Category 1
Most adjectives form the comparative in the following manner. Can you determine the rule? It's very simple, really.
| Positiv | Komparativ | |
| neu | ==> | neuer |
| laut | ==> | lauter |
| billig | ==> | billiger |
| höflich | ==> | höflicher |
| schwer | ==> | schwerer |
| interessant | ==> | interessanter |
Click below to see if you have got the rule right.
Rule for the Komparativ |
Important:
The comparative is never
formed by adding "more" to the adjective. "More
interesting" is in German "interessanter", never
"mehr interessant"!
Category 2
A number of adjectives form the comparative in the following manner. Try to work out the rule as well.
| Positiv | Komparativ | |
| kalt | ==> | kälter |
| kurz | ==> | kürzer |
| lang | ==> | länger |
| arm | ==> | ärmer |
| klug | ==> | klüger |
| gesund | ==> | gesünder |
Click below to see if you have got the rule right.
Rule for the Komparativ |
Note:
Adjectives in this category are
mostly monosyllabic (i.e. consisting of only one syllable).
"gesund" is an exception.
Category 1
All adjectives in the category 1 above form the superlativ. What is the rule?
| Positiv | Komparativ | Superlativ | ||
| neu | ==> | neuer | ==> | am neuesten |
| laut | ==> | lauter | ==> | am lautesten |
| billig | ==> | billiger | ==> | am billigsten |
| höflich | ==> | höflicher | ==> | am höflichsten |
| schwer | ==> | schwerer | ==> | am schwersten |
| interessant | ==> | interessanter | ==> | am interessantesten |
Click below to see if you have got the rule right.
Rule for the Superlativ |
Important:
The comparative is never formed by
adding "most" to the adjective. "Most interesting"
is in German "am interessantesten", never "mehr
interessant"!
Note:
For adjectives ending with "t",
"d", "z", "sch", an "e"
is always added to aid the pronunciation. For example, "laut"
==> "am lautesten".
Category 2
Adjectives in the category 2 form the superlative in the following manner. Determine the rule.
| Positiv | Komparativ | Superlativ | ||
| kalt | ==> | kälter | ==> | am kältesten |
| kurz | ==> | kürzer | ==> | am kürzesten |
| lang | ==> | länger | ==> | am längsten |
| arm | ==> | ärmer | ==> | am ärmsten |
| klug | ==> | klüger | ==> | am klügsten |
| gesund | ==> | gesünder | ==> | am gesündesten |
Click below to see if you have got the rule right.
Rule for the Superlativ |
C. Irregular Adjectives
As usual, there are always adjectives which are irregular in the formation of the comparative and superlative. The following are some of these irregular comparative and superlative forms, some of which you have already encountered:
| Positiv | Komparativ | Superlativ | ||
| gut | ==> | besser | ==> | am besten |
| gern | ==> | lieber | ==> | am liebsten |
| viel | ==> | mehr | ==> | am meisten |
| nah | ==> | näher | ==> | am nächsten |
Do you know any other adjectives that are irregular in the comparative and superlative? You can refer to German Elementary Grammar (Kars/Häussermann) for a more complete list.
