Grammar: Comparative & Superlative

Question 1

True or false: there are 7 types of comparative phrases?

1. They are as equal to each other

• Bill is equally as big as Ben

2. The are the same…

• Simon and Garfunkle are the same size.

3. They have the same…

• Hassen en Mouhsine have the same height.

4. The are both the same…

• They are both the same size.

5. They are the exact same (use for measurements)

• They measure the exact same centimeters.

6. Greater or lesser than what others have

• That sweater is bigger than my sweater
• My sweater is bluer than the sweater of Agnieska.

7. Inherently more one thing than another

• I find the sweater more purple than green
• My bedroom is more wide than long

Answer 1

True!

Question 2

True or false: We can view these as superlatives?

1. In order of superiority

• Big, bigger, bestest
• kind, kinder, kindest

2. Most

• Most fresh
• Most robust

3. The mostest

• The sweater is the biggest
• The rug is the whitest
• The chocolate is the nicest

Answer 2

True!

Question 3

‘Hassan is even groot als Mouhsine’ means?

Answer 3

Hassan is the SAME size AS Mouhsine

Question 4

What does ‘Hassan en Mouhsine zijn even groot?’ mean?

Answer 4

Hassan and Mouhsine ARE the same size

Question 5

‘Hassan en Mouhsine hebben dezelfde lengte’ means?

Answer 5

Hassan and Mouhsine HAVE the same height.

Question 6

What do dezelfde and hetzelfde mean?

Answer 6

The same

Question 7

What is the difference between ‘dezelfde’ and ‘hetzelfde’?

Answer 7

Dezelfde is for ‘de’ verbs (de auto)

Hetzelfde is for ‘het ‘ verbs (het boek)

Question 8

Give an example of using ‘dezelfde’?

Answer 8

We hebben dezelfde auto

(We have the same car)

De auto

Question 9

Use ‘hetzelfde’?

Answer 9

Ze lezen hetzelfde biek

(They read the same book)

Het boek

Question 10

‘Allebei’ means?

Answer 10

Both

Question 11

‘Allebei’ means?

Answer 11

Both

Question 12

Translate: Ze zijn allebei even groot?

Answer 12

They are BOTH the same size.

Question 13

Define ‘evenvell’

Answer 13

The exact same

Question 14

Translate: ‘Ze meten evenveel centimeters’

Answer 14

They measure the EXACT SAME centimeters.

Question 15

Ways to say there is a difference:

1. Geen van beiden
2. Neit even…als
3. Neit evenveel
4. Neit de/hetzelfde

Answer 15

1. Neither = Geen van beiden
2. Not the same…as = Even…als
3. Not the exact same = Neit evenveel
4. Not the same = Neit de/hetzelfde

Question 16

Adjective 》 comparative 》 superlative

Provide sentences for comparisons:

Adjective 》 ER 》 ST

Klein 》 kliener 》Kleinst (small))

Blauw 》 blauwer 》blauwst (blue)

Mooi 》mooier 》moist (pretty)

Lang 》 langer 》 Langst (long)

Prachtig 》 prachtiger 》prachtigst (beautiful)

Leuk 》Leuker 》leukst (fun)

Answer 16

De jongen is klien 》 het meisje is kliener 》de baby is het kleinst

          Adjective.                  ER.                              HET + ...ST

The boy is small. The girl is smaller. The baby is the smallest

het meisje is mooi 》het model is mooier 》Miss World is het mooist

The girl is pretty. The model is prettier. Miss World is the most beautiful

Question 17

Comparisons: Adjective 》 comparative 》 superlative

Rule: Double the consonant in the COMPARATIVE to ‘close the syllable’

Answer 17

Dik 》 dikKer 》het dikst

Thick, thicker, the thikkest

Dun 》 DunNer 》het dunst

Thin, thinner, thinnest

Question 18

Comparisons: Adjective 》 comparative 》 superlative

Rules for changing letters:

For long vowels, remove the second double from the comparativevand add into superlative:

GrOOt 》 groter 》het grOOst (big)

AangenAAm 》 aangenamer 》het angenAAmst (pleasant)

the consonant in the COMPARATIVE to ‘close the syllable’

Answer 18

Example:

Arnhem is groot 》Utrecht is groter 》 Amsterdam us het groost

Arnhem is big, Utrecht is bigger, Amsterdam is the biggest

Question 19

Comparisons rules: Adjective 》 comparative 》 superlative

If the adjective ends in an ‘f’, change the comparitive to a ‘v’, revert back in the superlative:

• lieF 》 lieVer 》 liefst

Sweet, sweeter, sweetest

If the adjective ends with an ‘s’, change to ‘z’, revert back to ‘s’ in the superlative:

• Vies 》viezer 》viest

Dirty, dirtier, dirtiest

Answer 19

Other examples of ‘V’

Leaf 》leaver 》leest
Lovely, lovelier, loveliest

Question 20

Irregular forms:

Adjectives 》 comparative 》 superlative

Goed. 》beter 》 beste (good, better, best)

Weinig 》 minder 》minst (little, less, least)

Graag 》liever 》liefst (like, rather, preferable)

Veel 》 meer 》 meest (much, more, most)

Answer 20

Examples:

• Ik speel goed, zij speel beter, hij speel het beste
(I play good, she plays better, he plays best).

• Ik graag thee, ik liever koffie, ik drink het liefst een biertjie
I like tea, I prefer coffee, I drink preferably a beer.

• Een kilo suiker is weinig, en pond in minder, een ons is het minst hoeveelheid
A kilo is little, a pound is less, an ounce is the least amount.

Question 21

COMPARATIVE: Using DAN

What do these phrases mean?

Die trui is groter DAN mijn trui.
Die trui is kleiner DAN mijn tui.
Mijn trui is blauwer DAN de trui van Agnieska.
Die trui van Thaves is mooir DAN die van Hassan.

Answer 21

That sweater is bigger than my sweater
That sweatervis smaller than my sweater
My sweatercis bluer than that sweatercof Agnieska.
That sweater from Thaves is prettier than the one from Hassan.

Question 22

What does ‘meer’ mean?

Answer 22

More

Question 23

Use ‘meer’ when comparing two adjectives (attributes) with each other:

• purple/green
• Wide / long
• Dead / alive

Answer 23

Ik vind die trui meer pairs dan green.

(I find that sweater more purple than blue)

Mijn badkammer is meer breed dan lang

(my bathroom is more wide than long)

Ze werd meer door dan levend uit het water opgevist

She was more dead than alive from the water retrieved.