Grammar

Comparison (2)

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)

A bag with a weight indication of 7 kg, a bag with a weight of 4 kg and a suitcase with a weight of 10 kg
null DW

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, , -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