Language/Maltese/Grammar/Comparatives-and-Superlatives
Comparatives and superlatives are essential components of any language. They allow the speaker to compare and contrast between different entities or persons. In Maltese, comparatives are formed by adding a suffix to the adjective or adverb, whereas superlatives are formed by adding a prefix to the adjective or adverb. In this lesson, we will learn how to form and use comparatives and superlatives in Maltese.
Comparative Adjectives
Comparative adjectives are used to compare two nouns. In Maltese, the comparative form of an adjective is formed by adding the suffix 'iż-żieda' (in English: more) to the adjective root. The comparative adjective agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
The following table shows some examples of comparative adjectives in Maltese:
| Maltese | Pronunciation | English | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ktieb żgħir | /ktieb ʒir/ | small book | ktieb iż-żieda żgħir | /ktieb iz ʒɪˈde.a ʒir/ | smaller book |
| frott ieħor | /frɔt iehor/ | other fruit | frott iż-żieda aħjar | /frɔt iz ʒɪˈde.a ˈa.hjar/ | better fruit |
| lista twila | /lɪsta twila/ | long list | lista iż-żieda twila | /lɪsta iz ʒɪˈde.a twila/ | longer list |
To summarize, the comparative form is created by adding the suffix 'iż-żieda' to the adjective root. The comparative adjective agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
Superlative Adjectives
Superlative adjectives are used to compare one noun to all others in a group. In Maltese, the superlative form of an adjective is formed by adding the prefix 'aħrar-' (in English: most) to the adjective root. The superlative adjective agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
The following table shows some examples of superlative adjectives in Maltese:
| Maltese | Pronunciation | English | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ktieb sabiħ | /ktieb sa.biħ/ | beautiful book | aħrar-ktieb sabiħ | /ˈa.hrar ktieb sa.biħ/ | most beautiful book |
| frott tat-tiġieġa | /frɔt tat tiːdʒiɛd͡ʒa/ | sweetest fruit | aħrar-frott tat-tiġieġa | /ˈa.hrar frɔt tat tiːdʒiɛd͡ʒa/ | sweetest fruit |
| lista bla maħluq | /lɪsta bla maˈħluk/ | unfinished list | aħrar-lista bla maħluq | /ˈa.hrar lɪsta bla maˈħluk/ | most unfinished list |
To summarize, the superlative form is created by adding the prefix 'aħrar-' to the adjective root. The superlative adjective agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
Comparative Adverbs
Comparative adverbs are used to compare two actions or states. In Maltese, the comparative form of an adverb is formed by adding the suffix 'aktar' (in English: more) to the adverb root. The comparative adverb is invariable, meaning that it does not change in gender or number.
The following table shows some examples of comparative adverbs in Maltese:
| Maltese | Pronunciation | English | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ħin qasir | /ħin ʔasir/ | short time | ħin aktar qasir | /ħin akˈtar ʔasir/ | shorter time |
| fil-qrib | /fil qrib/ | near | aktar fil-qrib | /akˈtar fil qrib/ | nearer |
| minn qabel xi zmien | /min ʔabel xi ʒmiːn/ | some time ago | aktar minn qabel xi zmien | /akˈtar min ʔabel xi ʒmiːn/ | more some time ago |
To summarize, the comparative form is created by adding the suffix 'aktar' to the adverb root. The comparative adverb is invariable, meaning that it does not change in gender or number.
Superlative Adverbs
Superlative adverbs are used to compare one action or state to all others in a group. In Maltese, the superlative form of an adverb is formed by adding the prefix 'aħjar-' (in English: most) to the adverb root. The superlative adverb is invariable, meaning that it does not change in gender or number.
The following table shows some examples of superlative adverbs in Maltese:
| Maltese | Pronunciation | English | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ħin twil | /ħin twil/ | long time | aħjar-ħin twil | /ˈa.hjar ħin twil/ | longest time |
| hemmhekk | /hemˈħeːk/ | there | aħjar-hemmhekk | /ˈa.hjar hemˈħeːk/ | most there |
| matul kull saħħa | /maˈtul kul saħħa/ | throughout the year | aħjar-matul kull saħħa | /ˈa.hjar maˈtul kul saħħa/ | most throughout the year |
To summarize, the superlative form is created by adding the prefix 'aħjar-' to the adverb root. The superlative adverb is invariable, meaning that it does not change in gender or number.
Summary
In this lesson, we learned how to form comparatives and superlatives in Maltese. We also saw examples of comparative and superlative adjectives and adverbs. To form comparatives, we add 'iż-żieda' to the adjective root or 'aktar' to the adverb root. To form superlatives, we add 'aħrar-' to the adjective or adverb root.
Remember that comparative adjectives and adverbs are used to compare two entities while superlative adjectives and adverbs are used to compare one entity to all others in a group.
Keep on learning, and you'll soon master Maltese comparatives and superlatives!
Other Lessons
- Subject Verb Object Order
- How to Use Have
- Plurals
- Possessive Pronouns
- Demonstrative Pronouns
- Give your Opinion
- Pronouns
- How to Use Be
- Adverbs
- Irregular Verbs