Language/Swedish/Grammar/Comparison-of-adjectives

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Swedish → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Swedish Adjectives → Comparison of adjectives

Introduction

In this lesson, we will explore the topic of comparison of adjectives in the Swedish language. Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns, and being able to compare them is an essential skill in any language. By understanding how to form comparative and superlative forms of adjectives, you will be able to express different degrees of comparison and enrich your vocabulary. This lesson is part of the "Complete 0 to A1 Swedish Course" and is designed for complete beginners who are eager to gain a solid foundation in Swedish grammar and vocabulary.

Forms of Comparison

Comparative forms of adjectives are used to compare two or more things, while superlative forms are used to express the highest degree of a quality. In Swedish, there are different ways to form the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives, depending on the word's ending and the number of syllables. Let's explore these forms in more detail.

Comparative Forms

To form the comparative of adjectives in Swedish, we typically add the suffix "-are" to the base form of the adjective. However, there are some exceptions and irregularities that we will discuss later. Here are some examples:

Swedish	Pronunciation	English
stor	[stuːr]	big
större	[ˈstœrə]	bigger
gammal	[ˈɡamːal]	old
äldre	[ˈɛlːdrə]	older

As you can see, the comparative form of "stor" (big) is "större" (bigger), and the comparative form of "gammal" (old) is "äldre" (older).

In some cases, if the adjective ends in a vowel, we simply add an "r" to form the comparative. For example:

Swedish	Pronunciation	English
lång	[lɔŋ]	long
längre	[ˈlɛŋːdrə]	longer
vacker	[ˈvakːɛr]	beautiful
vackrare	[ˈvakːrarə]	more beautiful

Here, the comparative form of "lång" (long) is "längre" (longer), and the comparative form of "vacker" (beautiful) is "vackrare" (more beautiful).

Superlative Forms

To form the superlative of adjectives in Swedish, we typically add the suffix "-ast" to the base form of the adjective. However, just like with the comparative forms, there are exceptions and irregularities. Let's look at some examples:

Swedish	Pronunciation	English
liten	[ˈliːtɛn]	small
minst	[ˈmɪnːst]	smallest
bra	[brɑː]	good
bäst	[bɛst]	best

In this table, we can see that the superlative form of "liten" (small) is "minst" (smallest), and the superlative form of "bra" (good) is "bäst" (best).

For adjectives ending in a vowel, we simply add "st" to form the superlative. For example:

Swedish	Pronunciation	English
ung	[ʉŋ]	young
yngst	[ʏŋst]	youngest
söt	[sœt]	cute
sötast	[ˈsœtasːt]	cutest

Here, the superlative form of "ung" (young) is "yngst" (youngest), and the superlative form of "söt" (cute) is "sötast" (cutest).

Irregular Comparisons

While most adjectives follow the regular patterns we discussed earlier, there are some adjectives that have irregular comparative and superlative forms. These irregularities must be learned separately. Let's take a look at some examples:

Swedish	Pronunciation	English
bra	[brɑː]	good
bättre	[ˈbɛtːrə]	better
dålig	[ˈdɔːlɪɡ]	bad
sämre	[ˈsɛmːrə]	worse
liten	[ˈliːtɛn]	small
mindre	[ˈmɪnːdrə]	smaller

In this table, we can see that the comparative form of "bra" (good) is "bättre" (better), and the comparative form of "dålig" (bad) is "sämre" (worse). Similarly, the comparative form of "liten" (small) is "mindre" (smaller).

For the superlative forms, we have the following irregularities:

Swedish	Pronunciation	English
bra	[brɑː]	good
bäst	[bɛst]	best
dålig	[ˈdɔːlɪɡ]	bad
sämst	[sɛmst]	worst
liten	[ˈliːtɛn]	small
minst	[ˈmɪnːst]	smallest

In this table, we can see that the superlative form of "bra" (good) is "bäst" (best), and the superlative form of "dålig" (bad) is "sämst" (worst). Similarly, the superlative form of "liten" (small) is "minst" (smallest).

It's important to memorize these irregular forms as they are commonly used in Swedish.

Cultural Insights

The comparison of adjectives is an important aspect of Swedish communication, as it allows individuals to express their thoughts and opinions more precisely. In Swedish culture, it is common to compare different aspects of daily life, such as weather, food, and personal experiences. Swedes often use comparative and superlative forms to describe their preferences and make comparisons between different objects or situations.

Additionally, it is worth noting that certain regional variations exist in the usage and understanding of the comparison of adjectives. Some dialects may employ alternative forms or have different rules for forming comparatives and superlatives. These variations add diversity to the Swedish language and reflect the cultural nuances of different regions in Sweden.

Practice Exercises

To ensure a solid understanding of the comparison of adjectives in Swedish, let's practice some exercises. Choose the correct form of the adjective to complete the sentences below:

1. Stockholm är (större / störst) än Göteborg. 2. Den gröna klänningen är (vackrare / vackrast) än den blåa. 3. Min bror är (liten / minst) i vår familj. 4. Det här äpplet är (gott / godast) jag har ätit. 5. På vintern är det (kallare / kallast) än på sommaren.

Solutions: 1. större 2. vackrare 3. minst 4. godast 5. kallare

Conclusion

In this lesson, we have explored the topic of comparison of adjectives in Swedish. We have learned how to form comparative and superlative forms of adjectives and discussed some irregularities that exist. By mastering the comparison of adjectives, you will be able to express different degrees of comparison and enhance your communication skills in Swedish. Keep practicing and incorporating these forms into your everyday conversations to become more fluent in the Swedish language.

Table of Contents - Swedish Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Swedish

• Greeting people
• Saying goodbye
• Asking for directions
• Going to a restaurant

  ---

Swedish Pronouns

• Personal pronouns
• Reflexive pronouns
• Demonstrative pronouns
• Possessive pronouns

  ---

Colors and Numbers

• Colors
• Numbers 0-20
• Numbers 20-100
• Numbers above 100

  ---

Swedish Culture

• Swedish customs
• Swedish food
• Swedish holidays
• Swedish geography

  ---

Swedish Verbs

• Present tense
• Past tense
• Future tense
• Verbs with prepositions

  ---

Body parts and health

• Body parts
• Symptoms and illnesses
• At the doctor's

  ---

Swedish Nouns

• Gender of nouns
• Definite and indefinite nouns
• Plural nouns

  ---

Travel and directions

• Means of transportation
• Booking a trip
• Giving directions

  ---

Sweden's history

• Vikings and Middle Ages
• Modern Sweden
• Swedish politics and society

  ---

Swedish Adjectives

• Basic adjectives
• Comparison of adjectives
• Compound adjectives

  ---

Jobs and professions

• Types of jobs
• Job applications and interviews
• Workplace Swedish

Sources

• Swedish Comparative and Superlative - How to compare adjectives ...
• Happy, Happier, Happiest – Comparing Adjectives in Swedish ...
• Swedish Grammar 101 | OptiLingo
• The LingQ Swedish Grammar Guide - Adjectives

Other Lessons

• Location
• Time References
• Conditional Tense
• 0 to A1 Course
• Give your Opinion
• Passive Voice
• Adjectives
• Past Participle in Swedish
• When use Ett or En
• Demonstrative pronouns

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