Language/Hungarian/Grammar/Comparisons-and-superlatives

Hungarian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Intermediate Hungarian grammar → Comparisons and superlatives

Introduction

In this lesson, we will delve into the topic of comparisons and superlatives in Hungarian grammar. Understanding how to form and use comparative and superlative forms of adjectives is essential for expressing comparisons and describing the degree of a quality or characteristic. This knowledge will greatly enhance your ability to communicate in Hungarian and express yourself more precisely.

Throughout this lesson, we will explore the rules and patterns for creating comparative and superlative forms of adjectives in Hungarian. We will also provide numerous examples to illustrate each point, ensuring a clear and thorough understanding of the topic. Additionally, we will discuss any regional variations in the usage or understanding of comparisons and superlatives, as well as any interesting cultural facts or anecdotes that relate to this topic.

To practice what you have learned, we have prepared a series of exercises and practice scenarios. These exercises will allow you to apply your knowledge of comparative and superlative forms in various contexts. Detailed solutions and explanations will be provided to help you further reinforce your understanding.

Let's begin our journey into the world of comparisons and superlatives in Hungarian grammar!

Comparative Forms of Adjectives

To form the comparative degree of an adjective in Hungarian, we typically add the suffix "-bb" to the end of the adjective. However, there are a few exceptions and irregular forms that we need to be aware of.

Let's take a look at some examples:

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English
magas (high)	/ˈmɒɡɒʃ/	high
magasabb (higher)	/ˈmɒɡɒʃɒb/	higher
hosszú (long)	/ˈhoʃ.uː/	long
hosszabb (longer)	/ˈhoʃ.uːɒb/	longer
jó (good)	/joː/	good
jobb (better)	/jobː/	better
rossz (bad)	/roʃ/	bad
rosszabb (worse)	/roʃɒb/	worse

As you can see, the comparative form of the adjective is formed by adding the suffix "-bb" to the adjective. However, note that some adjectives undergo vowel harmony, resulting in a change in the stem vowel. For example, the adjective "magas" (high) becomes "magasabb" (higher) with the addition of the comparative suffix.

There are also a few irregular comparative forms that do not follow the pattern of adding "-bb" to the adjective. Here are some examples:

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English
jó (good)	/joː/	good
jobb (better)	/jobː/	better
rossz (bad)	/roʃ/	bad
rosszabb (worse)	/roʃɒb/	worse
kevés (few)	/ˈkɛvɛʃ/	few
kevesebb (fewer)	/ˈkɛvɛʃɛb/	fewer

In these cases, the comparative form is formed by changing the stem vowel of the adjective. For example, the adjective "jó" (good) becomes "jobb" (better), and the adjective "rossz" (bad) becomes "rosszabb" (worse).

It's important to practice and memorize the comparative forms of adjectives in order to use them correctly in sentences. Let's move on to the superlative forms of adjectives.

Superlative Forms of Adjectives

To form the superlative degree of an adjective in Hungarian, we typically add the suffix "- leg" to the end of the adjective. However, similar to the comparative forms, there are a few exceptions and irregular forms that we need to be aware of.

Let's take a look at some examples:

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English
magas (high)	/ˈmɒɡɒʃ/	high
legmagasabb (highest)	/ˈlɛɡmɒɡɒʃɒb/	highest
hosszú (long)	/ˈhoʃ.uː/	long
leghosszabb (longest)	/ˈlɛɡhoʃ.uː/	longest
jó (good)	/joː/	good
legjobb (best)	/ˈlɛɡjobː/	best
rossz (bad)	/roʃ/	bad
legrosszabb (worst)	/ˈlɛɡroʃɒb/	worst

As you can see, the superlative form of the adjective is formed by adding the suffix "-leg" to the adjective. However, similar to the comparative forms, some adjectives undergo vowel harmony, resulting in a change in the stem vowel. For example, the adjective "magas" (high) becomes "legmagasabb" (highest) with the addition of the superlative suffix.

There are also a few irregular superlative forms that do not follow the pattern of adding "-leg" to the adjective. Here are some examples:

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English
jó (good)	/joː/	good
legjobb (best)	/ˈlɛɡjobː/	best
rossz (bad)	/roʃ/	bad
legrosszabb (worst)	/ˈlɛɡroʃɒb/	worst
kevés (few)	/ˈkɛvɛʃ/	few
legkevesebb (fewest)	/ˈlɛɡkɛvɛʃɛb/	fewest

In these cases, the superlative form is formed by changing the stem vowel of the adjective. For example, the adjective "jó" (good) becomes "legjobb" (best), and the adjective "rossz" (bad) becomes "legrosszabb" (worst).

Again, practicing and memorizing the superlative forms of adjectives is essential for using them correctly in sentences. Now that we have covered the formation of comparative and superlative forms, let's explore some additional aspects of comparisons in Hungarian grammar.

Additional Aspects of Comparisons

In addition to forming comparative and superlative adjectives, there are a few other aspects to consider when making comparisons in Hungarian.

Using "mint" for "than"

In Hungarian, the word "mint" is used to express "than" in comparisons. It is placed after the comparative form of the adjective to indicate the second element being compared.

Let's see some examples:

• A kutya magasabb, mint a macska.

(The dog is taller than the cat.)

• Az autó gyorsabb, mint a bicikli.

(The car is faster than the bicycle.)

• A ház drágább, mint a lakás.

(The house is more expensive than the apartment.)

In these examples, "mint" is used to create the comparison between the two elements. The word order in Hungarian is different from English, as the comparative form of the adjective comes before "mint."

Using "ugyanolyan...mint" for "as...as"

To express "as...as" in Hungarian, we use the phrase "ugyanolyan...mint." The adjective is repeated before and after "mint" to indicate equality in the degree of a quality or characteristic.

Let's see some examples:

• A kutya ugyanolyan magas, mint a macska.

(The dog is as tall as the cat.)

• Az autó ugyanolyan gyors, mint a bicikli.

(The car is as fast as the bicycle.)

• A ház ugyanolyan drága, mint a lakás.

(The house is as expensive as the apartment.)

In these examples, "ugyanolyan" is used to indicate equality, and "mint" is used to connect the two elements being compared.

Now that we have covered the basic formation and usage of comparative and superlative forms of adjectives, let's move on to the cultural section of this lesson to explore any regional variations or interesting cultural facts related to comparisons in Hungarian.

Regional Variations and Cultural Insights

Comparisons and superlatives are an integral part of the Hungarian language, and their usage is fairly consistent across different regions. However, there may be slight variations in colloquial expressions and regional dialects that are worth noting.

For example, in some regions of Hungary, people may use different words or phrases to express comparisons. These regional variations add color and diversity to the language, reflecting the unique cultural heritage of each area. It can be fascinating to explore these regional differences when learning Hungarian and to appreciate the rich linguistic tapestry of the country.

Additionally, comparisons often play a role in Hungarian proverbs and idiomatic expressions. These expressions provide insights into Hungarian culture, values, and beliefs. Here are a few examples of Hungarian proverbs and idiomatic expressions related to comparisons:

• "Jobb félni, mint megijedni." (It's better to be cautious than scared.)
• "Olyan, mint a feketeleves." (It's like the black soup - referring to a difficult or unpleasant situation.)
• "Magas labda." (High ball - referring to a good opportunity or advantage.)

These proverbs and expressions not only showcase the creativity and linguistic richness of the Hungarian language but also offer glimpses into the cultural mindset and worldview of the Hungarian people.

Now, let's put our knowledge of comparisons and superlatives into practice with some exercises.

Exercises

1. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate comparative or superlative form of the adjectives in parentheses:

a) A kék ruha _______ (szép), mint a piros ruha. b) Ez a film _______ (érdekes), mint a másik film. c) Az alma _______ (finom), mint a körte. d) A madár _______ (hangos), mint a cica. e) A nyár _______ (meleg), mint a tél.

2. Rewrite the following sentences using the "mint" construction to make comparisons:

a) A kutya gyorsabb, mint a ló. b) Az étterem drágább, mint a kávézó. c) A könyv hosszabb, mint a novella.

3. Translate the following sentences into Hungarian:

a) Budapest is bigger than Debrecen. b) The cake is as delicious as the ice cream. c) My dog is smaller than your dog.

Solutions

1. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate comparative or superlative form of the adjectives in parentheses:

a) A kék ruha szebb, mint a piros ruha. (The blue dress is prettier than the red dress.) b) Ez a film érdekesebb, mint a másik film. (This movie is more interesting than the other movie.) c) Az alma finomabb, mint a körte. (The apple is tastier than the pear.) d) A madár hangosabb, mint a cica. (The bird is louder than the cat.) e) A nyár melegebb, mint a tél. (The summer is hotter than the winter.)

2. Rewrite the following sentences using the "mint" construction to make comparisons:

a) A kutya olyan gyors, mint a ló. (The dog is as fast as the horse.) b) Az étterem olyan drága, mint a kávézó. (The restaurant is as expensive as the café.) c) A könyv olyan hosszú, mint a novella. (The book is as long as the novella.)

3. Translate the following sentences into Hungarian:

a) Budapest nagyobb, mint Debrecen. (Budapest is bigger than Debrecen.) b) A süti olyan finom, mint a fagylalt. (The cake is as delicious as the ice cream.) c) A kutyám kisebb, mint a kutyád. (My dog is smaller than your dog.)

Well done! You have successfully completed the exercises. Now you are ready to confidently use comparative and superlative forms of adjectives in Hungarian!

Table of Contents - Hungarian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Pronouns and Verb Conjugation

• Personal Pronouns
• Present Tense Verb Conjugation

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Telling Time

  ---

Questions and Negation

• Asking Questions
• Negation

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Adverbs of Time and Frequency

  ---

Food and Dining

• Common Foods and Drinks
• Ordering at a Restaurant

  ---

Prepositions and Location

• Common Prepositions
• Expressing Location

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

  ---

Hungarian Customs and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Traditional Foods

  ---

Possessive Pronouns and Plurals

• Possessive Pronouns
• Forming Plurals

  ---

Hobbies and Leisure Activities

• Common Hobbies
• Discussing Interests

  ---

Hungarian History and Geography

• Important Historical Events
• Geography of Hungary

Sources

• Superlative adjectives in Hungarian: leg--abb [HungarianReference ...
• Hungarian grammar - Wikipedia
• Simplified Grammar of the Hungarian Language/Adjectives ...

Other Lessons

• Possessor
• 0 to A1 Course
• Nouns
• Aspect and mood combinations
• Future Tense
• Plural
• Plurals
• How to form the feminine
• Verbs and tenses
• Passive voice and indirect speech