Superlatives and comparisons Flashcards
Comparative: Better (moral qualities) -
According to Tommaso, Mother Teresa is better than Gandhi
più buona -
Secondo Tommaso, Madre Teresa e PIÚ BUONA di Gandhi (can also use “migliore”)
Relative superlative: Worst (moral qualities) - The worst criminal in the world was Hitler
il più cattivo - IL PIÚ CATTIVO criminale del mondo fu Hitler. (can also use “il peggiore”)
Relative Superlative: Best (ability, objects, abstract items) - Marco is the best athlete of the group.
Il miglore - Marco è IL MIGLIOR atleta del gruppo. (no “e” on miglior) (can also use “il più buono”)
Comparative: Worse (ability, objects, abstract items) - When it comes to mathematics, I’m worse than my sister.
peggiore - In matematica sono PEGGIORE di mia sorella (can also use “più cattivo”)
Comparative: Worst (ability, objects, abstract items) - What is the worst film of the year
il peggiore - Qual è IL PEGGIOR film dell’anno? (no “e” on peggior) (can also use “il più cattivo”)
Relative Superlative: Better (ability, objects, abstract items) - There will be a better opportunity
migliore - Ci sarà un’occasione MIGLIORE. (can also use “più buono”)
Comparative: Best (moral qualities) - I think Claudia is the best person I know.
la più buona - Credo che Claudia è LA PIÚ BUONA persona che conosco. (can also use “la migliore”)
Relative Superlative: Better (ability, objects, abstract items) - Marco is a better athlete than David.
migliore - Marco è un atleta migliore di David. (can also use “più buono”)
Comparative: General - She runs faster than you
più - Lei corre PIÚ veloce di te.
Relative superlative: General - I bought the most beautiful flowers
i più - Ho comprato I PIÚ bei fiori.
Importance and Hierarchy - Luigi Pirandello is one of the greatest Italian playwrights of all time.
il maggiori - Luigi Pirandello è uno dei MAGGIORI drammaturghi italiani di tutti i tempi.
Importance and Hierarchy - He was part of a group of minor poets
minori - Faceva parte di un gruppo di poeti MINORI.
Age - I have two older sisters and one younger one.
Maggiori e minore - Ho due sorelle MAGGIORI e una MINORE
Comparative: General - Fishing is less tiring than swimming
meno - Pescare è MENO faticoso che nuotare.
More than and less than rules: (di or che) Comparing 2 different objects or subjects and before numbers - Soccer is more interesting than golf
di - Il calcio è piu interessante DEL golf!
More than and less than rules: (di or che) Comparing 2 different objects or subjects and before numbers - There are more than 10 cats in my garden.
di - Ci sono più DI dieci gatti nel mio giardino!
More than and less than rules: (di or che) Comparing 2 aspects of the same subject, comparing adjectives, nouns, or adverbs, or infinitives that depend on the same verb. - It is nicer to travel than study
che - È più bello viaggiare CHE studiare.
More than and less than rules: (di or che) Comparing 2 aspects of the same subject, comparing adjectives, nouns, or adverbs, or infinitives that depend on the same verb. - Girls are more beautiful than good
che - Le ragazze sono più belle CHE buone
Absolute superlative. Masculine singular. I bought the (extremely) beautiful ring.
-issimo. Ho comprato il bellissimo anello.
Absolute superlative. Feminine singular. I bought an (extremely) expensive car.
-issima. Ho comprato una macchina carissima. (usage note: “caro” before the noun means “kind”, after “expensive”)
Absolute superlative. Masculine plural. I saw the (most) beautiful flowers.
-issimi. Ho veduto i bellissimi fiori.
Absolute superlative. Feminine plural The girls are (extremely) tall.
-issime. Le ragazze sono altissime.
Make things big, Masculine singular. - That’s a big ring!
-one. Quello è un anellone!
Usage note: In English “better” and “worse” are both adjectives and adverbs. In Italian they are separate words. Adjectives for better and worse are:
migliore (s) migliori (p) più buono/a/i/e peggiore (s) peggiori (p) più cattivo/a/i/e
Usage note: In English “better” and “worse” are both adjectives and adverbs. In Italian they are separate words. Adverbs for better and worse are:
meglio and peggio
You play better than I and your technique is better than mine.
Giochi MEGLIO di me e la tua tecnica è MIGLIORE della mia.
Usage note on absolute superlatives: Absolute superlatives often have multiple forms. “buonissimo” and “ottimo” both mean “very good” and are essentially interchangeable. Which version has a more conceptual connotation and would be used with “libro” or “scrittore”_
ottimo
Usage note on “migliore”, “peggiore”, “maggiore”, and “minore”: When do these words drop the final “e”?
Before: Vowels, and NOUNS that do NOT begin with a “z” or “s + consonant”
The English adjective is “good”. Give the Italian adjective, and 2 forms each of Comparative Superlative (“better”), Relative Superlative (“the best”), and Absolute Superlative (“very good”).
Adjective: “buono”(a/i/e) (gender/# applies to all) Comparative Superlative: “migliore” OR “più buono” Relative Superlative: “il/la migliore” OR “il più buono” Absolute Superlative: “buonissimo” OR “ottimo”
The English adjective is “bad”. Give the Italian adjective, and 2 forms each of Comparative Superlative (“worse”), Relative Superlative (“the worst”), and Absolute Superlative (“very bad”).
Adjective: “cattivo”(a/i/e) (gender/# applies to all) Comparative Superlative: “peggiore” OR “più cattivo” Relative Superlative: “il/la peggiore” OR “il più cattivo” Absolute Superlative: “cattivissimo” OR “pessimo”
The English adjective is “big” or “great”. Give the Italian adjective, and 2 forms each of Comparative Superlative (“bigger”, “greater”, “major”), Relative Superlative (“the biggest”, “the greatest”), and Absolute Superlative (“very big”, “very great”, “biggest”, “greatest”).
Adjective: “grande”(i) (# applies to all) Comparative Superlative: “maggiore” OR “più grande” Relative Superlative: “il/la maggiore” OR “il più grande” Absolute Superlative: “grandissimo” OR “massimo”
The English adjective is “small” or “little”. Give the Italian adjective, and 2 forms each of Comparative Superlative (“smaller”), Relative Superlative (“the smallest”), and Absolute Superlative (“very small”, “smallest”).
Adjective: “piccolo”(a/i/e) (gender/# applies to all) Comparative Superlative: “minore” OR “più piccolo” Relative Superlative: “il/la minore” OR “il più piccolo” Absolute Superlative: “piccolissimo” OR “minimo”
It is a very good idea
È un’ottima idea.
The difference between the two words is very small
La differenza tra le due parole è minima.
They ran very fast.
Sono corso velocissimo. (Remember, adverbs don’t agree by number or gender)
She danced very well.
Ha ballato benissimo.
My car is very old.
La mia macchina è vecchissima.
The English ADVERB is “well”. Give the Italian adverb and each of the following forms: Comparative Superlative (“better”), Relative Superlative (“the best”), and Absolute Superlative (“very well”).
Adverb: “bene” Comparative Superlative: “meglio” Relative Superlative: “il meglio” Absolute Superlative: “benissimo”
The English ADVERB is “badly”. Give the Italian adverb and each of the following forms: Comparative Superlative (“worse”), Relative Superlative (“the worst”), and Absolute Superlative (“very bad”).
Adverb: “male” Comparative Superlative: “peggio” Relative Superlative: “il peggio” Absolute Superlative: “malissimo”
The English ADVERB is “much”, “a lot”, “very”. Give the Italian adverb and each of the following forms: Comparative Superlative (“more”), Relative Superlative (“the most”), and Absolute Superlative (“very much”).
Adverb: “molto” Comparative Superlative: “più” or “di più” Relative Superlative: “il più” Absolute Superlative: “moltissimo”
The English ADVERB is “little”, “not very”. Give the Italian adverb and each of the following forms: Comparative Superlative (“less”), Relative Superlative (“the least”), and Absolute Superlative (“very little”).
Adverb: “poco” Comparative Superlative: “meno” or “di meno” Relative Superlative: “il meno” Absolute Superlative: “pochissimo”
I never had a worse week!
Non ho mai avuto una settimana peggiore.
The Crespis are my best friends
I Crespi sono i miei migliori amici.
Are you feeling better today?
Stai meglio oggi?
Your house is bigger than mine
La tua casa è più grande delle mia.
Francesca is the youngest of my sisters.
Francesca è la più minore della mie sorelle.
Small cup
ina - tazzina
Small ring
ino - anelloino
Small flowers
ini - fiorini
Small cups
ine - tazzine
big car
ona - macchinona
Big nose
one - nasone
Big trees
oni - alberoni
Big houses
one - casone
Alessio is the best dancer in the company.
Alessio è il ballerino migliore della compagnia
In the worst case we will leave tomorrow night.
In caso peggiore partiremo domani sera.
I really do not understand why he has been so successful with criticism. In my opinion, he is a terrible writer.
Davvero non capisco perché abbia successo con la critica. Secondo me, è uno scrittore pessimo.
Mondadori is the largest publisher of books and magazines in Italy
Mondadori è la maggiore editrice di libri e riviste in Italia.
