5.2 Lektion 5 Kunstschätze STRUKTUREN © and ® 2012 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 5.2-1 Comparatives and superlatives Künstler finden diese Arbeitsmöglichkeiten

5.2

Lektion 5 KunstschätzeSTRUKTUREN

© and ® 2012 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 5.2-1

Comparatives and superlatives

Künstler finden diese Arbeitsmöglichkeiten in Ateliers hier einfach besser.

5.2




ACHTUNG!

An adjective describes or modifies a noun, and an adverb modifies a verb. In English, adverbs usually end in –ly. In German, there is no difference between the two.

Der Mann ist langsam.The man is slow.

Der Mann fährt langsam.The man drives slowly.

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• The comparative forms of adjectives and adverbs are used to indicate how similar or different two things are. Comparatives in German add –er to the adjective or adverb, both to one-syllable words and to words with more than one syllable. One-syllable adjectives and adverbs add an Umlaut to the stem vowels a, o, and u in the comparative forms.

alt älter lustig lustiger

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• Superlatives single out one thing from all others (the best book, her oldest child, etc.). To make the superlative in German, use the word am, then add an Umlaut to the vowels a, o, and u for one-syllable words, and –sten to the adverb or predicate adjective. In the superlative, –esten is added after one-syllable words ending in –t, –d, –s, or –z.

Das Wetter ist am kältesten hier.The weather is the coldest here.

Sein Aufsatz ist am objektivsten.His essay is the most objective.

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Comparative/Superlative of one-syllable words

kalt

groß

jung

kälter

größer

jünger

am kältesten

am größten

am jüngsten

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ACHTUNG!

Although gesund is more than one syllable, it too adds an Umlaut in the comparative and superlative.

Die Eltern sind gesünder als die Kinder.The parents are healthier than the children.

Dieser Mann ist am gesündesten.This man is healthiest.

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• In the comparative form of words ending in –el and –er, drop the e in the ending and add –er to the end of the word (dunkel dunkler, teuer teurer).

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• Comparatives and superlatives of attributive adjectives use the definite or indefinite article with the comparative and the definite article with the superlative ending –(e)est– plus the necessary adjective endings, according to the case of the noun modified.

Ich kenne einen lustigen Schauspieler, dessen Frau eine noch lustigere Schauspielerin ist.I know a funny actor whose wife is an even funnier actress.

Er liest einen tragischen Roman, aber ich lese den tragischsten Roman.He’s reading a tragic novel, but I am reading the most tragic novel.

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• The superlative form of an attributive adjective can be formed either with the definite article or with am. Both forms have the same English translation.

Das ist der kreativste Schriftsteller, den ich kenne.This is the most creative writer I know.

Dieser Schriftsteller ist am kreativsten.This writer is the most creative.

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ACHTUNG!

To express the idea of most, use the definite article with meisten.

Die meisten Gemälde waren Aquarelle.Most of the paintings were watercolors.

Die meisten Figuren im Roman sind frei erfunden.Most characters in the novel are fictional.

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• When comparing things that are not equal, use the comparative form of the adverb or adjective with the German word als.

Der Sänger singt lauter als die Sängerin.The male singer sings more loudly than the female singer.

Die Lokalzeitung ist kürzer als die Wochenzeitung.The local paper is shorter than the weekly paper.

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• To express an inequality, use the phrase weniger... als with the adjective or adverb.

Die Handlung in seinen Romanen ist weniger kompliziert als die Entwicklung der Charaktere.The action in his novels is less complicated than the development of the characters.

In meiner Dichtkunst ist der Reim weniger wichtig als der Sinn der Wörter.In my poetry, rhyme is less important than the meaning of words.

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ACHTUNG!

Mehr and weniger require no adjective endings. They can also be used with nouns to express having more or less of something than someone else has.

Er hat mehr Zeit als ich.He has more time than I.

Der Maler hat weniger Farben zur Auswahl.The painter has fewer paints to choose from.

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• To express the idea that two things are equal, use the phrase so... wie with the adjective or adverb. To emphasize that they are very much alike, use genau so... wie.

Sie schreibt so schön wie er schreibt.She writes as beautifully as he does.

Die Skulptur ist genau so realistisch wie das Selbstporträt.The sculpture is just as realistic as the self-portrait.

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• The following words are irregular in the comparative and superlative forms.

Irregular comparative and superlative forms

gern

gut

hoch

nah

viel

lieber

besser

höher

näher

mehr

(am) liebsten

(am) besten

(am) höchsten

(am) nächsten

(am) meisten

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• The absolute superlative is used for additional emphasis. To form the absolute superlative, add –st to the adjective or adverb, add an Umlaut to any words with a, o, or u, and add case endings as needed. The absolute superlatives äußerst, längst, and höchst are most frequently used as adverbs or to modify the adjective.

Die Schauspielerin tanzt äußerst gut.The actress dances exceptionally well.

Es ist längst vorbei.It is long gone by.

Ihre Autobiographie war höchst interessant.Her autobiography was extremely interesting.

Es ist höchste Zeit, neue Pinsel zu kaufen.It is high time to buy new paintbrushes.

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5.2 Lektion 5 Kunstschätze STRUKTUREN © and ® 2012 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 5.2-1 Comparatives and superlatives Künstler finden diese Arbeitsmöglichkeiten