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{| class="wikitable pg_template_nav"
|[[Language/Russian/Grammar/Adjective-Agreement|◀️ Adjective Agreement — Previous Lesson]]
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{{Russian-Page-Top}}
{{Russian-Page-Top}}
<div class="pg_page_title">[[Language/Russian|Russian]]  → [[Language/Russian/Grammar|Grammar]] → [[Language/Russian/Grammar/0-to-A1-Course|0 to A1 Course]] → Comparatives and Superlatives</div>


<div class="pg_page_title">[[Language/Russian|Russian]]  → [[Language/Russian/Grammar|Grammar]] → [[Language/Russian/Grammar/0-to-A1-Course|0 to A1 Course]] → Adjectives and Adverbs → Comparatives and Superlatives</div>
In the enchanting world of the Russian language, adjectives and adverbs play a pivotal role in expressing nuances, emotions, and comparisons. Understanding how to form comparatives and superlatives is essential for any learner who wishes to navigate conversations effectively, make comparisons, and enhance their descriptive language skills. In this lesson, we will dive into the fascinating realm of Russian grammar, focusing specifically on comparatives and superlatives. By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid understanding of how to form and use these grammatical structures in both spoken and written Russian.


__TOC__
__TOC__


As a Russian language teacher with 20 years of experience, I am excited to share with you the intricacies of forming comparatives and superlatives of adjectives and adverbs in Russian. This lesson is part of the "Complete 0 to A1 Russian Course", designed to take you from a complete beginner to an A1 level speaker.
=== Importance of Comparatives and Superlatives ===


<h2>Introduction</h2>
In Russian, comparatives and superlatives allow us to compare one thing to another and to express extremes. Just like in English, we use these forms to make our language richer and more descriptive. Instead of simply saying something is "good," we can say it is "better" or even "the best." This ability to compare and express degrees of quality is crucial in day-to-day conversations, whether you’re describing a beautiful landscape, comparing two dishes, or even discussing personal preferences.


When learning any language, it is important to understand how to compare things, people, or actions. Russian, like many other languages, has a system for forming comparatives and superlatives to express these comparisons.
=== Structure of the Lesson ===


In this lesson, you will learn about the formation of comparatives and superlatives of adjectives and adverbs in Russian, and how to use them in sentences. The lesson assumes that you are already familiar with the basics of Russian grammar, including the gender of nouns and the declension of adjectives and nouns.
This lesson is structured to guide you through the following key areas:


<h2>Comparatives of Adjectives and Adverbs</h2>
1. '''Understanding Comparatives and Superlatives''': What they are and when to use them.


Comparative adjectives are used to compare two items, people, or actions. In English, the comparative form is usually formed by adding -er to the end of the adjective, for example, "bigger" or "faster". In Russian, comparatives are formed in a similar way, but with some important differences.  
2. '''Formation of Comparatives''': How to create comparative forms of adjectives and adverbs.


The comparative form of adjectives is formed by adding the ending -е at the end of the stem. If the stem ends in a consonant, the ending -же is used instead. If the adjective has a soft sign at the end, the ending -е is added directly to the stem, without the soft sign.  
3. '''Formation of Superlatives''': How to create superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs.


Let's take a look at some examples:
4. '''Examples''': A variety of examples illustrating the concepts.
 
5. '''Practice Exercises''': Opportunities for you to apply what you have learned with solutions provided.
 
=== Understanding Comparatives and Superlatives ===
 
In Russian, we use comparatives to compare two items, actions, or qualities. For example, when comparing two people, we might say one is taller than the other. Superlatives, on the other hand, are used to express the highest degree of something within a group. For instance, saying someone is the tallest among their peers.
 
=== Formation of Comparatives ===
 
Creating comparatives in Russian involves modifying the base form of adjectives or adverbs. The most common way to form comparatives is by adding specific endings or using certain prefixes.
 
==== Regular Comparatives ====
 
For many adjectives, you simply add the suffix "-ее" or "-ей" for masculine forms and "-ая" for feminine forms.
 
==== Irregular Comparatives ====
 
Some adjectives have irregular comparative forms that must be memorized.
 
=== Formation of Superlatives ===
 
Superlatives in Russian are generally formed by adding the prefix "самый" (meaning "the most") before the adjective.
 
==== Regular Superlatives ====
 
For example, "хороший" (good) becomes "самый хороший" (the best).
 
==== Irregular Superlatives ====
 
Just like comparatives, some superlatives are irregular and should be learned individually.
 
=== Examples of Comparatives ===
 
Let's look at some examples of how comparatives are formed:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Russian !! Pronunciation !! English
! Russian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| высокий || vysokiy || tall
|-
| выше || vyshe || taller
|-
|-
| высокий (vysokee)  || vɨˈsokʲɪj || high
 
| выше (vyshe) || ˈvɨʂɨ || higher
| умный || umnyy || smart
 
|-
|-
| быстрый (bystryi)  || ˈbɨstrɨj || fast
 
| быстрее (bystrʲeye) || ˈbɨstrʲɪjɪ || faster
| умнее || umneye || smarter
 
|-
|-
| хороший (khoroshii) || xɐrɐˈʂɨj || good
| лучше (luchshe) || ˈlut͡ʂʂɪ || better
|}


As you can see from the examples, the comparative form of adjectives is formed by removing the last two letters of the stem and adding -е or -же instead. The comparative form of adjectives agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
| быстрый || bystryy || fast


<h3>Irregular Comparatives</h3>
|-


As with most languages, there are some irregular comparative forms that do not follow the standard pattern. Here are some examples:
| быстрее || bystree || faster


{| class="wikitable"
! Russian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| маленький (malyenkiy) || mɐˈlʲenʲkʲɪj || small
 
| меньше (men'she) || ˈmʲenʲʂɨ || smaller
| красивый || krasivyy || beautiful
 
|-
|-
| старый (staryi) || stɐˈrɨj || old
 
| старше (starshye) || ˈstarʂɨjɪ || older
| красивее || krasiveye || more beautiful
 
|-
|-
| хороший (khoroshii) || xɐrɐˈʂɨj || good
 
| лучше (luchshe) || ˈlut͡ʂʂɪ || better
| интересный || interesnyy || interesting
 
|-
|-
| большой (bol'shoy) || bɐlʲˈʂoj || big
| больше (bol'she) || ˈbɐlʲʂɨ || bigger
|}


<h2>Superlatives of Adjectives and Adverbs</h2>
| интереснее || interesneye || more interesting


Superlative adjectives are used to compare three or more items, people, or actions. In English, the superlative is usually formed by adding -est to the end of the adjective, for example, "biggest" or "fastest". In Russian, superlatives are also formed in a similar way, but with some important differences.
|}


The superlative form of adjectives is formed by adding the ending -ой or -ей to the end of the stem, depending on the gender of the noun. Adjectives ending in a consonant usually take the ending -ой, while adjectives ending in -ий take the ending -ей. If the stem ends in a vowel, the ending -ей is used instead of -ой.
=== Examples of Superlatives ===


Let's take a look at some examples:
Now, let’s explore superlatives:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Russian !! Pronunciation !! English
! Russian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| высокий (vysokee) || vɨˈsokʲɪj || high
 
| самый высокий (samiy vysokiy) || ˈsamɨj ˈvɨsokʲɪj || the highest
| самый высокий || samyy vysokiy || the tallest
 
|-
|-
| быстрый (bystryi) || ˈbɨstrɨj || fast
 
| самый быстрый (samiy bystryy) || ˈsamɨj ˈbɨstrɨj || the fastest
| самый умный || samyy umnyy || the smartest
 
|-
|-
| хороший (khoroshii) || xɐrɐˈʂɨj || good
| самый хороший (samiy khoroshiy) || ˈsamɨj xɐrɐˈʂɨj || the best
|}


Superlatives of adjectives follow the same gender and number agreement rules as the comparative form.
| самый быстрый || samyy bystryy || the fastest


<h3>Irregular Superlatives</h3>
|-


As with comparatives, there are also some irregular superlative forms in Russian. Here are some examples:
| самая красивая || samaya krasivaya || the most beautiful


{| class="wikitable"
! Russian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| маленький (malyenkiy) || mɐˈlʲenʲkʲɪj || small
 
| самый маленький (samiy malyenkiy) || ˈsamɨj mɐˈlʲenʲkʲɪj || the smallest
| самый интересный || samyy interesnyy || the most interesting
 
|-
|-
| старый (staryi) || stɐˈrɨj || old
 
| самый старый (samiy staryy) || ˈsamɨj ˈstarɨj || the oldest
| самая высокая || samaya vysokaya || the tallest (feminine)
 
|-
|-
| хороший (khoroshii) || xɐrɐˈʂɨj || good
 
| самый хороший (samiy khoroshiy) || ˈsamɨj xɐrɐˈʂɨj || the best
| самый лучший || samyy luchshiy || the best
 
|-
|-
| большой (bol'shoy) || bɐlʲˈʂoj || big
| самый большой (samiy bol'shoy) || ˈsamɨj bɐlʲˈʂoj || the biggest
|}


<h2>Comparative and Superlative Adverbs</h2>
| самая лучшая || samaya luchshaya || the best (feminine)


In addition to adjectives, adverbs can also be compared. Comparative adverbs are used to compare two actions, while superlative adverbs are used to compare three or more actions. The comparative and superlative forms of adverbs are generally formed by adding -ее and -ейше, respectively, to the end of the adverb.
|-


Let's take a look at some examples:
| самый плохой || samyy plokhoy || the worst


{| class="wikitable"
! Russian !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| быстро (bystra) || ˈbɨstro || fast
 
| быстрее (bystrʲeye) || ˈbɨstrʲɪjɪ || faster
| самая плохая || samaya plokhaya || the worst (feminine)
| самым быстро (samy bystro) || ˈsamɨm ˈbɨstro || the fastest
 
|}
|}


When compared, adverbs do not change in gender or number.  
=== Practice Exercises ===
 
Now that you have a solid understanding of how to form comparatives and superlatives, let’s put your knowledge to the test with some practice exercises!
 
==== Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks ====
 
Complete the sentences with the correct comparative form of the adjective in parentheses.
 
1. Маша (умный) _____________, чем Ирина.
 
2. Эта книга (интересный) _____________, чем та.
 
3. Этот фильм (хороший) _____________, чем тот.
 
''Solutions:''
 
1. Маша умнее, чем Ирина. (Masha is smarter than Irina.)
 
2. Эта книга интереснее, чем та. (This book is more interesting than that one.)
 
3. Этот фильм лучше, чем тот. (This film is better than that one.)
 
==== Exercise 2: Identify the Superlative ====
 
Choose the correct superlative form of the adjective in parentheses.
 
1. Он (умный) _____________ в классе.
 
2. Это (красивый) _____________ город.
 
3. Она (хороший) _____________ певец.
 
''Solutions:''
 
1. Он самый умный в классе. (He is the smartest in the class.)
 
2. Это самый красивый город. (This is the most beautiful city.)
 
3. Она самый хороший певец. (She is the best singer.)
 
==== Exercise 3: Translate the Sentences ====
 
Translate the following English sentences into Russian using the correct comparative or superlative form.
 
1. This book is better than that one.
 
2. He is the tallest in the team.
 
3. This dish is more delicious than the other.
 
''Solutions:''
 
1. Эта книга лучше, чем та. (This book is better than that one.)
 
2. Он самый высокий в команде. (He is the tallest in the team.)
 
3. Это блюдо вкуснее, чем другое. (This dish is more delicious than the other.)
 
==== Exercise 4: Create Sentences ====
 
Using the adjectives below, create your own sentences using comparatives or superlatives.
 
1. высокий
 
2. интересный
 
3. хороший
 
''Solutions:''


<h2>Usage in Sentences</h2>
1. Этот дом выше, чем тот. (This house is taller than that one.)


To use comparatives and superlatives in sentences, you need to follow a specific structure. Comparative sentences use the structure "A (noun) - (verb) - B (noun) + (comparative)", while superlative sentences use the structure "A (noun) - самый (superlative) - в (location) + из (group of things)". Let's take a look at some examples:
2. Этот фильм интереснее, чем тот. (This movie is more interesting than that one.)


{| class="wikitable"
3. Это – самый хороший ресторан в городе. (This is the best restaurant in the city.)
! Russian !! Pronunciation !! English
 
|-
==== Exercise 5: Matching Game ====
| Кошка быстрее собаки. (Koshka bystrye sorbagi) || ˈkoʂkə bɨstrʲɪjɪ sɐˈbakʲɪ || The cat is faster than the dog.
 
|-
Match the Russian adjectives with their correct comparative and superlative forms.
| Самый красивый город в мире. (Samiy krasivyy gorod v myre) || ˈsamɨj krɐˈsʲivɨj ˈɡorət f mʲirʲe || The most beautiful city in the world.
 
|}
| Russian Adjective | Comparative Form | Superlative Form |
 
|--------------------|------------------|-------------------|
 
| 1. старый          | a. старше        | i. самый старый    |
 
| 2. маленький        | b. меньше        | ii. самый маленький  |
 
| 3. хороший          | c. лучше        | iii. самый хороший  |
 
''Solutions:''
 
1. старый - a, i (старше - самый старый)
 
2. маленький - b, ii (меньше - самый маленький)
 
3. хороший - c, iii (лучше - самый хороший)
 
=== Conclusion ===
 
Congratulations on completing this lesson on comparatives and superlatives in Russian! You now have the tools to enhance your descriptive language skills, allowing you to compare and express extremes in everyday conversations. Remember, practice makes perfect! Keep experimenting with these forms in your speaking and writing, and soon they will become second nature.
 
As always, if you have any questions or need further clarification, don’t hesitate to reach out. Happy learning!
 
{{#seo:


As you can see, the structure of comparative and superlative sentences includes the comparative or superlative form itself, as well as the specific nouns and verbs being compared.
|title=Russian Grammar: Comparatives and Superlatives


<h2>Conclusion</h2>
|keywords=comparatives, superlatives, Russian language, grammar, adjectives, adverbs


Learning how to form comparatives and superlatives of adjectives and adverbs is an essential part of mastering the Russian language. As with any new grammar structure, be sure to practice using comparatives and superlatives in context, so that you can use them confidently in everyday conversation.
|description=In this lesson, you will learn how to form and use comparatives and superlatives in Russian, with examples and exercises to practice your skills.


With this lesson, you are one step closer to becoming an A1 level speaker of Russian. In our next lesson, we will delve deeper into the world of hobbies and leisure activities.
}}


{{Russian-0-to-A1-Course-TOC}}
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==Videos==
==Videos==
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==Related Lessons==
 
==Sources==
* [https://russianenthusiast.com/russian-grammar/comparatives-and-superlatives/ Comparatives and superlatives of Russian adjectives explained]
* [http://www.study-languages-online.com/russian-adjective-superlative.html Superlative adjective :: Study Russian Online]
* [https://www.ruspeach.com/en/learning/13553/ Comparative adjectives in the Russian language]
 
 
 
==Other Lessons==
* [[Language/Russian/Grammar/How-to-Use-be|How to Use be]]
* [[Language/Russian/Grammar/How-to-Use-be|How to Use be]]
* [[Language/Russian/Grammar/Nouns|Nouns]]
* [[Language/Russian/Grammar/Nouns|Nouns]]
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* [[Language/Russian/Grammar/Perfective-Imperfective|Perfective Imperfective]]
* [[Language/Russian/Grammar/Perfective-Imperfective|Perfective Imperfective]]
* [[Language/Russian/Grammar/Nominative-Case|Nominative Case]]
* [[Language/Russian/Grammar/Nominative-Case|Nominative Case]]


{{Russian-Page-Bottom}}
{{Russian-Page-Bottom}}
<span pgnav>
{| class="wikitable pg_template_nav"
|[[Language/Russian/Grammar/Adjective-Agreement|◀️ Adjective Agreement — Previous Lesson]]
|[[Language/Russian/Vocabulary/Hobbies|Next Lesson — Hobbies ▶️]]
|}
</span>

Latest revision as of 22:46, 1 August 2024

◀️ Adjective Agreement — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Hobbies ▶️

Russian-Language-PolyglotClub.png
RussianGrammar0 to A1 Course → Comparatives and Superlatives

In the enchanting world of the Russian language, adjectives and adverbs play a pivotal role in expressing nuances, emotions, and comparisons. Understanding how to form comparatives and superlatives is essential for any learner who wishes to navigate conversations effectively, make comparisons, and enhance their descriptive language skills. In this lesson, we will dive into the fascinating realm of Russian grammar, focusing specifically on comparatives and superlatives. By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid understanding of how to form and use these grammatical structures in both spoken and written Russian.

Importance of Comparatives and Superlatives[edit | edit source]

In Russian, comparatives and superlatives allow us to compare one thing to another and to express extremes. Just like in English, we use these forms to make our language richer and more descriptive. Instead of simply saying something is "good," we can say it is "better" or even "the best." This ability to compare and express degrees of quality is crucial in day-to-day conversations, whether you’re describing a beautiful landscape, comparing two dishes, or even discussing personal preferences.

Structure of the Lesson[edit | edit source]

This lesson is structured to guide you through the following key areas:

1. Understanding Comparatives and Superlatives: What they are and when to use them.

2. Formation of Comparatives: How to create comparative forms of adjectives and adverbs.

3. Formation of Superlatives: How to create superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs.

4. Examples: A variety of examples illustrating the concepts.

5. Practice Exercises: Opportunities for you to apply what you have learned with solutions provided.

Understanding Comparatives and Superlatives[edit | edit source]

In Russian, we use comparatives to compare two items, actions, or qualities. For example, when comparing two people, we might say one is taller than the other. Superlatives, on the other hand, are used to express the highest degree of something within a group. For instance, saying someone is the tallest among their peers.

Formation of Comparatives[edit | edit source]

Creating comparatives in Russian involves modifying the base form of adjectives or adverbs. The most common way to form comparatives is by adding specific endings or using certain prefixes.

Regular Comparatives[edit | edit source]

For many adjectives, you simply add the suffix "-ее" or "-ей" for masculine forms and "-ая" for feminine forms.

Irregular Comparatives[edit | edit source]

Some adjectives have irregular comparative forms that must be memorized.

Formation of Superlatives[edit | edit source]

Superlatives in Russian are generally formed by adding the prefix "самый" (meaning "the most") before the adjective.

Regular Superlatives[edit | edit source]

For example, "хороший" (good) becomes "самый хороший" (the best).

Irregular Superlatives[edit | edit source]

Just like comparatives, some superlatives are irregular and should be learned individually.

Examples of Comparatives[edit | edit source]

Let's look at some examples of how comparatives are formed:

Russian Pronunciation English
высокий vysokiy tall
выше vyshe taller
умный umnyy smart
умнее umneye smarter
быстрый bystryy fast
быстрее bystree faster
красивый krasivyy beautiful
красивее krasiveye more beautiful
интересный interesnyy interesting
интереснее interesneye more interesting

Examples of Superlatives[edit | edit source]

Now, let’s explore superlatives:

Russian Pronunciation English
самый высокий samyy vysokiy the tallest
самый умный samyy umnyy the smartest
самый быстрый samyy bystryy the fastest
самая красивая samaya krasivaya the most beautiful
самый интересный samyy interesnyy the most interesting
самая высокая samaya vysokaya the tallest (feminine)
самый лучший samyy luchshiy the best
самая лучшая samaya luchshaya the best (feminine)
самый плохой samyy plokhoy the worst
самая плохая samaya plokhaya the worst (feminine)

Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]

Now that you have a solid understanding of how to form comparatives and superlatives, let’s put your knowledge to the test with some practice exercises!

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks[edit | edit source]

Complete the sentences with the correct comparative form of the adjective in parentheses.

1. Маша (умный) _____________, чем Ирина.

2. Эта книга (интересный) _____________, чем та.

3. Этот фильм (хороший) _____________, чем тот.

Solutions:

1. Маша умнее, чем Ирина. (Masha is smarter than Irina.)

2. Эта книга интереснее, чем та. (This book is more interesting than that one.)

3. Этот фильм лучше, чем тот. (This film is better than that one.)

Exercise 2: Identify the Superlative[edit | edit source]

Choose the correct superlative form of the adjective in parentheses.

1. Он (умный) _____________ в классе.

2. Это (красивый) _____________ город.

3. Она (хороший) _____________ певец.

Solutions:

1. Он самый умный в классе. (He is the smartest in the class.)

2. Это самый красивый город. (This is the most beautiful city.)

3. Она самый хороший певец. (She is the best singer.)

Exercise 3: Translate the Sentences[edit | edit source]

Translate the following English sentences into Russian using the correct comparative or superlative form.

1. This book is better than that one.

2. He is the tallest in the team.

3. This dish is more delicious than the other.

Solutions:

1. Эта книга лучше, чем та. (This book is better than that one.)

2. Он самый высокий в команде. (He is the tallest in the team.)

3. Это блюдо вкуснее, чем другое. (This dish is more delicious than the other.)

Exercise 4: Create Sentences[edit | edit source]

Using the adjectives below, create your own sentences using comparatives or superlatives.

1. высокий

2. интересный

3. хороший

Solutions:

1. Этот дом выше, чем тот. (This house is taller than that one.)

2. Этот фильм интереснее, чем тот. (This movie is more interesting than that one.)

3. Это – самый хороший ресторан в городе. (This is the best restaurant in the city.)

Exercise 5: Matching Game[edit | edit source]

Match the Russian adjectives with their correct comparative and superlative forms.

| Russian Adjective | Comparative Form | Superlative Form |

|--------------------|------------------|-------------------|

| 1. старый | a. старше | i. самый старый |

| 2. маленький | b. меньше | ii. самый маленький |

| 3. хороший | c. лучше | iii. самый хороший |

Solutions:

1. старый - a, i (старше - самый старый)

2. маленький - b, ii (меньше - самый маленький)

3. хороший - c, iii (лучше - самый хороший)

Conclusion[edit | edit source]

Congratulations on completing this lesson on comparatives and superlatives in Russian! You now have the tools to enhance your descriptive language skills, allowing you to compare and express extremes in everyday conversations. Remember, practice makes perfect! Keep experimenting with these forms in your speaking and writing, and soon they will become second nature.

As always, if you have any questions or need further clarification, don’t hesitate to reach out. Happy learning!

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


Alphabet and Pronunciation


Basic Phrases and Greetings


Nouns and Gender


Numbers and Time


Cases and Prepositions


Family and Relationships


Verbs and Conjugation


Food and Dining


Russian Traditions and Holidays


Travel and Transportation


Adjectives and Adverbs


Hobbies and Leisure Activities


Russian Literature and Arts

Videos[edit | edit source]

Russian Grammar: Degrees of Comparison - YouTube[edit | edit source]

Intermediate Russian: Making Comparisons. Comparatives - YouTube[edit | edit source]


Sources[edit | edit source]


Other Lessons[edit | edit source]



◀️ Adjective Agreement — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Hobbies ▶️