Language/Shona/Grammar/Comparatives-and-Superlatives
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In this lesson, we will learn about comparatives and superlatives in Shona. These are tools we use to describe how things differ from one another or to identify the one(s) that are the highest or lowest in quality or quantity. Comparatives and superlatives help us express our opinions and make meaningful comparisons. If you're ready to enhance your Shona language skills, let's get started!
With the completion of this lesson, consider investigating these related pages: Plurals & The Shona Alphabet.
Comparatives[edit | edit source]
A comparative compares the characteristics of two related things. In Shona, we use " (mari)" to construct comparatives. " (mari)" means "more...than" or "less...than" depending on the context.
Here's an example to help you grasp this concept:
- Shona: "Rufu runopoda mari kunopomera."
- Pronunciation: "roo-foo roo-noh-poh-dah mah-ree koo-noh-poh-meh-rah"
- English Translation: "Death is more feared than birth."
In this sentence, we're using "mari" to compare fear levels between two opposing processes (death and birth). The word "mari" helps us to clearly communicate the degree of fear between these two events.
We can also use " (mari)" to compare different qualities between objects. For instance:
- Shona: "Kurima kuri kubha mari kuurayisa."
- Pronunciation: "koo-ree-mah koo-ree koo-bhah mah-ree koo-oo-rah-yee-sah"
- English Translation: "Farming is more difficult than teaching."
In the example above, we're using "mari" to compare the level of difficulty between farming and teaching. Comparing the levels of difficulty make it easier for us to understand the speaker's perspective on which job is harder to execute.
To use "mari", you construct a comparative sentence in the following manner: Noun A + verb + "mari" + infinitive verb phrase + noun B
Here's another example:
- Shona: "Gari rinogwara mari richiita chirevo."
- Pronunciation: "gah-ree ree-noh-gwah-rah mah-ree ree-chee-ee-tah chee-reh-voh"
- English Translation: "The car is more comfortable than the bicycle."
In this example, we're using "mari" to compare the level of comfort between a car and a bicycle.
Comparing Adjectives[edit | edit source]
To compare adjectives in a sentence, we precede the adjective with "zviri" to create "zviri-adj", which is an inflectional form of the adjective. Here's an example:
- Shona: "Kopa rinokunakidza zviri rangu."
- Pronunciation: "koh-pah ree-noh-koo-nah-kee-dzah zvee-ree ran-goo"
- English Translation: "My cup is more beautiful."
In this sentence, we're using "zviri" before the adjective "kunakidza" which means "beautiful". This construction of using "zviri" before the adjective indicates that we're comparing the level of beauty of one cup relative to another cup, and the speaker is expressing that their cup is the more beautiful of the two.
To use adjectives to compare, you construct a sentence in the following manner: Noun A + zviri-Adj + "mari" + zviri-Adj + "rangu"
"Rangu" or "rako" (depending on whether the speaker is male or female) indicates that the comparison is between two qualities of their own, personal item.
Here's another example:
- Shona: "Pamusha pangu panonakidza zviri pane vana."
- Pronunciation: "pah-moo-shah pah-ngoo pah-noh-nah-kee-dzah zvee-ree pah-neh vah-nah"
- English Translation: "My home is more beautiful than theirs."
In this sentence, we're using "zviri" before the adjective "nanokidza" to indicate that the speaker is comparing the level of beauty of their own personal home to that of another person's home.
Formation of Comparatives[edit | edit source]
When forming comparatives, we need to remember that some adjectives require "zviri" before them, while others do not. Here's an example of how to form comparatives using both types of adjectives:
- Shona: "Musika unofara mari kusiya."
- Pronunciation: "moo-see-kah oo-noh-fah-rah mah-ree koo-see-yah"
- English Translation: "The market is more enjoyable than staying at home."
In this example, we're comparing the level of happiness between going to the market and staying home. The adjective "ofara" (enjoyable) does not require "zviri" before it.
Now let's use an adjective that requires "zviri" before it:
- Shona: "Pasipoti yanguchena zviri richabasa mari yangu."
- Pronunciation: "pah-see-poh-tee yah-ngoo-cheh-nah zvee-ree ree-chah-bah-sah mah-ree yah-ngoo"
- English Translation: "My authentic passport is more trustworthy than yours."
In this example, we're using "zviri" before the adjective "chena" (authentic), which means "more trustworthy". Using "zviri" in this sentence indicates that the speaker is comparing the level of trustworthiness of their own passport to that of the listener.
When we compare two things with different adjective endings, we have to change the adjective ending to make it consistent with each other. For instance:
- Shona: "Motori yangu inomira mari kupiwa kwako."
- Pronunciation: "moh-to-ree yah-ngoo ee-noh-mee-rah mah-ree koo-pee-wah kwa-koh"
- English Translation: "My car is more reliable than yours."
In this example, we're using "inomira" (reliable) to compare the level of dependability between the speaker's car and the listener's car. The adjective ending of "inomira" changes from "-a" to "-wa" to create "kupiwa" (yours) so that the comparison is consistent.
Superlatives[edit | edit source]
A superlative his used to describe an object or a person who is at the highest or lowest end of a quality or measurement scale. In Shona, we use " (kutya)" which means "the most", to construct superlatives.
Here's an example of how to use a superlative:
- Shona: "Baba vangu ndiye mugariro kutya."
- Pronunciation: "bah-bah vah-ngoo ndee-yeh moo-gah-ree-roh koo-tyah"
- English Translation: "My father is the most hardworking one."
In this sentence, we are using "kutya" to indicate that the father is the hardest working individual among all possible candidates.
To use "kutya", you construct a superlative sentence in the following manner: Noun (possession) + "ndiye" + noun + "kutya"
Here's another example:
- Shona: "Amai vangu ndiye shoko kutya."
- Pronunciation: "ah-mah-ee vah-ngoo ndee-yeh shoh-koh koo-tyah"
- English Translation: "My mother is the one with the most wisdom."
In this sentence, we're using "kutya" to indicate that the mother is the most wise person among all possibilities.
Formation of Superlatives[edit | edit source]
To form superlatives, we need to keep in mind that some Shona adjectives require the use of "zviri" before them, while others do not. Here's an example of how to form superlatives using both types of adjectives:
- Shona: "Paden pangu pamuisa kutya."
- Pronunciation: "pah-dhehn pah-ngoo pah-moo-ee-sah koo-tyah"
- English Translation: "My pencil is the longest."
In this sentence, we are using "zviri" before "muisa" (long) which translates to "zviri-muisa", to indicate that the speaker's pencil is the longest among all possibilities.
Here's an example of an adjective that does not require the use of "zviri" before it:
- Shona: "Makumbo angu akarongeka kutya."
- Pronunciation: "mah-kum-boh ah-ngoo ah-kah-roh-neh-kah koo-tyah"
- English Translation: "My legs are the shortest."
In this sentence, we're using "akarongeka" (short) to create a superlative, and it's not necessary to use "zviri" before the adjective. The use of "kutya" in this sentence tells us that the speaker's legs are the shortest among all possible candidates.
When describing some superlative forms of adjectives in Shona, we usually add "-a" to those that already have the "-e" sound at the end of their root form, to indicate that we are comparing many or all items. Here's an example:
- Shona: "Vamwe vanofara vakatove Kutya-vose."
- Pronunciation: "vah-mwee vah-noh-fah-rah vah-kah-toh-veh koo-tyah-voh-seh"
- English Translation: "Some people are more beautiful than others."
The use of "Kutya-vose" at the end of the sentence tells us that the statement being made compares beauty among all possible individuals.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Comparatives and superlatives are essential tools that help us communicate our opinions and compare the qualities of things or people. We hope you feel more confident in using these forms after completing this lesson. Next, we'll move on to cover other aspects of Shona grammar such as prepositions and conjunctions. Keep practicing and watch your Shona skills improve!
Well done on mastering this lesson! Don't miss these related pages to expand your knowledge: Gender & Adjectives.
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Pronouns
- Indirect Questions
- 0 to A1 Course
- Present Tense
- Past Tense
- Descriptive Adjectives
- Noun Classes
- Personal Pronouns
- How to Use Be
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