Language/Norwegian-bokmal/Grammar/Comparatives-and-Superlatives

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Norwegian Bokmål → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Comparatives and Superlatives

Welcome to today's lesson on Comparatives and Superlatives in Norwegian Bokmål! This topic is essential for expressing differences and degrees in characteristics, which will help you become more expressive and nuanced in your conversations. Understanding how to compare things in Norwegian will not only enrich your vocabulary but also enhance your ability to communicate effectively.

In this lesson, we will cover the following topics:

Introduction to Comparatives and Superlatives

Comparatives and superlatives are used to compare two or more things. In English, we often use words like "bigger," "smaller," "the biggest," and "the smallest." Similarly, Norwegian Bokmål has its own set of rules for forming these comparisons. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Form comparatives and superlatives properly.

• Use them in sentences with confidence.

• Understand the nuances of their usage in everyday conversation.

What are Comparatives?

Comparatives are used to compare two entities. In Norwegian Bokmål, comparatives are typically formed using the suffix -ere added to the adjective. Let's take a closer look at how this works.

Forming Comparatives

To form a comparative, you usually add the suffix -ere to the adjective. Here are the steps:

1. Identify the adjective.

2. Add -ere to the end of the adjective.

3. Use the word "enn" (meaning "than") to make the comparison.

For example:

• stor (big) becomes større (bigger).

• vakker (beautiful) becomes vakrere (more beautiful).

Here's a table to illustrate some examples:

Norwegian Bokmål	Pronunciation	English
stor	/stur/	big
større	/ˈstørə/	bigger
vakker	/ˈvɑkːər/	beautiful
vakrere	/ˈvɑkrərə/	more beautiful

What are Superlatives?

Superlatives express the highest degree of a quality among three or more entities. In Norwegian Bokmål, superlatives are usually formed by adding the prefix "den mest" or "det mest" for adjectives or by using the suffix -est for some adjectives.

Forming Superlatives

You can form superlatives in two ways:

1. Using "den mest" or "det mest":

• vakker (beautiful) becomes den mest vakre (the most beautiful).

2. Using the suffix -est for certain one-syllable adjectives:

• stor (big) becomes størst (the biggest).

Here's a table to illustrate some examples:

Norwegian Bokmål	Pronunciation	English
vakker	/ˈvɑkːər/	beautiful
den mest vakre	/dɛn mɛst ˈvɑkrə/	the most beautiful
stor	/stur/	big
størst	/ˈstørst/	the biggest

Summary of Rules

• Comparative: Add -ere to the adjective and use "enn" to compare.

• Superlative: Use "den mest" (for most adjectives) or -est (for certain one-syllable adjectives) to indicate the highest degree.

Examples in Context

To help solidify your understanding, let’s look at more examples in context. Here are 20 examples of comparatives and superlatives used in sentences:

1. Hun er høyere enn meg. (She is taller than me.)

2. Dette huset er større enn det andre. (This house is bigger than the other one.)

3. Han er smartere enn sin bror. (He is smarter than his brother.)

4. Boken er bedre enn filmen. (The book is better than the movie.)

5. Dette er den vakreste stranden. (This is the most beautiful beach.)

6. Hun er den mest intelligente i klassen. (She is the most intelligent in the class.)

7. Denne filmen er morsommere enn den forrige. (This movie is funnier than the last one.)

8. Katten er raskere enn hunden. (The cat is faster than the dog.)

9. Det er den kaldeste dagen i året. (It is the coldest day of the year.)

10. Han er den beste spilleren på laget. (He is the best player on the team.)

11. Hun er snillere enn sine venner. (She is kinder than her friends.)

12. Dette er det dyreste hotellet i byen. (This is the most expensive hotel in the city.)

13. Han er eldre enn meg. (He is older than me.)

14. Vi har det mest interessante prosjektet. (We have the most interesting project.)

15. Denne kaken er søtere enn sjokoladekaken. (This cake is sweeter than the chocolate cake.)

16. Hun er den mest talentfulle kunstneren. (She is the most talented artist.)

17. Bilen er raskere enn motorsykkelen. (The car is faster than the motorcycle.)

18. Det er den mest spennende boken jeg har lest. (This is the most exciting book I have read.)

19. Skolen er større enn den gamle. (The school is bigger than the old one.)

20. Dette er den beste restauranten i byen. (This is the best restaurant in town.)

Practice Exercises

Now it's your turn! Here are some exercises to help you practice what you've learned. For each exercise, follow the instructions and check your answers at the end.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct comparative or superlative form of the adjectives in parentheses.

1. Han er (høy) ________ enn meg.

2. Dette er (interessant) ________ prosjektet i klassen.

3. Kaninen er (rask) ________ enn katten.

4. Det er (kald) ________ i dag enn i går.

5. Hun er (snill) ________ av de to.

Exercise 2: Translate to Norwegian

Translate the following sentences into Norwegian Bokmål using comparatives or superlatives.

1. This dog is bigger than that one.

2. She is the smartest in her class.

3. This book is more interesting than that one.

4. He is the oldest in his family.

5. This is the most beautiful painting.

Exercise 3: Match the Adjectives

Match the adjectives with their correct comparative or superlative forms.

1. Liten

2. Rask

3. Vennlig

4. Varm

5. Sterk

a. Venligere

b. Større

c. Varmer

d. Raskere

e. Sterkest

Exercise 4: Create Sentences

Using the adjectives provided, create sentences using comparatives or superlatives.

1. Liten

2. Snill

3. Sterk

4. Rask

5. Vakker

Exercise 5: Choose the Correct Form

Choose the correct comparative or superlative form to complete the sentences.

1. Dette er __________ (den beste/den mest beste) filmen jeg har sett.

2. Han er __________ (eldre/eldst) enn meg.

3. Dette huset er __________ (større/størst) enn det gamle.

4. Hun er __________ (vakrere/vakrest) av alle.

5. Det er __________ (kaldere/kaldest) i fjellet enn i byen.

Answers to Exercises

Here are the answers to the exercises for you to check your understanding:

Answers to Exercise 1

1. høyere

2. det mest interessante

3. raskere

4. kaldere

5. snillest

Answers to Exercise 2

1. Denne hunden er større enn den.

2. Hun er den smarteste i klassen sin.

3. Denne boken er mer interessant enn den.

4. Han er den eldste i familien sin.

5. Dette er det vakreste maleriet.

Answers to Exercise 3

1 - b (Liten - Større)

2 - d (Rask - Raskere)

3 - a (Vennlig - Vennligere)

4 - c (Varm - Varmere)

5 - e (Sterk - Sterkest)

Answers to Exercise 4

(Students should fill this in based on their sentences.)

Answers to Exercise 5

1. den beste

2. eldre

3. større

4. vakrere

5. kaldere

Conclusion

Congratulations! You've just delved into the fascinating world of comparatives and superlatives in Norwegian Bokmål. Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep using these forms as you continue your language journey. Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or for further clarification. Happy learning!

Table of Contents - Norwegian Bokmål Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Norwegian Bokmål

• Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Basic Sentence Structure

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Gender and Definite Articles
• Personal Pronouns

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Telling Time

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

  ---

Daily Activities

• Daily Routine
• Hobbies and Interests

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Agreement
• Comparatives and Superlatives

  ---

Food and Drink

• Common Foods
• Eating Out

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Common Prepositions
• Coordinating Conjunctions

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

  ---

Questions and Negation

• Question Words
• Negation

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Expressing Emotions

  ---

Norwegian Customs and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Etiquette and Social Norms

Other Lessons

• Future Tense
• Conditional Mood
• Gender and Definite Articles
• Negation
• Nouns
• How to Use Have
• Past Tense
• Questions
• Personal pronouns
• Infinitive and present participle forms

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