the speaker’s subjective assessment of the attribute: 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, but 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 brightest room, or for this object 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 the adjectives small, bad, good, the superlative form is formed by changing the root: smaller, 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 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, not a single work of art can 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 means as epithets (dazzling beauty, wonderful morning), metaphors - heart of stone), comparisons (looks like the happiest; the sky is like 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 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.

(good, yellow, interesting).

Adjectives in English do not change either by gender, or by number, or by case. Adjectives in English can only be modified by degrees of comparison.

Adjectives can be simple or derived. Simple adjectives have neither prefixes nor suffixes. Derived adjectives contain suffixes or prefixes, or both at the same time.

Adjectives form, as in Russian, two degrees of comparison: comparative and superlative. The basic form of the adjective does not express comparison and is called the positive degree.

Adjective

An adjective is a part of speech that is used to denote a characteristic of an object.

• a clever boy
• an English book (English book)
• good butter (good butter)
• a cold winter

An adjective in English has three forms of degrees of comparison:

• positive degree
• comparative degree
• superlative degree.

Adjective degrees

Formation of degrees of comparison of adjectives

The basic form of an adjective is the positive degree. The comparative and superlative forms are usually formed from the positive degree in one of two ways:

The first way to form degrees of comparison of adjectives. If the form of an adjective in the positive degree consists of one syllable, the form of its comparative degree is formed using the suffix -er, and the superlative form - using the suffix -est, which are added to the base of the form of the positive degree.

The second way to form degrees of comparison of adjectives. From adjectives whose positive form consists of three or more syllables, the comparative degree is formed using the word more, and the superlative degree - using the word most, which are placed before the positive form of the adjective.

From two-syllable adjectives, the comparative and superlative forms are also formed using the words more and most.

Sometimes there are forms of two-syllable adjectives, formed using the suffixes -er and -est.

Most often these are adjectives whose positive form ends in -у, -er, -ow.

Some adjectives form special forms of degrees of comparison, and these adjectives must be immediately memorized in all forms.

The adjective old forms degrees of comparison in two ways. In most cases, the suffix -er or -est is added to the base of the positive degree form.

However, in cases where they talk about members of the same family - “elder brother”, “eldest of the brothers”, they use the form elder (elder) or eldest (eldest). To correctly write forms of degrees of comparison of adjectives, you need to know

• that when adding the suffixes -er and -est, the final letters of the adjective in the form of a positive degree change as follows:
• y changes to i after a consonant and does not change after a vowel: dry dry (dry) - drier - driest But: gay (cheerful) - gayer - gayest
• e is omitted: nice (good) - nicer - nicest

the consonant is doubled in one-syllable adjectives after a short vowel: big - bigger - biggest

Using an adjective The adjective is usually used in a sentence
as a definition of a noun and stands before the word being defined. An adjective can also be a nominal member of a compound nominal predicate (predicative) and in this case stand after the linking verb to be.

Not a clever boy. He's a smart boy. (Clever - definition.) Not is clever He is smart. (Clever is a nominal member of a compound nominal predicate.) alive (alive), afraid (scared), asleep (sleeping), awake (awake), ill (sick) and some others are used only as a nominal member of a compound nominal predicate.

To denote a lower or lowest degree of quality of one item compared to another, the adjective is usually preceded by the word less (less, less) or least (least of all).

Additional material.

Degrees of comparison of adjectives and adverbs.

In English, just like in Russian, adjectives and adverbs have three degrees of comparison:

1. positive
2. comparative
3. excellent.

In English there are two ways of constructing degrees of comparison.

1. For short (one syllable) words:

Notes:

The definite article is often used with a superlative adjective; When constructing degrees of comparison of adjectives in writing:

1. the final consonant with the preceding short vowel is doubled: big (bigger ((the) biggest
2. if there is a consonant before the final -y, then -y goes into -i:
   easy (easy ((the) easiest; early (earlier ((the) earliest
3. when adding -er u -est, the final -e is omitted: (see large above). Spelling features do not affect pronunciation.

2. For long (two or more syllables) words:

It doesn't make sense to lengthen the word any further, so in English we add another short word in front:

• beautiful beautiful
• more beautiful
• easily easy
• more easily easier
• most easily

To pass values least and least of all (least) the words less and least are used respectively:

• less beautiful
• least beautiful least beautiful

Note:

Sometimes monosyllabic words form degrees of comparison using more / less or most / least , and conversely, words consisting of more than one syllable have -er / -est at the end; it depends only on the sound - if some form is perceived better by ear than another, it is put into the sentence: crisp - more crisp - (the) most crisp sounds better than crisp - crisper (the) crispest.

The forms of degrees of comparison of some adjectives and adverbs in English are not formed according to the rule:

Note: The word little can be either an adjective or an adverb; in this case it is used only as an adverb little; if you need to construct degrees of comparison from the adjective small, we use the word small (see above).

Note: the forms elder / eldest are used more often when the speaker is talking about members of his family:

• My father is older than my mother. My father is older than my mother.
• This is my eldest son.

This is my eldest son.

In most other cases, degrees of comparison of adjectives are formed using method 1: old old er old

est

The word most with the indefinite article (a most) is not a degree of comparison, but means very: a most beautiful girl is a very beautiful girl.

Most of them will not be able to come.

Most of them won't be able to come.

• The definite article is preserved before the superlative form even if there is no noun: Not is the best. He is the best.
• To denote the comparative degree of an adjective, the word than is used; however, in order to avoid repetition of the same noun, the word one is often used as a substitute for this noun or a possessive pronoun in absolute form: My car is bigger than their one / theirs.

My car is bigger than theirs.

• These cigars are stronger than those ones. These cigars are stronger than those.
• In the second part of comparative constructions, you can use pronouns both in the objective case (colloquial version) and the accusative case (literary version, usually with an auxiliary verb): She reads more than him / he does.
• She reads more than him. You are taller than me / I am.
• You are taller than me.
• Didn't come earlier than them / they did. He arrived earlier than them but

I know him better than her. I know him better than her. I know him better than she does. I know him better than she does. I know him better than she does. When comparing the same quality, the combination as ... as (same (same) ... as (s) / as (same) ... as (s) is used: She is

as beautiful my mother

(She is as beautiful as my mother.

• When comparing quality in a negative form, the combination not so ... as is more often used (not such ... as: I am not so beautiful as her / she is.
• (I'm not as beautiful as her. When comparing with a multiple effect, the combination as ... as with numerals is used; the second as may be omitted if another comparison object is not mentioned in the situation:

My sister is twice as beautiful (as yours)

Sometimes a comparison can be strengthened with the help of additional words; more often than others, much is used for this: much more / less beautiful;

The Russian version of than..., the... is translated into English the + comparative degree of the adjective... the + comparative degree of the adjective:

• The faster you come the more you will get. The faster you arrive, the more you will get.
• The sooner you do it the better. The sooner you do this, the better.

Having saved us from the need to memorize endings, the English adjective over time (namely centuries) stopped changing in numbers, gender and cases. But, as you understand, all the difficulties have not yet disappeared: the Degrees of Comparison have not gone away and continue to “delight” students. Why are they needed? Really, the richest means of speech will not allow us to do without all these additional forms?

Yes, they won't allow it. All our lives we compare people and objects: someone is taller, someone is more beautiful, someone has a more powerful car. And all these thoughts need to be able to express in English. Every day we choose the best, most interesting and exciting. The use of degrees of comparison is relevant in any language, because we are constantly looking for superiority. If you have already started studying this foreign language, then this topic should be mastered 100%.

So, first, remember that there are adjectives quality (Qualitative) And relative (Relative). And only the first group can be used in our rule.

Three degrees of comparison of adjectives in English: positive, comparative, superlative degrees.

Sometimes we use an adjective simply as a characteristic. So, we use a positive degree. If you say that a certain quality is expressed more in one object than in another, then you will need a comparative. And in the superlative we want to show that the object acts as the very-most. Let's look at examples.

Positive or absolute is the usual form in which the adjective appears in the dictionary:

interesting – big – clever

This house is big.

Comparative degree of adjectives in English (comparative) used when it is necessary to compare two or more objects or persons. In Russian it sounds like this: bigger, more beautiful, more interesting, older.

bigger, colder, more difficult.

This house is bigger than that. This house is bigger than that one.

Superlative degree in English (superlative) shows that an object or person has the highest quality characteristics. In Russian it sounds like this: the best - the best; the kindest - the kindest; the smallest is the smallest. In English it is always accompanied by the article “the” and is also formed in two ways:

the biggest, the most interesting.

This house is the biggest. This house is the biggest.

Education

Now is the time to consider the formation of degrees of comparison in English. How to add? When? How to write correctly?

Only two of them are worth considering here. After all, the positive completely coincides with its dictionary form. The comparative and superlative degrees in English are formed taking into account certain features and rules. Divide all adjectives mentally into groups: monosyllabic plus disyllabic, ending in –y, -er, -ow, -ble(this will be the first), disyllabic And polysyllabic(second).

1. Simple (monosyllabic)

For comparison, add the suffix “er” to the base of the word, and to indicate superior quality - article the + adjective + “est”.

short - shorter - the shortest

short - shorter - the shortest

When adding suffixes there are some writing features:

a. If at the end of a word there is "y", and there is a consonant before it, then "y" changes to "i":

Lovely - lovelier - the loveliest

dear - cuter - the cutest

But if "y" preceded by a vowel, then no changes need to be made, just adding a suitable suffix.

b. If at the end of a word there is "e" then when adding suffixes “er” or “est”, only one is saved "e":

Simple - simpler - the simplest

simple - simpler - the simplest/simplest

c. If a word ends with a consonant and is preceded by one short vowel, that is, it has a stressed short syllable, then we double the last letter:

Hot - hotter - the hottest

hot - hotter - the hottest

And everything would be cloudless if not for exceptions to this rule. Therefore, when studying this topic, it is important not only to understand, but also to stretch your brain a little.

Exceptions

Good – better – the best (good – better – the best)

Bad – worse – the worst (bad – worse – the worst)

Little – less – the least (small – less – the smallest)

Many – more – the most (numerous – more – the largest) – by quantity

Near – nearer – the nearest (close – closer – closest) – by distance

Near – nearer – the next (close – closer – next in line, in time, in order)

Far – farther – the farthest (far – more distant – the farthest) – by distance

Far – further – the furthest (far – further – the farthest) – according to information, actions

Old – older – the oldest (old – older – the oldest)

Old – elder – the eldest (old – older – the oldest) – about family members

Late – later – the latest (later – later / later – last – latest in time / newest)

Late – the latter – the last

2. Complex (more than two syllables in a word)

To compare two or more qualitative characteristics, you must use "more", and characterizing the highest qualities – “the most”. In this case, the adjective remains unchanged.

popular - more popular - the most popular

popular - more popular - most popular

The English language is full of various exceptions. There is more than one thing in this rule. So, you need to remember a few more words that can form degrees of comparison in English two ways, i.e. using “er” and “est”, “more” and “the most”/”the least”:

Angry, common, friendly,cruel, gentle, narrow,handsome, polite,pleasant, serious, quite,simple, clever, sour.

In conclusion, I would like to remind you that the English adjective is very sensitive to what you add to it and from what side. Therefore, in addition to studying theory, engage in thorough practice, because only exercises will help you bring your knowledge to automaticity. Improve your language: use comparative and superlative adjectives and make your speech more literate, richer and more interesting.

Qualitative adjectives have degrees of comparison. This is how language expresses the fact that signs can have a greater or lesser degree. Tea can be sweet to a greater or lesser extent, right? And language conveys this content.
Degrees of comparison thus convey the idea of ​​comparison. They do this systematically. There are three degrees: positive, comparative, superlative.

· Positive - this means that the trait is expressed without assessing the degree: tall, cheerful, warm.

· The comparative determines a greater or lesser degree: higher, more cheerful, warmer, taller, more cheerful, warmer, less tall, less cheerful, less warm.

· The superlative expresses the greatest or least degree: the highest, the most cheerful, the warmest, the highest, the most cheerful, the warmest.

From the examples it is clear that the degrees of comparison are expressed in different ways. In the comparative and superlative degrees, the meaning is conveyed either with the help of suffixes: higher e, cheerful, highest, cheerful, or with the help of words: more, less, most . Therefore, comparative and superlative degrees of comparison can be expressed:

· simple forms: higher, highest,

· compound forms: taller, less tall, highest.

Among the simple forms in the Russian language, as in other languages, for example, in English, there are forms formed from another stem. Examples:
good, bad - positive degree
better, worse - comparative degree
best, worst - superlative
Words in the simple and complex comparative and superlative degrees change in different ways:
Comparative degree (simple): higher, lower - does not change.
Comparative degree (complex): lower, lower, lower - the adjective itself changes, change is possible by cases, numbers, and in the singular - by gender.
Superlative (simple): highest, highest, highest - changes according to cases, numbers, and in the singular - according to gender, i.e. as in a positive degree.
Superlative degree (difficult): the highest, the highest, the highest - both words change according to cases, numbers, and in the singular - according to gender, i.e. as in a positive degree.

Adjectives in simple comparative form in a sentence are part of the predicate:

Anna and Ivan are brother and sister. AnnaolderIvana. She used towas higher, and nowhigherIvan.

Other forms of comparison can be used both as a definition and as a predicate:
I approached more matureguys.
Guys were more mature than I thought.
I turned tothe oldestguys.
These guys are the oldest of those who study in the circle.