Language/Bosnian/Grammar/Comparatives-and-Superlatives
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Welcome to another exciting lesson in our "Complete 0 to A1 Bosnian Course"! Today, we will dive into the fascinating world of comparatives and superlatives in the Bosnian language. These grammatical structures allow us to make comparisons between different subjects and to express extremes. Whether you want to say that something is bigger, smaller, better, or best, mastering these forms is essential for effective communication in Bosnian.
Importance of Comparatives and Superlatives[edit | edit source]
Understanding comparatives and superlatives is crucial because they are used in everyday conversation and writing. They help us articulate our thoughts more clearly and convey the degree of difference among the subjects we discuss. Imagine you’re trying to describe your favorite cities in Bosnia—being able to say which one is the most beautiful or the smallest will enhance your expressive capabilities.
In this lesson, we will cover the following topics:
- Forming Comparatives
- Forming Superlatives
- Usage Examples
- Practice Exercises
So, let’s get started!
Forming Comparatives[edit | edit source]
In Bosnian, comparatives are generally formed by adding specific suffixes to the base form of the adjective. The most common suffixes are -iji or -iji for adjectives that have two syllables or more. For shorter adjectives, we typically use the word “više” (more).
Examples of Comparatives[edit | edit source]
Here are some examples to illustrate how comparatives are formed in Bosnian:
| Bosnian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| velik | /ˈvɛlik/ | bigger |
| manji | /ˈmaɲi/ | smaller |
| ljepši | /ˈljɛpʃi/ | more beautiful |
| brži | /ˈbɾʒi/ | faster |
| pametniji | /paˈmɛt̪ni.ji/ | smarter |
| skuplji | /ˈskupli/ | more expensive |
| jednostavniji | /jɛdnɔsˈtaʊ̯ni.ji/ | simpler |
| zanimljiviji | /zaˈniːmljivi.ji/ | more interesting |
| stariji | /ˈstaɾi.ji/ | older |
| jači | /ˈja.tʃi/ | stronger |
Usage of Comparatives[edit | edit source]
When using comparatives in sentences, you might find phrases like “od” (than) useful. For example:
- Ova knjiga je veća od one.
(This book is bigger than that one.)
- Marija je pametnija od Jovane.
(Maria is smarter than Jovana.)
Forming Superlatives[edit | edit source]
To express the highest degree of a quality, we turn to superlatives. These are formed by adding the prefix “naj-” to the base form of the adjective.
Examples of Superlatives[edit | edit source]
Let’s take a look at how superlatives are constructed in Bosnian:
| Bosnian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| najveći | /ˈnajʋɛt͡ʃi/ | the biggest |
| najmanji | /ˈnajmaɲi/ | the smallest |
| najljepši | /ˈnajljɛpʃi/ | the most beautiful |
| najbrži | /ˈnajbɾʒi/ | the fastest |
| najpametniji | /najpametniji/ | the smartest |
| najskuplji | /ˈnajskupli/ | the most expensive |
| najjednostavniji | /najjednostavniji/ | the simplest |
| najzanimljiviji | /najzanimljiviji/ | the most interesting |
| najstariji | /najstaɾi.ji/ | the oldest |
| najjači | /najˈja.tʃi/ | the strongest |
Usage of Superlatives[edit | edit source]
Superlatives are often used with the word “od svih” (of all) to emphasize that something is the best in a group.
- Ovo je najljepša slika od svih.
(This is the most beautiful picture of all.)
- On je najbrži trkač od svih.
(He is the fastest runner of all.)
Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]
Now that you have a solid understanding of how comparatives and superlatives work in Bosnian, it’s time to put that knowledge to the test! Below are some exercises designed to help you practice.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Comparative Form
1. Ova zgrada je __________ (visok) od one.
2. Maja je __________ (mlad) od Jelene.
3. Ovaj film je __________ (dobro) od onog.
4. Ova torta je __________ (sladak) od druge.
Solutions:
1. viša
2. mlađa
3. bolji
4. slađa
Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Superlative Form
1. On je __________ (brz) vozač na svijetu.
2. To je __________ (dobar) restoran u gradu.
3. Marija je __________ (ljep) djevojka u razredu.
4. Ovo je __________ (jeftin) proizvod od svih.
Solutions:
1. najbrži
2. najbolji
3. najljepša
4. najjeftiniji
Exercise 3: Translate the Following Sentences into Bosnian
1. This car is faster than that one.
2. She is the smartest student in the class.
3. This book is more interesting than the other.
4. He is the strongest player of all.
Solutions:
1. Ovaj auto je brži od onog.
2. Ona je najpametnija učenica u razredu.
3. Ova knjiga je zanimljivija od druge.
4. On je najjači igrač od svih.
Exercise 4: Create Sentences Using Comparatives
Write three sentences comparing different objects or people. Use at least one comparative form in each sentence.
Example Solutions:
1. Ovaj telefon je skuplji od mog.
2. Marija je ljepša od Ane.
3. Ova slika je bolja od prošle.
Exercise 5: Create Sentences Using Superlatives
Write three sentences using superlatives.
Example Solutions:
1. Ovo je najljepši grad u Bosni.
2. On je najbrži trkač u školi.
3. Ovaj kolač je najukusniji od svih.
Exercise 6: Match the Adjective with its Comparative and Superlative Forms
- velik
- pametan
- brz
- lijep
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|-----------|-------------|-------------|
| velik | veći | najveći |
| pametan | pametniji | najpametniji |
| brz | brži | najbrži |
| lijep | ljepši | najljepši |
Exercise 7: Identify the Errors
Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences:
1. Ova škola je najveći od svih.
2. On je pametniji učenik od svih.
3. Maja je najljepši djevojka u razredu.
Solutions:
1. Ova škola je najviše od svih.
2. He is the smartest student of all.
3. Maja je najljepša djevojka u razredu.
Exercise 8: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the adjective:
1. Ova knjiga je __________ (dobar) od svih koje sam pročitao.
2. Njegov auto je __________ (nov) od mog.
Solutions:
1. najbolja
2. noviji
Exercise 9: Create a Short Dialogue
Create a dialogue between two friends discussing their favorite cities in Bosnia using comparatives and superlatives.
Example Dialogue:
A: Koji grad misliš da je najljepši u Bosni?
B: Mislim da je Sarajevo najljepši, ali Mostar je zanimljiviji.
A: Da, ali Banja Luka je veća od Mostara.
Exercise 10: Write a Short Paragraph
Write a short paragraph describing your favorite place using at least three comparatives and two superlatives.
Example Paragraph:
My favorite city is Sarajevo. It is the most beautiful city in Bosnia. The food is better than in other cities, and the people are friendlier. I think it is the liveliest place to visit.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
In this lesson, you have learned how to form and use comparatives and superlatives in the Bosnian language. Remember, practice makes perfect! Keep using these forms in your conversations, and soon they will become second nature to you. Don’t hesitate to revisit this lesson whenever you need a refresher.
Now go ahead and explore the beautiful landscapes of Bosnia with your newfound language skills!
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Special Characters and Sounds
- Pronouns
- Noun Gender and Plurals
- Adjectives
- Verbs and Conjugation
- How to Use Be
- Adjectives and Adverbs
- Questions and Negations
- Basic Sentence Structure
- Future Tense
| ◀️ Adjective Agreement — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Family Members ▶️ |