Language/Plateau-malagasy/Grammar/Comparative-and-Superlative-Adjectives
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Overview
In this lesson, you will explore the use of comparative and superlative adjectives in Plateau Malagasy. Adjectives are words used to describe or modify nouns or pronouns, while adverbs are words used to modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Comparative and superlative adjectives allow us to make comparisons between two or more objects or people, expressing their relative qualities in terms of "more" or "most" or "less" or "least".
Comparative Adjectives
Comparative adjectives are used to compare two nouns or pronouns, expressing which is "more" or "less" of a certain quality than the other. To form a comparative adjective in Plateau Malagasy, you should use one of the following structures:
- more + adjective + than
- less + adjective + than
- adjective + er + than
For example:
| Plateau Malagasy | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Voalohany madio aho. | [vo.a.ˈlu.hə.ni ma.ˈdʒʊ a.ho] | I am happier the first |
| Masana ianao nofoana noho ny tenako. | [ma.sa.na ja.ˈna.o nu.ˈfu.a.na nu.hu.nə ˈte.nə.ko] | You are taller than me. |
| Diso fanantenako ianao. | [ˌdi.ʃo fa.na.ˈte.na.nə.ko ja.ˈna.o] | You are less patient than me. |
Superlative Adjectives
Superlative adjectives are used to compare one noun or pronoun to all others in a group or category, expressing which is "the most" or "the least" or "the best" or "the worst" in terms of a certain quality. To form a superlative adjective in Plateau Malagasy, you should use one of the following structures:
- the most/least + adjective
- adjective + est
- adjective + an'ny + noun
For example:
| Plateau Malagasy | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ianao nofoana indrindra indrindra. | [ja.ˈna.o nu.ˈfu.a.na in.ɖrin.ˈɖrin.ɖra] | You are the tallest. |
| Ny zazalahy sosotra indrindra tamin'ny zaza rehetra. | [nə za.za.ˈla.ʃi so.so.ˈtra in.ɖrin.ˈɖrin.ɖra ta.ˈmin ni.za.za ˈre.hə.trə] | This boy is the most intelligent of all the boys. |
| Inona ny fitsaharanao ambony indrindra eo amin'ny finday rehetra ? | [i.ˈno.nə nə fi.ˈtsa.ha.ra.na.ʊ a.mbu.ˈɲin.dri ˈe.o a.mi.nə ˈfi.ndaj ˈre.hə.trə] | What is your highest score in all the exams? |
Comparison of Adverbs
Adverbs can also be compared using comparative and superlative forms to express the degree of intensity or frequency of an action or state. To form a comparative adverb in Plateau Malagasy, you should use the word "tsy" or "tia" to mean "not" or "like", followed by the adjective in the comparative form. For example:
- tsy bebe kokoa == not as often
- tia loin'ny voalohany == like the first time
To form a superlative adverb in Plateau Malagasy, you should use the word "indrindra" or "ambony indrindra" to mean "most" or "the most". For example:
- tsy manandevo kokoa indrindra == not listen as much as possible
- ambony indrindra haingana == very fast
Exceptions to the Rules
There are some adjectives in Plateau Malagasy that do not follow the regular rules for forming comparative and superlative adjectives. These include the following:
- betsaka == many (superlative: ny an'ny betsaka == the most)
- maro == a lot (superlative: ny an'ny maro == the most)
- mora == easy (comparative: mibodo isan-andro sy isan-taona == easier every day and every year)
- madio == happy (comparative: noho ny fanantenako izany == happier than me)
Conclusion
In this lesson, you have learned about comparative and superlative adjectives in Plateau Malagasy, including their formation and usage. Remember to practice using these adjectives in context to improve your language skills and to better express yourself in Plateau Malagasy.
Excellent job on conquering this lesson! Consider delving into these related pages: Questions & Adjectives.
Other Lessons
- 0 to A1 Course
- Regular Verbs
- Pronouns and Their Usage
- Give your Opinion
- Alphabet and Pronunciation
- Irregular Verbs
- How to Use Be
- Adjectives
- Gender
- Plurals
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