Language/Bashkir/Grammar/Comparative-and-Superlative
Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
In Bashkir, as in English, adjectives can be used to compare different things. For example, you might say one thing is bigger than another, or that something is the biggest of all. In Bashkir, you create the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives by adding specific suffixes to the base form of the adjective.
Forming the Comparative
To form the comparative form of an adjective, typically you add the suffix -һаҡы to the base form. This suffix means "more" or "er" in English. Here are some examples:
Bashkir | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
ыс | [ɯs] | tall |
ыс-һаҡы | [ɯs-ha.qɯ] | taller |
кең | [keɣ] | wide |
кең-һаҡы | [keɣ-ha.qɯ] | wider |
ирекле | [ireklɛ] | funny |
ирекле-һаҡы | [ireklɛ-ha.qɯ] | funnier |
As you can see from these examples, the suffix -һаҡы always follows the base form of the adjective directly. The last vowel in the base form may change depending on the vowel harmony rules of Bashkir.
Forming the Superlative
To form the superlative form of an adjective, typically you add the suffix -тырыу to the base form. This suffix means "most" or "est" in English. Here are some examples:
Bashkir | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
ыс | [ɯs] | tall |
ыс-тырыу | [ɯs-tɯrju] | tallest |
кең | [keɣ] | wide |
кең-тырыу | [keɣ-tɯrju] | widest |
ирекле | [ireklɛ] | funny |
ирекле-тырыу | [ireklɛ-tɯrju] | funniest |
As with the comparative form, the superlative suffix -тырыу always follows the base form of the adjective directly. As with the comparative form, the last vowel in the base form may change depending on the vowel harmony rules of Bashkir.
Irregular Comparatives and Superlatives
Like in English, there are some adjectives in Bashkir that have irregular comparative and superlative forms. Here are some examples:
Bashkir | Pronunciation | Comparative | Superlative | English |
---|---|---|---|---|
ыйынтый | [ɯjɯn.tɯj] | ыйҡыш | ыйынтыстығы | good |
керемет | [kerɛmɛt] | кереметтер | кереметтештер | great |
уҡҡа | [ukʲ.kɑ] | уҡҡалы | уҡҡаҙ | many |
As you can see from the table, the irregular comparative and superlative forms do not follow the usual pattern. You simply have to memorize them.
Using Comparatives and Superlatives
Once you know how to form comparatives and superlatives in Bashkir, you can use them to compare different things. Here are some example sentences:
- Һөйләнәй, мондағы интернет-магазинен булдым беренче аңсаға буенча һабыл бар сатып алдым.
- Мондағы аңғаныңдан бері сугыш белән тытмашмак күккәртеп кенгертедәге була ренклеренең төбәлек һәр шәһәрдә ылтыҡ хийләх
- Урам бәләүҙеңең икең нарҙо динәрҙен дәңә арасындағы аралыҡта һөл ачты.
In these sentences, you can see how the comparative and superlative adjectives are used to compare different things. Note that in Bashkir, the comparative and superlative adjectives come before the noun they modify, unlike in English where they come after.
Practice
Now that you know how to form comparatives and superlatives in Bashkir, try practicing on your own. Choose some common adjectives and try to create comparative and superlative forms for them. Then, try using them in sentences to compare different things. The more you practice, the better you will become!
Other Lessons
- Conjunctions
- How to Use Be
- Definite and Indefinite Articles
- Present Tense
- Common Prepositions
- Plural Nouns
- Adjectives
- Pronouns
- Personal Pronouns
Sources