Comparative forms of gut, gern, viel
You have already learned how to use the comparative form of some adjectives and adverbs. In this way you can compare qualities of people or things.
Example:
Basic form (positive): gut
Positive: |
Lisa kocht gut. |
Comparative: |
Max kocht besser als Lisa. |
Superlative: | Tarek kocht am besten. |
You already know these comparative forms:
gut < besser < am besten
gern < lieber < am liebsten
viel < mehr < am meisten
These forms are irregular.
Regular comparatives
We make the regular comparative form like this:
Positive: adjective-basic form (e.g. schwer)
Comparative: basic form + -er (e.g. schwerer)
Superlative: am + basic form + -sten (e.g. am schwersten)
Die Tasche mit den Flaschen ist schwer.
Nicos Tasche ist schwerer.
Der Koffer ist am schwersten.
Comparative with words containing umlauts
Many single-syllable adjectives with the vowels a, o or u take an umlaut in the comparative and superlative forms. This is also true of the adjective gesund, though it has two syllables.
Form | Example |
Positive: |
warm |
Comparative: |
wärmer |
Superlative: | am wärmsten |
Superlative with the ending -esten
If an adjective ends with -t, -d, -s, -z, -ß, -sch or -x, the superlative ending is -esten. The extra e makes the word easier to pronounce.
Form | Example |
Positive: | kalt |
Comparative: | kälter |
Superlative: | am kältesten |
Form | Example |
Positive: | heiß |
Comparative: | heißer |
Superlative: | am heißesten |