There are three categories of adjectives in the Russian language: qualitative, relative and possessive. Of these, only one group can designate a sign of an object in different degrees and can 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;
- superlative degree.
In addition, both are divided into two more forms: simple (as it is also called “synthetic”) and composite (analytical). Some also highlight a positive degree, that is, the familiar form of the adjective that is familiar to us in no way: beautiful, cold, small, and so on. A positive degree is a degree that does not change in any way and is not compared with anything.
Comparative Adjective
A comparative degree in Russian is used to indicate some kind of comparison and is formed in two different ways: more beautiful (do not forget: stress on I, stress on E will be considered incorrect), more beautiful, colder, colder.
Let's look at each method of forming degrees of comparison of adjectives in a comparative degree in more detail.
Comparative simple degree
How is a comparative simple degree formed? There are two ways:
- Additions to the adjective of suffixes -e, -e, -e, -se: better, higher, prettier, nicer, tastier.
- The formation of adjectives in a comparatively simple degree can also be done using the prefix (prefix) of the pre- and suffix -se: better, tastier, worse. This is usually used and allowed in colloquial speech.
Sometimes in a series of words alternations of consonants can be observed when the last consonant of the root changes to another letter: pure - cleaner, sweet - sweeter.
The formation of adjectives using a simple comparative degree makes adjectives immutable, and in the sentence they most often play the role of predicates.
Despite the fact that qualitative adjectives have the ability to vary in degrees, not all adjectives from the category of qualitative are capable of changing in a comparative simple degree. These are adjectives with the meaning of color (pink, blue), some ancient words (left, decrepit) or words that were formed by converting a relative adjective or verb into high-quality using the suffixes -sk, -ov, -n, -l (tanned, human).
Comparative Compound Degree
A composite comparative degree is formed easier and in only one single way. To complete the formation of adjectives using a composite comparative degree, you need to use the official words “more” or “less” and put them in front of the word itself: better, more colorful, wider, less saturated, less green.
Superlative Adjective
This degree exists in order to show the superiority of any inanimate or animated object over the rest. Usually it means “best” or “worst” - these words, by the way, are also adjectives in superlative degree.
As in a comparative degree, superlatives have two forms: simple and compound. Let's try to properly disassemble both of them.
Superb Simple Degree
The simple form of superlatives is formed in two different ways.
- With the help of adding suffixes -ish, isheish to the root of the word: the most beautiful, wisest, highest.
- Adding the prefix -ai and the suffixes -sh, -eysh, -oysh: the best, the wildest, tastiest. This creates some superlative enhancement.
It should be noted that the suffix -ish changes sounds such as r, x and k to the letter f: strict - strict, dear - dearest.
Superb Compound Degree
There are two ways to form adjectives in the superlative comparative degree that you should know:
- Adding the service word "the 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 a comparatively simple degree: best of all, worse of all, smarter of all, kinder of all, and so on.