Comparison (grammar)

The comparation (from Latin comparare " Compare " ) is in linguistics, the comparison of adjectives and adverbs.

Levels

We distinguish the following five increments:

• Positive ( lat. ponere - specify )
• Comparative (Latin comparare - compare )
• Superlative (Latin super and ferre - carry over )
• Elative (Latin efferre - Lift out )
• Excessively (Latin excedere - go out / exceed ). This is not a separate form of an adjective in German.

Komparation in German

In German there are three superlative forms:

In German, regularly increased in comparative adjectives end in-er and be connected to a comparison object. In some dialects, as the compound word as used (in some southwestern German dialects, such as Swabian and Alemannic: better than ). In some lives, occasionally, the high German, but outdated as such again: ( Bavarian: better than or, somewhat less frequently, just better than how. )

The superlative ends with -st or - est after -s,- ß, - sh, -d,- t,- tz -x or -z and is in adverbialem use of the adjectives associated with the:

• Big - bigger - (am) largest ( n )
• Beautiful - beautiful - (am) most beautiful (s)
• Wild - wild - (am) Wildest (s)

Irregular increases are adjectives that are different from the above rule ( the other root word or change of a consonant ). Irregular are:

• Good - better - best (am) ( n )
• Much - more - (am) most ( n )
• Like - rather - (am) favorite (s)
• High - higher - (am) highest ( n )
• Little - less / less - ( at ) least ( n ) / (am ) least ( n ) (both forms are possible )
• Close - closer - (am) next ( n )

The superlative (Latin superlatio " exaggeration ", also: maximum level, usually level, 2nd level only ) is the highest degree of increase of the property words. To express the greatest possible participation comes at a property. Many languages ​​, such as German, English or Latin, use the superlative within the comparation to describe a gradual difference between at least three comparison values, the superlative marks the value with the highest degree.

Examples:

• Anton runs by all students at the fastest.
• The highest mountain in Asia is Mount Everest.

However, if no comparable figures mentioned in the sentence, then the superlative here corresponds to the elative, so the absolute superlative. More gradual gradations allow this lexical means of word formation and intensity particles.

Examples:

• Anton runs the very fastest.
• By far the highest mountain is Mount Everest.

Not usual is the comparation of

• Absolute adjectives, since they defy comparison. Examples: triangular, writing, mortal, unique, dead, entirely, only. You can sometimes, however, be increased in jocular use, respectively, when they are used in a relative or figuratively. An example: " All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. " ( George Orwell, Animal Farm )
• Composite adjectives when the nominal Erstglied itself expresses a gain. Examples: strohdumm, ice cold, strong as an ox,
• Invariable adjectives. These are neither flexed nor increased, for example, borrowed color terms such as purple, pink ( contrast flektierbare color words such as red, green, blue and rose ).

Be increased only once, for example:

• Front - front-
• Rear - the rearmost
• Internal - innermost
• External - extreme

Participles used as adjectives

Participles used as adjectives are not normally increased. It says, " the screaming children ", but not " the screaming their children" and not "the crying children," but paraphrasing " the loud screaming " or the " loudest screaming " children. In contrast, if needed, " screaming " in the figurative sense, it is no longer perceived as an adjectival participle, but as a ( new ) Adjective; then one can certainly say that the lounge was held in the most glaring colors.

Increase composite adjectives

For compound adjectives, such as quality, it is only possible to the first or to increase the second part, but not both. Whether front or back word to increase, resulting mostly when it is realized, the increase is meant any capacity. The fastest train is faster than any other, but not possible. Occasionally may be selectively increased the first or the second part, sometimes results here a difference in meaning. On a literal meaning mostly the front word is increased in a figurative sense rather the background word. The rules of combination and separate letters must be observed.

• " This shirt is less plaid ( has smaller diamonds) than the old one. " ( Literal meaning ), but:
• " You're still petty ( fussy ) when my father! " ( Figurative meaning )
• The closer stop ( " close " in actual localities), but:
• The more obvious ( lighter herauszufindende ) solution ( figurative meaning )

Superlativadverbien

A Superlativadverb is a special adverb, which has a superlative form and meaning.

Examples:

• Well, at the latest, at least, at most

Desuperlativum

The Desuperlativum (Latin de 'of' ) is a word which was derived from a superlative.

Examples:

• Optimal ( from the Latin optimus "the best" ) maximize (from Latin maximus " the greatest" )

Hyperlativ

From the standard deviation Germans, often absolute adjectives are in the spoken language increased, although their positive form already has a superlative meaning (example: only ). Such a form of words which apparently increases an absolute adjective, it is called Hyperlativ.

Superlatives are considered outdated exaggeration. Examples:

• Friendly
• Largely
• If possible
• Heartiest

Non- comparative use

In addition to use in comparing the comparative form of the adjective can also be used in non-comparative sentences. This type of usage is called absolute comparative.

In this use, the non-comparative adjective is attenuated with respect to the positive, not amplified. An older lady is not as old as an old lady.

To misinterpretations can the use of the word as lead, because it is used in some dialects as compound word in comparisons.

A non-comparative nature of the use is to be found also in parallel with the second comparative form of the adjective, the superlative. It is called elative.

Comparation of adverbs

In German, also a few adverbs can be increased, so in about: often - more often - most often, which should be used for the latter most often better for stylistic reasons. Adverbially used adjectives increased occasionally: Peter sings more beautifully than Jutta.

Komparation in other languages

In other languages, there is also a fourth comparative form, the elative ( " highlighted " from Latin elatum ).

Such a language is Modern Greek:

The elative can be reproduced in the translation with:

• Very well
• Extremely well
• Super ( - good)

Also in Latin four superlative forms are available:

The Excessively of Basque (also called elative ) can be "too ... " translated, so he shows an excess or an excess of: