Language/Norwegian-bokmal/Grammar/Comparatives-and-Superlatives
In this lesson, you will learn how to form and use comparatives and superlatives in Norwegian Bokmål. Adjectives and adverbs are words that modify or describe other words. They are an important part of any sentence, and comparatives and superlatives are used to compare and contrast the qualities of different things.
Comparatives
A comparative is used to compare two things or people. In Norwegian Bokmål, the comparative is formed by adding the suffix "-ere" to the end of an adjective. If the adjective ends in a single consonant, this consonant is doubled before the "-ere" suffix is added. Here are some examples:
| Norwegian Bokmål | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| rik | /rik/ | rich |
| rikere | /rikɛrə/ | richer |
| fin | /fin/ | nice |
| finere | /finɛrə/ | nicer |
| stor | /stor/ | big |
| større | /størə/ | bigger |
As you can see from these examples, the comparative form of the adjective always ends in "-ere". Note that if the adjective ends in "-en" or "-et", the inflection "-nere" or "-ttere" is used instead. For example, "ren" (clean) becomes "renere" (cleaner), and "liten" (small) becomes "mindre" (smaller).
When comparing two things or people, "enn" (than) is used to connect them. For example, "jeg er høyere enn deg" (I am taller than you).
Superlatives
A superlative is used to describe the highest degree of a quality. In Norwegian Bokmål, the superlative is formed by adding the suffix "-est" to the end of an adjective. If the adjective ends in a single consonant, this consonant is doubled before the "-est" suffix is added. Here are some examples:
| Norwegian Bokmål | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| stor | /stor/ | big |
| større | /størə/ | bigger |
| størst | /størst/ | biggest |
| fin | /fin/ | nice |
| finere | /finɛrə/ | nicer |
| finest | /finɛst/ | nicest |
As you can see from these examples, the superlative form of the adjective always ends in "-est". Note that if the adjective ends in "-en" or "-et", the inflection "-nest" or "-ttest" is used instead. For example, "ren" (clean) becomes "renest" (cleanest), and "liten" (small) becomes "minst" (smallest).
When using the superlative, "av" (of) is used to connect the adjective and the noun it describes. For example, "den største boka" (the biggest book). If the noun is indefinite, the superlative is formed by adding the definite article "den" and the "-e" or "-ste" ending to the adjective, depending on whether or not it ends in a consonant. For example, "en fin en" (a nice one) becomes "den fineste" (the nicest).
Irregular Comparatives and Superlatives
There are some adjectives that do not follow the regular pattern for forming comparatives and superlatives. Here are some examples:
| Norwegian Bokmål | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| god | /goː/ | good |
| bedre | /bɛdrə/ | better |
| best | /bɛst/ | best |
| dårlig | /dɔrli/ | bad |
| verre | /vɛrə/ | worse |
| verst | /vɛrst/ | worst |
Note that "god" (good) has a different root from "bedre" (better) and "best" (best). Similarly, "dårlig" (bad) has a different root from "verre" (worse) and "verst" (worst). These adjectives are irregular and must be memorized in order to be used correctly.
Using Comparatives and Superlatives in Sentences
Comparatives and superlatives are used to compare and contrast the qualities of different things. Here are some examples:
- "Han er bedre enn meg" (He is better than me)
- "Jeg er den største i klassen" (I am the biggest in the class)
- "Katten min er søtere enn din" (My cat is cuter than yours)
- "Denne boka er den mest interessante jeg har lest" (This book is the most interesting I have read)
When using comparatives and superlatives in sentences, it is important to use the correct form of the adjective and to connect the two things being compared using "enn" (than) or "av" (of).
Exercises
- Translate the following sentences into Norwegian Bokmål using comparatives and superlatives:
- My dog is bigger than your dog.
- This computer is more expensive than that one.
- The red shoes are the nicest.
- My brother is taller than me.
- Norway is colder than Italy.
- Translate the following sentences from Norwegian Bokmål to English using comparatives and superlatives:
- Denne melka er friskere enn den.
- Hun er den flinkeste i klassen.
- Min mobiltelefon er dyrere enn din.
- Denne appelsinen er større enn den andre.
- Jeg føler meg verre i dag enn i går.
Summary
In this lesson, you have learned how to form and use comparatives and superlatives in Norwegian Bokmål. Comparatives and superlatives are used to compare and contrast the qualities of different things, and they are an important part of any sentence that involves adjectives or adverbs. By memorizing the regular and irregular inflections of comparatives and superlatives, you will be able to use them correctly in your own writing and speech.