Comparative degree of adjectives and adverbs
- The comparative degree of adjectives and adverbs is formed by adding
-e or -ee to the adjective stem. There is no gender distinction in
the comparative form of adjectives.
- Most adjectives have the ending -ee in the comparative form:
adjective | comparative |
красивый | красивее |
быстрый | быстрее |
интересный | интереснее |
- In stems that end in the consonants к, г, х, д, т, and in
single syllable adjectives that end in -ст-, consonant mutation will
take place in the comparative form. See
Consonant mutation for more information.
- Adjectives of this type will have the ending -e in the comparative form:
adjective | comparative |
жаркий | жарче |
тихий | тише |
чистий | чище |
дорогой | дороже |
громкий | громче |
- There is a small number of adjectives that have irregular
comparative forms. These should be memorized:
adjective | comparative |
редкий | реже |
высокий | выше |
дешёвый | дешевле |
ранный | раньше |
маленький | меньше |
долгий | дальше |
плохой | хуже |
хороший | лучше |
старый | старше |
поздный | позже |
далёкий | дальше |
большой | больше |
- When comparing two nouns, the second member
of the pair will be in the genitive case when it follows immediately
after the comparative adjective:
Брат выше сестры
Отец старше матери.
- Another way to show comparison in Russian is with
the conjunction чем. The second member of the pair will be in the
nominative case:
Брат выше, чем сестра.
Отец старше, чем мать.