Form the comparative degree of adjectives. The adjective name of the degree of comparison of adjective names is a simple form of the comparative degree of adjectives, the basis of the initial form -ee(s)-e-she

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 Russian", you need to find out how this part of speech differs from all others. And she really has a lot of features. It is hard to imagine our speech without this colorful, graceful group. With the help of adjectives, we describe appearance (short, handsome, unsightly), character (kind, grouchy, difficult), age (young, old). However, not only human qualities, but many other things can be represented with their help. For example, not a single work of art is complete without the use of adjectives. And even more so the lyrics. Thanks to this part of speech, stories, poems, novels acquire expressiveness and figurativeness.

Helps to form artistic means, as epithets (dazzling beauty, wonderful morning), metaphors of a stone heart), comparisons (looks like the happiest; the sky is like an 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 - to give any text dynamics.

What is a degree?

Anyone who studies the Russian language faces this question. The degree of comparison of adjectives is a characteristic that helps to compare one object with another.

For example, we have 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 conclude: one ball more another. We can approach this issue from a different angle and note that one ball smaller 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 objects one more of the same, but much larger. We need to distinguish it from others. How are we going to do it? Of course, use comparison. Only now you need to indicate that the third ball is different from the first and second at once. In this case, we say that he the largest among them.

It is for this that we need. We will describe each of their types in detail below.

comparative

When we have an adjective in front of us, which no one compares with anything, then 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 smarter ours.

In the first case, the adjective is in the positive degree. In the second, the suffix "her" 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 implies, its formation does not occur 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 have valuable information. The previous one turned out less valuable.

Now, with the help of the word "less", we indicated a sign that manifested itself to a lesser extent.

It is worth remembering that the degrees of comparison of adjectives in Russian, regardless of varieties, are formed only from possessive or relative ones that do not have this ability.

Superlatives

In some situations, we need not only to compare one object or phenomenon with another, but to distinguish it from all similar ones. And here we will also come to the aid of the degree of comparison of adjectives in Russian. This degree of comparison is called excellent, which already implies the highest limit.

Like comparative, it has two varieties.

With the help of 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 singled out the athlete Ivanov among other members of the team.

Next example: New tulle the most beautiful from what 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 composite.

Sometimes it can be accompanied by the prefix nai- to enhance: the most beautiful.

Peculiarities

In some cases, the 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 have good evening. Let's try to form a chain of degrees of comparison.

In a simple comparison, we will see that the word "good" does not exist. He is replaced by "better". And for the word "bad" let's choose "worse". Such a phenomenon in Russian is called suppletivism of the foundations. 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 Russian".

Now this rule will not cause you any difficulties, since it is quite simple.

ONLY QUALITATIVE ADJECTS HAVE COMPARATIVE DEGREES!

Qualitative adjectives differ in that they can denote a feature in varying degrees of its manifestation ( large - larger - largest). These forms are called degrees of comparison:

    Comparative

    excellent

The paradigm of degrees of comparison also includes the adjective from which forms of degrees of comparison are formed. The semantic basis of the degrees of comparison is a quantitative assessment of the feature measure. In the paradigm of degrees of comparison, the original adjective is called the positive degree form.

Comparative degree (comparative) - denotes a quality that is in any subject to a greater extent than in another, the name of which is put in the form of a gender case or nominative case; the latter is preceded by comparative union How(truth is more precious than gold).

Superlative (superlative) - denotes the highest degree of quality in any subject compared to another: favorite writer; are declined like normal adjectives.

Comparative and superlative degrees can be expressed in simple (synthetic) and complex (analytical) forms.

comparative

simple form comparative degree does not change by gender, number and case; and therefore it must be able to distinguish it from the form of the comparative degree of the adverb. If a word of this type is syntactically related to a noun, then compare the degree of the adjective, if related to a verb, then compare the degree of the adverb ( oak is stronger than birch- adjunct; he gripped the handle tighter- adverb)

Forms of the comparative degree tend to be used in a position when connected, i.e. in the role of a predicate, but can also be a definition.

Formed from the base of the original adjective with the help of suffixes - her (s) - bolder,whiter(productive way) or -e, -she - more expensive, richer(unproductive way).

From adjectives with stem to k, g, x and some words with stems in d, t, st comparative degree is formed by means of a suffix –e(at the same time, the final consonant stems alternate with hissing ones) ( loud - louder, quiet - quieter, cool - cooler). In adjectives on -OK and -to the generating stem is truncated, the remaining final consonant alternates with a hissing or paired soft ( high is higher, low is lower).

Comparative forms with suffix –she single ( distant - further, early - earlier, long - longer).

From three adjectives, the form is formed in a suppletive way ( small - less, good - better, bad - worse).

Forms of the comparative degree are not formed from adjectives that name signs that do not change in degrees. Sometimes they are not formed in accordance with the usage, and not the meaning ( dilapidated, alien, scanty).

A complex form of degrees of comparison is formed by adding the word more. Moreover, such combinations can be formed with short form (faster, more red).

Superlatives

simple form superlatives has features in its meaning: in addition to the above basic meaning of the superiority of quality in an object compared to other objects, this form can denote the highest, ultimate degree of quality in any object without comparison with others. In other words, it can denote an irrespectively high degree of quality: worst enemy the kindest being.

A simple form is formed by adding a suffix –eysh (-aysh). At the same time, it is not formed from all adjectives; usually those lexemes do not have it, from which the form of the comparative degree is not formed. It may also be absent in those forms that have the form of a comparative degree. These are quality adjectives with suffixes –ast-, -ist, as well as many words with suffixes - liv-, -chiv-, -k-(narrow - narrower, hairy - hairier, silent - more silent).

A complex form is formed by combining a qualitative adjective and the word most. It is not related to lexical restrictions: the reddest, the kindest, the narrowest.

For adjectives with suffixes –ovat-(-evat-) no form of superlative degree is formed, tk. the feature incompleteness value is incompatible with the feature high degree value ( the most deaf, the most deaf).

The superlative form denotes the highest degree of quality. In contrast to the comparative degree, superlative forms cannot express a comparative assessment of the degree of a feature in the same subject and in two subjects.

Adjectives ( Adjectives ) are words that express qualities, attributes of objects. They answer the question which?. In a sentence, they usually define a noun. AT English language they do not change either by gender, or by numbers, or by cases:

a little girl - a little girl

a little boy - little boy

little children - little children

With a little boy - with a little boy.

Adjectives change only in degrees of comparison (Degrees of Comparison). There are three degrees of comparison of adjectives: positive (Positive Degree), comparative (Comparative Degree), excellent (Superlative Degree).

Rules for the formation of degrees of comparison of adjectives.

Adjectives in a positive degree do not have any endings, for example: quick (fast), slow (slow), old (old), new (new). Comparative and superlative degrees are formed using the suffixes -er and -est or by adding the words more (more) and most (most). The choice of method depends on the original form of the adjective.

One-syllable and some two-syllable adjectives form the comparative with the suffix -er and the superlative with the suffix -est. With the help of the suffixes -er, -est, two-syllable adjectives ending in -er, -ow, -y, -le (clever, narrow, early, simple) form degrees of comparison.

Here are some examples:

One-syllable and two-syllable adjectives

positive degree comparative Superlatives
high - high higher - higher, higher highest - the highest
small - small smaller - less smallest - smallest, smallest
strong - strong stronger - stronger, stronger strongest - the strongest
cheap - cheap cheaper - cheaper, cheaper cheapest - the cheapest
quick - fast quicker - faster quickest - the fastest
new - new newer - newer newest - the newest
clean - clean cleaner - cleaner, cleaner cleanest - the cleanest
cold - cold colder - colder, colder coldest - the coldest
short - short shorter - shorter, shorter shortest - the shortest
great - great, big greater - more greatest - the greatest, greatest
weak - weak weaker - weaker weakest - the weakest
deep - deep deeper - deeper, deeper deepest - the deepest
low - low lower - lower lowest - the lowest
clever - smart cleverer - smarter, smarter cleverest - the smartest, the smartest
narrow - narrow narrower - narrower narrowest - the narrowest
shallow - small shallower - smaller shallowest - the smallest

When writing, certain spelling rules must be observed.

1. If the adjective has a short vowel and ends in one consonant, then in the comparative degree and in the superlative degree this consonant is doubled:

big-bigger-big

big - more - largest, largest

Fat-fatter-fattest

thick, fat - thicker - the thickest

Wet-wetter-wettest

wet, wet – wetter – wettest

sad-sadder-saddest

sad, sad - more sad - the saddest

thin - thinner - thinnest

thin, thin - thinner - thinnest

2. If the adjective ends with a letter -y with a preceding consonant, then in the comparative and superlative degrees the letter y changes to i:

Easy - easier - easiest

light - lighter - lightest, lightest

early-earlier-earliest

early – earlier – earliest

dry-drier-driest

dry, arid – drier – driest

But the word shy (shy, fearful) does not obey this rule and forms degrees of comparison as follows:

shy - shyer - shyest.

3. If the adjective ends with a letter -e, then in comparative and superlative degrees is added -r, -st:

wide - wider - widest

wide - wider - widest, widest

late - later - latest

late – later – latest

fine-finer-finest

good, beautiful - better - the best

simple - simpler - simplest

simple - easier - simplest

Polysyllabic adjectives, i.e. adjectives of three or more syllables form degrees of comparison with more for the comparative and most for the superlative. Consider the following examples:

Polysyllabic adjectives

positive degree comparative Superlatives
interesting - interesting more interesting - more interesting most interesting - the most interesting
beautiful - beautiful more beautiful - more beautiful most beautiful - the most beautiful
expensive - expensive more expensive - more expensive most expensive - the most expensive
difficult - difficult more difficult - more difficult most difficult - the most difficult
dangerous - dangerous more dangerous - more dangerous most dangerous - the most dangerous
important - important more important - more important most important - the most important
comfortable - comfortable more comfortable - more comfortable most comfortable - the most comfortable

In the same way, i.e. using the words more for the comparative degree and most for the superlative degree, form degrees of comparison of some disyllabic words that end in -ed and -

Degrees of comparison are a variable morphological feature of quality adjectives. There are 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 indicated feature is more characteristic of this object 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.

A simple form of the comparative degree is formed by adding the inflectional suffixes -ee / -ee, -e, as well as the unproductive suffix -she to the base of the adjective: warm - warmer, warmer (colloquial); loud - louder; thin - thinner. In the form deeper (from deep), the suffix -zhe is used. If there is a suffix -k- or -ok- at the end of the stem, then it is often truncated: low - lower; distant - farther. From adjectives, small, bad, good forms of the comparative degree are formed with a change in the root: less, worse, better. AT colloquial speech the prefix 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 - smaller.

Often the formation of a simple form of the comparative degree is hindered by the lexical meaning of the word; for example, it is not formed from adjectives with "absolute" qualitative value such as deaf, bald, dead, blind, or from adjectives denoting the speaker's subjective assessment of a sign: enormous, blue.

The compound form of the comparative degree is formed with the help of auxiliary words more, less: more beautiful, less loud. The meaning of this form is wider than the meaning of forms of the louder type, since not only a greater, but also a lesser degree of intensity of the feature is expressed (the simple form of the comparative degree indicates only greater degree sign).

The syntactic functions of the compound form are also wider than those of the simple form of the comparative degree. A 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. A compound form can be formed from almost any quality adjective, however, it is perceived as a somewhat bookish form and is used less frequently in colloquial speech than simple form comparative degree.

The superlative degree of adjectives indicates that the attribute of the object indicated by this form is presented in its maximum manifestation, in the highest degree compared to the same attribute in other compared objects: the smartest of the students in the class, the brightest room, or this object in other periods of its existence: Today, workers received the highest salary in six months.

Superlatives can also be simple or compound. A simple form is formed by adding the inflectional suffix -eysh- to the base of the adjective: beautiful - the most beautiful or -aysh- (the last suffix is ​​added only to the bases on k, g, x): thin - the thinnest. The prefix nai- is often added to this form: the most beautiful, the thinnest. From adjectives small, bad, good, the superlative form is formed with a change in the root: smaller, worse, better.

The compound superlative form is formed in several ways:

1) by adding a positive degree to the form auxiliary word the most: the smartest;

2) adding to the form of a positive degree of auxiliary words most, least: most intelligent, least capable;

3) adding to the simple form of the comparative degree of the auxiliary word everything (if the characterized object is inanimate) or all (if the characterized object is animate): The investigation conducted by a private detective was the smartest of all; The most capable of all was the student Ivanov.

The most common compound form of the most intelligent type, used as both a predicate and a definition. Forms like smartest of all / all are used only as a predicate. Forms like most/least capable have the broadest meaning, denoting both the highest and the least lowest degree manifestations of a sign, however, these forms are used mainly in book speech (in business, scientific, newspaper and journalistic styles).

Modern Russian literary language / Ed. P. A. Lekanta - M., 2009

Adjectives and adverbs in many languages ​​of the world have degrees of comparison. In English these are Positive Degree, Comparative Degree and Superlative degree, in Polish - rywny, wyższy, najwyższy, in French - le positif, le comparatif, le superlatif. The Russian language was no exception, it has a positive, comparative and superlative degree of adjectives. How do they differ and what are their forms?

Degrees of comparison: types, table

The ability to form degrees of comparison is possessed by adjectives and adverbs formed from them.

There are three of them:

  • Positive.
  • Comparative.
  • Excellent.

Each of them expresses a different level of possession of an object or a particular quality.

For example: resourceful boy ( positive), but it can be more resourceful ( comparative), and in a certain life situation and become the most resourceful at all ( excellent).

What adjectives form degrees of comparison?

As you know, all adjectives in the Russian language are divided into several categories.

  • Qualitative - means the signs that an object or living creature may have in varying degrees: sweeter, sweeter, sweetest.
  • Relative - they call the signs of an object or living being in their relation to circumstances, actions or other persons, things: a phone call, wooden building.
  • Possessive - testify to the belonging of something to someone: Pushkin's stanza, father's parting words.

Only from the first category can a comparative and superlative degree of adjectives be formed (charming - more charming, the most charming), since one cannot say: “a more wooden building” or “the most Pushkin stanza”.

Adverbs that come from the qualitative category of adjectives can also form degrees of comparison: peppy - peppy (more peppy).

Comparative degree of adjectives in Russian

Before proceeding to consider the comparative degree, it is worth mentioning a little about the positive. This is the name of the initial degree of comparison (boring). In fact, it is considered a degree of comparison only formally. But the next is the comparative degree of the adjective (more boring, more boring). It serves to show that a certain object or person has a given quality in more / less quantity than someone / something else. For example: "This tea is stronger (stronger) than the one we drank yesterday."

Information about comparative forms

In the example above, you can see that the comparative degree in Russian can be formed in the following ways: using suffixes or by adding an additional word (in this example it is "more"). It turns out that we can distinguish 2 forms of the comparative degree of adjectives in Russian: simple and compound, or, as it is sometimes called, complex.

Ways to form a simple shape

There are several ways to form it.

  • With the help of suffixes -ee, -ee, -e, -she added to the base: peppy - more peppy. However, it is worth remembering that if suffixes of the comparative degree of adjectives -e, -she are used, then alternation of consonants at the root of the word may occur, and suffixes -k, -ok, -ek can be abolished altogether. For example: narrow - narrower, sonorous - louder.
  • Sometimes a simple form can be formed by adding all the same -her, -her, -e, -she, as well as the prefix on-. For example: soon - quickly, quickly - quickly. Adjectives formed in this way, as a rule, are the lot of colloquial speech.
  • Sometimes the comparative degree of adjectives in Russian is formed using a different stem of the word: bad - worse.

It is worth remembering that a simple form can not be formed from every quality adjective. It so happened historically that it is simply impossible to form it from some words. For example, from such adjectives as "tall" or "business". After all, you can’t say: “bigger” or “more businesslike”.

Unlike the positive, the simple comparative degree has no ending and does not change. For example, the adjective "light" changes by gender and number: "light", "light", "light", etc. In addition, it is inflected for cases. But the comparative degree of the adjective - "lighter", is unchanged.

In this form, the words, as a rule, perform the syntactic role of the predicate: "Words of love are sweeter than honey", and in some cases - definitions: "Make the jam sweeter."

complex shape

Unlike a simple one, it is formed not with the help of suffixes or prefixes, but by adding the words "more" or "less" to the adjective in a positive degree. For example: "Rembrandt was a more brilliant artist than most of his contemporaries, but he was truly appreciated years after his death."

Adjectives in a complex form decline in cases, change in numbers and, accordingly, in gender, while "more" and "less" remain unchanged. For example: more powerful (powerful, powerful, powerful).

Both in simple form and in compound form, comparative adjectives in a sentence act as predicates or definitions: "Their relationship was closer and more elevated than that of anyone around."

Having considered the information on the comparative degree, it is now worth moving on to the study of the superlative. And it will help not to forget how the comparative degree of adjectives is formed - a table.

It briefly outlines all the information about simple and complex forms and their formation.

Brief information about superlatives of comparison

It serves to demonstrate that a certain object or living being is absolutely superior to any other in a certain quality, which is represented by them in the highest measure.

For example: "The house of the third piglet was the most durable and the wolf could not destroy it."

A little about superlatives

Knowledge of how the simple and complex comparative degree of adjectives is formed will help to deal with this topic. In the case of a superlative degree, both of its forms have similar names: simple and compound (complex) and are formed according to the corresponding principle.

They are formed according to the same principle:

  • A simple one is formed by adding the suffixes -eysh, -aysh to the stem: caring - caring. Similarly with the comparative, the superlative can also have the stem suffix -k: low, inferior. A word formed with a simple superlative form declines in cases and changes in numbers and genders. While the comparative degree of an adjective in a simple form is devoid of this property. For example: "light". As mentioned above, in comparative form it is invariably - "lighter". But in the superlative degree - “the brightest”, it can change: “the brightest”, “the brightest”.
  • The compound (complex) form is formed by adding the words "most", "least" or "most" ("most", "most", "most") to the adjective in a positive degree. For example: the brightest, the least entertaining, the most funny. In some cases, the comparative degree of the adjective plus the word "all" may also participate in the formation. For example: "This girl completed the task the fastest in the class." As with the compound comparative, the adjective in the superlative changes in the same categories. And the additional words: "most" or "least" remain unchanged: "The wolf ran the shortest way to Grandma's house and got ahead of Little Red Riding Hood." However, "most" also changes: "The wolf ran the shortest way to Grandma's house and got ahead of Little Red Riding Hood."

As for the syntactic role, adjectives in this degree, as a rule, act as predicates: "The most amazing journey." Less often - definitions: "It was a story about an amazing journey." And in a complex form, they most often play the role of definitions: "He was smarter than everyone in school."

Superlatives and Comparatives of Adjectives: Exercises to Consolidate Knowledge

To better remember all the material presented, it is worth practicing by doing a few fairly simple exercises.


By itself, the topic of comparative degrees of adjectives is quite easy. However, in order to avoid mistakes, it is worth remembering the basic rules, especially since in most European languages adjectives also have 3 degrees of comparison. Therefore, having figured out what they are in Russian, you can safely take on the study of the grammar of foreign languages.