Language/Lingala/Grammar/Comparative-and-Superlative

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◀️ Descriptive Adjectives — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Adverbs ▶️

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LingalaGrammar0 to A1 Course → Adjectives and Adverbs → Comparative and Superlative

Introduction: Welcome to the lesson on comparative and superlative adjectives in Lingala! In this lesson, we will explore how to compare and contrast things using adjectives. This topic is important because it allows us to express degrees of comparison and describe the differences between objects, people, or places. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to form comparative and superlative adjectives in Lingala with ease. Let's get started!

Comparative Adjectives: To form comparative adjectives in Lingala, we use the word "ebimi" before the adjective. The word "ebimi" means "more" in English. Let's look at some examples:

Lingala Pronunciation English Translation
mbala m-ba-la beautiful
ebimi mbala e-bi-mi m-ba-la more beautiful
moto mo-to tall
ebimi moto e-bi-mi mo-to taller
moko mo-ko big
ebimi moko e-bi-mi mo-ko bigger

As you can see from the examples, we simply add "ebimi" before the adjective to indicate a comparative degree. It's important to note that the adjective itself does not change. Only the word "ebimi" is added.

Superlative Adjectives: To form superlative adjectives in Lingala, we use the word "ya liboso" before the adjective. The word "ya liboso" means "the most" in English. Let's look at some examples:

Lingala Pronunciation English Translation
mbala m-ba-la beautiful
ya liboso mbala ya li-bo-so m-ba-la the most beautiful
moto mo-to tall
ya liboso moto ya li-bo-so mo-to the tallest
moko mo-ko big
ya liboso moko ya li-bo-so mo-ko the biggest

Similar to comparative adjectives, the adjective itself remains unchanged. We simply add "ya liboso" before the adjective to indicate a superlative degree.

Cultural Insight: In Lingala culture, it is common to use comparative and superlative adjectives when describing people's physical appearance. For example, one might say "ye moko ya liboso" (the tallest person) or "ye mbala ya liboso" (the most beautiful person) to emphasize someone's outstanding physical features. This cultural practice reflects the importance placed on beauty and physical attractiveness in Lingala society.

Exercise 1: Now it's time for you to practice forming comparative and superlative adjectives in Lingala. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the adjective in parentheses.

1. Mabele ebi nzela __________ (long) (Answer: ebi nzela moko) 2. Moto ebi moko __________ (strong) (Answer: ebi moko ya liboso) 3. Sango ebi __________ (hot) (Answer: ebi sango ebimi) 4. Nkisi ebi __________ (powerful) (Answer: ebi nkisi ebimi) 5. Liboso ebi __________ (important) (Answer: ebi li-bo-so ya liboso)

Exercise 2: Translate the following sentences into Lingala using comparative or superlative adjectives.

1. My car is faster than your car. (Answer: Motuka na ngai ebimi ya liboso na motuka na yo.) 2. This book is more interesting than that book. (Answer: Livre eleki ebimi ya liboso na livre eleki ya liboso.) 3. She is the tallest girl in the class. (Answer: Ye eleki mwasi moko na kaka.)

Conclusion: Congratulations! You have learned how to form comparative and superlative adjectives in Lingala. This knowledge will allow you to compare and contrast things more effectively in your conversations. Remember to use "ebimi" for comparative adjectives and "ya liboso" for superlative adjectives. Keep practicing to reinforce your understanding and expand your vocabulary. In the next lesson, we will explore the usage of adverbs in Lingala. Stay tuned!

Table of Contents - Lingala Course - 0 to A1[edit source]


Greetings and Introductions


Nouns and Pronouns


Numbers and Time


Verbs and Conjugation


Family and Relationships


Adjectives and Adverbs


Food and Dining


Prepositions and Conjunctions


Travel and Transportation


Lingala Culture and Traditions


Professions and Hobbies


Questions and Interrogatives


Daily Routines and Activities


Imperatives and Commands


Sources[edit | edit source]


Other Lessons[edit | edit source]




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