Language/Cebuano/Grammar/Comparatives-and-Superlatives

Cebuano → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Adjective Agreement → Comparatives and Superlatives

Introduction

In this lesson, you will learn how to form comparatives and superlatives in Cebuano. Comparatives are used to compare two things or people, while superlatives are used to compare one thing or person to all others in a group. This is an important part of building your vocabulary and being able to accurately describe people, places, and things in Cebuano.

Comparatives and superlatives are essential to any language learner's arsenal. These forms allow the speaker to compare and contrast between two things, phrases, or situations. In this topic, you will be getting to know more about the use of superlatives and comparatives in Cebuano - how to form them, and how to use them correctly.

Comparison of Adjectives

Before we learn how to use comparatives and superlatives in Cebuano, let's first review the rules for comparing adjectives. Adjectives are used to describe nouns, and their form changes depending on the number and gender of the noun they are describing.

In Cebuano, adjectives take different forms depending on whether they describe a singular or plural noun, as well as its grammatical gender. Here are some examples:

Cebuano	Pronunciation	English
dakô	dah-KOH	big (masculine singular)
dakù	dah-KOO	big (feminine singular)
mada-kô	mah-dah-KOH	big (masculine plural)
mada-kù	mah-dah-KOO	big (feminine plural)

As you can see from these examples, the form of the adjective changes depending on the gender and number of the noun it is modifying.

To compare adjectives, we can use the following structure:

• (noun) (adjective) (ka + adjective)

For example:

• Ang akong balay dakô, apan ang imong balay mas dakù. (My house is big, but your house is bigger.)

• Ang akong kutsilyo matahom, pero ang imong kutsilyo labaw pa kaayo katahom. (My knife is beautiful, but your knife is even more beautiful.)

In the above examples, we are comparing two things by using the ka + adjective structure. The adjective is modified to its comparative form by adding ka- at the beginning of the word.

Forming Comparatives

To form comparatives in Cebuano, follow these simple steps:

1. Identify the adjective you want to use and make note of its form. 2. Add the prefix "ka-" to the adjective to signify that you are making a comparison. 3. Add the adjective in its modified form after the prefix "ka-".

For example:

• mataas (high) → ka-mataas (higher)
• tam-is (sweet) → ka-tam-is (sweeter)
• lawom (deep) → ka-lawom (deeper)
• dako (big) → ka-dako (bigger)

Here are some additional examples:

• Ang langit ka-uwaw pa kaysa sa yuta. (The sky is higher than the ground.)
• Ang mangga ka-tam-is kaysa sa saging. (The mango is sweeter than the banana.)
• Ang dagat ka-lawom sa ilawan. (The ocean is deeper than the light.)

In the above examples, we can see the use of comparatives in comparing the height of the sky and the ground, the sweetness of the mango and banana, and the depth of the ocean and light.

To form the superlative form of an adjective:

1. Identify the adjective you want to use and make note of its form. 2. Add the prefix "pinaka-" to the adjective to signify that you are making a comparison. 3. Add the adjective in its modified form after the prefix "pinaka-".

For example:

• mataas (high) → pinaka-mataas (highest)
• tam-is (sweet) → pinaka-tam-is (sweetest)
• lawom (deep) → pinaka-lawom (deepest)
• dako (big) → pinaka-dako (biggest)

Here are some examples:

• Si Maria ang pinaka-gwapa sa grupo. (Maria is the most beautiful in the group.)
• Ang mga Hapon ang pinaka-magaling sa teknolohiya. (The Japanese are the most skilled in technology.)
• Si Pedro ang pinaka-antepasado sa mga miyembro sa pamilya. (Pedro is the oldest ancestor among the family members.)

In the above examples, we are using superlatives to compare some people and things in a group.

Comparison of Equality

In Cebuano, we also have a way of comparing two things that are equal. This is called the comparison of equality, and it is formed using the following structure:

• Pareho (or sama) + adjective / adverb + sa

For example:

• Pareho ka-bunayag ni Maria ug sa Lisa. (You are as intelligent as Maria and Lisa.)
• Siya pareho kasarang sa iyang amahan. (He is as tall as his father.)
• Sama ang katahom sa adlaw ug sa gabii. (The beauty is the same during both day and night.)

In the above examples, we are comparing two things that are equal by using the structure pareho + adjective + sa.

Conclusion

Comparatives and superlatives are important elements needed to describe any language clearly. You've learned how to form and use comparatives and superlatives to compare two things or persons to one another, as well as how to compare things that are equal. Keep practicing and integrating these grammatical structures in your Cebuano conversations, and you will find it easier to communicate and express your thoughts and ideas more effectively. Congratulations! You are now one step closer to fluency in Cebuano!

Table of Contents - Cebuano Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Basic Expressions

• Greetings and Goodbyes
• Polite Expressions

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure

• Subject-Verb-Object
• Negating Sentences

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Cardinal Numbers
• Telling Time

  ---

Questions and Responses

• Yes/No Questions
• Wh-Questions

  ---

Common Nouns

• People and Family
• Food and Drinks

  ---

Pronouns

• Personal Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Colors and Adjectives

• Colors
• Common Adjectives

  ---

Adjective Agreement

• Adjective Placement
• Comparatives and Superlatives

  ---

Places and Directions

• Common Places
• Directions

  ---

Everyday Life in Cebu

• Family and Relationships
• Food and Dining

  ---

Days and Months

• Days of the Week
• Months and Seasons

  ---

Festivals and Celebrations

• Sinulog Festival
• Christmas and New Year

Other Lessons

• Give your Opinion
• Adjective Placement
• Pronouns
• How to Use Be
• Questions
• 0 to A1 Course
• Wh Questions
• Subject Verb Object
• Negating Sentences
• Negation