Gern degrees of comparison. Comparison and degrees of comparison in German. Positive degree of comparison

German adjectives, indicating quality,(and also adverbs)in Germanhave three degrees of comparison:

— positive(der Positive) : dick (thick)
- comparative (der Komparativ) : dick er(thicker)
- excellent(der Superlativ) : am dick sten (der dick ste) (the thickest)

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

The comparative form is formed by adding the suffix -er to the short form of the adjective and shows that this feature is inherent in some object or phenomenon to a greater extent than another:
klein - kleiner, laut - lauter, alt - älter, groß - größer

When forming the comparative and superlative degrees of comparison, most monosyllabic adjectives with root vowels -a, -o, -u accept umlaut:
alt - älter - am ältesten
groß - größer - am größten
jung- junger- am Jungsten

DerBruderist ä lter alsSchwester - Brother is older than sister

DieseSchuleist größ er alsunserHaus — This school is bigger than our house.

Ihr ä lterer Bruder —Her older brother

Seine jü ngere Schwester — His younger sister

The comparative degree of adjectives in a sentence can be used:

as a nominal part of the predicate

Dieses Bild ist schöner. — This picture is more beautiful (more beautiful).

Jenes Gebäude ist kleiner. — That building is smaller.

as a definition. In this case, the adjective comes before the noun and is declined like an adjective in the positive degree. Those. to the comparative degree (to -er), taken as a basis, the usual endings of adjectives are added:

DortscheinteinehellereLampe . — There is a brighter light there.

Wir suchen eine kleinere (größere) Wohnung. - We are looking for a smaller (larger) apartment.

Ich brauche ein en billigere n Computer. - I need a cheaper computer (the article has changed).

If a comparative adjective is followed by a comparison, then the conjunction is used als:

Dein Koffer ist leichter als meiner - Your suitcase is lighter than mine.

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

Die Tage wurden immer k ürzer. — The days were getting shorter.

DieserSportleristjetztnochst ä rker . - This athlete is now even stronger.

Gestern war es bedeutend w ärmer. — Yesterday it was much warmer.

A comparative adjective can also become a noun:

Nichts Interessantes. - Nothing interesting.

Es gibt nichts Interessant er es als Fußball. - There is nothing more interesting than football.

Haben Sie nicht etwas Billigeres? - Don’t you have anything cheaper?

Der Klügere gibt nach. - (More) smart is inferior.

. Superlative

Superlative shows that a given sign is inherent in some object or phenomenon Vhighest degree compared to others:

Er ist der beste Schüler in der Klasse. - He is the best student in the class.

Sie ist die schönste Frau in der Stadt. - She is the most beautiful woman in the city.

The superlative form is formed by adding the suffix — st or, if the adjective ends in — d, — t, — s, — x, — z, -ß , — los, — haft, then the suffix — est:alt— am ä ltesten, jung - amjü ngsten, groß — amgröß ten

Die ä lteste Dame - the oldest lady

Dasjü ngste Kind - youngest child

Superlative adjectives can also serve two functions in a sentence:

as a nominal part of the predicate and has an unchangeable form. It is formed using a particle am and suffix -sten: am kleinsten (smallest, least of all), am schönsten (most beautiful, most beautiful of all), am größten (largest, most of all)

Dieses Zimmer ist am kleinsten. — This room is the smallest.

Unsere Stadt ist am schönsten. — Our city is the most beautiful.

as a definition. Then the adjective 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. Nominative: der kleinste Tisch, die hellste Lampe, das größte Fenster, Genitive: des kleinsten Tisches, der hellsten Lampe, des größten Fensters.

Adjectives that take umlaut in the comparative degree also retain it in the superlative degree.

Some adjectives have forms like sumlaut, So and without:

glatt- glatter— am glattesten

glatt- glatter— am glattesten

Degrees of comparison should be remembered 6 adjectives, because their education does not follow general rules:

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

03/10/2014 MONDAY 00:00

GRAMMAR

In this article we will look at comparison and degrees of comparison - Vergleich und Vergleichsstufen.

1. When stating equality, the construction is used so + positive adjective + wie or ebenso + positive adjective + wie:

Sie ist so alt wie ich.

She is the same age as me.

Er ist ebenso klug wie sie.

He is as smart as she is.

Die Tochter ist so groß, wie ihre Mutter ist.

The daughter is as tall as her mother.

When negated, this construction expresses inequality:

Die Tochter ist nicht so groß wie ihre Mutter.

The daughter is not as tall as her mother.

2. The main form of expressing inequality is the construction: comparative adjective + als:

Die Mutter ist größer als ihre Tochter.

The mother is taller than her daughter.

The second member of this comparative construction can be a subordinate clause:

Der Enkel ist größer, als sein Großvater gewesen ist.

The grandson is taller than his grandfather was.

When negated, this construction expresses equality:

Der Sohn ist nicht größer als sein Vater.

The son is not higher than his father.

3. To indicate a lower degree of quality when comparing, it is used weniger + positive adjective + als:

Diese Stadt ist weniger schön als jene.

This city is not as beautiful as that one./This city is less beautiful than that one.

4. When comparing two qualities of one person or object, the construction is used mehr + positive adjective + als:

Er ist mehr schlau als klug.

He is more cunning than smart.

5. When comparing two qualities of one person or object and excluding the second quality, the constructions are used eher + positive adjective + als:

Sie ist eher gleichgültig als ärgerlich.

She is more indifferent than angry.

6. Comparison expresses construction noch einmal/doppelt + so + positive adjective + wie; zweimal + so + positive adjective + wie etc.:

Er ist noch einmal so groß wie ich.

He's twice as tall as me.

Mein Zimmer ist doppelt so groß wie das Zimmer meines Bruders.

My room is twice the size of my brother's room.

Deutschland ist fast neunmal so groß wie die Schweiz.

Germany is almost nine times larger than Switzerland.

7. Comparison can be strengthened or weakened with the help of particles:

• The comparison is strengthened to a positive degree by the particles ebenso, genauso, geradeso:

Er ist ebenso klug wie sie.

He is as smart as she is.

Er ist genauso klug wie sein Bruder.

He is just as smart as his brother.

Sie ist geradeso groß wie er.

She is exactly the same height as him.

• Comparison to a comparative degree can be enhanced by particles viel, weit, bedeutend, wesentlich:

Er ist viel größer als sein Bruder.

He is much taller than his brother.

Er ist weit größer als sein Bruder.

He is much/much taller than his brother.

Er ist bedeutend/wesentlich größer als sein Bruder.

He is significantly/significantly taller than his brother.

Comparison can be weakened to a comparative degree by particles etwas, ein bisschen, ein wenig:

Der Weg war etwas anstrengender.

The road was somewhat/a little more tiring.

• The superlative degree can be enhanced by the particles weitaus, bei weitem:

Er ist der weitaus Beste unter den Kandidaten.

He is far/significantly superior to all candidates.

In addition, superlatives can be used to enhance aller-, allerbest-, allerletzt- etc.:

Er war der allerälteste Einwohner.

He was the oldest resident.

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 an 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 when forming 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 a 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 is usually used as the adverb weniger with a positive step. 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 Studenten

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.

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: 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 (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