There are three categories of adjectives in Russian: qualitative, relative and possessive. Of these, only one group can designate a feature of an object in different degrees and be compared with other objects. Now we will try to find out what the formation of degrees of adjectives in Russian is, and we will figure out how to form them correctly and in what ways.
What degrees of comparison of adjectives exist?
In our Russian language, there are two generally accepted degrees of comparison:
- comparative degree;
- superlatives.
Besides, both are divided into two more forms: simple (what else it is called - synthetic) and compound (analytical). Some also single out a positive degree, that is, the usual un altered form of the adjective: beautiful, cold, small, and so on. A positive degree is one that does not change in any way and is not compared to anything.
Comparativedegree of adjective
The comparative degree in Russian is used to indicate some kind of comparison and is formed in two different ways: more beautiful (do not forget: the stress on And, the stress on E will be considered incorrect), more beautiful, colder, colder.
Let's take a closer look at each comparative degree of adjectives.
Comparative prime power
How is a comparative simple power formed? There are two ways:
- Additions to adjective suffixes -ee, -ee, -e, -she: better, higher, prettier, nicer, tastier.
- The formation of adjectives in a relatively simple degree can also be done using the prefix (prefix) pre- and suffix -she: better, tastier, worse. This is commonly used and allowed in colloquial speech.
Sometimes a number of words may have alternating consonants, when the last consonant of the root changes to another letter: clean - cleaner, sweet - sweeter.
The formation of adjectives using a simple comparative degree makes adjectives invariable, and most often play the role of predicates in a sentence.
Despite the fact that quality adjectives tend to change in degrees, not all quality adjectives can change in a relatively simple degree. These are adjectives with the meaning of color (pink, blue), some ancient words (left, decrepit) or words that wereformed by changing a relative adjective or verb into a qualitative one using the suffixes -sk, -ov, -n, -l (tanned, human).
Comparative compound degree
Composite comparative degree is formed easier and only in one single way. To complete the formation of adjectives using a compound comparative, you need to use the auxiliary words "more" or "less" and put them in front of the word itself: nicer, more colorful, wider, less saturated, less green.
Superlative adjective
This degree exists in order to show the superiority of any inanimate or animate object over the rest. It usually means "best" or "worst" - these words, by the way, are also superlative adjectives.
As with the comparative degree, the superlative has two forms: simple and compound. Let's try to disassemble both of them properly.
Superior simple degree
The simple superlative form is formed in two different ways.
- With the help of adding suffixes -aysh, -eysh to the root of the word: the most beautiful, the wisest, the highest.
- Adding the prefix -nai and suffixes -sh, -eysh, -oysh: the best, the smartest, the tastiest. This creates some amplification of the superlative.
It should be noted that the suffix-aysh changes sounds such as g, x and k to the letter j: strict - the strictest, expensive - the dearest.
Superlative compound degree
Here there are two ways to form adjectives in the superlative degree that you should know:
- Adding the service word "most" to the initial form of the adjective: the best, the kindest, the smartest. There are other words that help form this degree: "most" and "least".
- Adding the word "everyone" to the comparative simple degree: best of all, worst of all, smartest of all, kindest of all, and so on.
