CHAPTER 4

Lesson 37 · Degrees of comparison

In Dutch, as in English, adjectives can be modified to express different degrees of comparison: the positive, comparative, and superlative forms. The positive form is the basic form of the adjective, the comparative form is used to compare two entities, and the superlative form is used to compare one entity against a group.

First example: big - bigger - biggest

1 this house is big

2 this house is bigger than that house

3 this is the biggest house

Second example: small - smaller - smallest

1 this house is small

2 this house is  smaller than that house

3 this is the smallest house

Test

1. This house is big

2. This house is bigger than that house

3. This is the biggest house

1. This house is small

2. This house is smaller than that house

3. This is the smallest house

20 common comparisons

Compare the three forms. Listen and repeat each set.

01
goedbeterbest

good - better - best

02
slechtslechterslechtst

bad - worse - worst

03
grootgrotergrootst

big - bigger - biggest

04
kleinkleinerkleinst

small - smaller - smallest

05
veelmeermeest

much/many - more - most

06
weinigminderminst

little/few - less/fewer - least/fewest

07
langlangerlangst

long - longer - longest

08
kortkorterkortst

short - shorter - shortest

09
hooghogerhoogst

high - higher - highest

10
laaglagerlaagst

low - lower - lowest

11
dikdikkerdikst

thick/fat - thicker/fatter - thickest/fattest

12
dundunnerdunst

thin - thinner - thinnest

13
snelsnellersnelst

fast - faster - fastest

14
langzaamlangzamerlangzaamst

slow - slower - slowest

15
zwaarzwaarderzwaarst

heavy - heavier - heaviest

16
lichtlichterlichtst

light - lighter - lightest

17
warmwarmerwarmst

warm - warmer - warmest

18
koudkouderkoudst

cold - colder - coldest

19
duurduurderduurst

expensive - more expensive - most expensive

20
goedkoopgoedkopergoedkoopst

cheap - cheaper - cheapest

Practise the 20 comparisons

Say the three Dutch forms first. Then reveal the answer and listen to check your pronunciation.

01

good - better - best

Show Dutch answer
goedbeterbest
02

bad - worse - worst

Show Dutch answer
slechtslechterslechtst
03

big - bigger - biggest

Show Dutch answer
grootgrotergrootst
04

small - smaller - smallest

Show Dutch answer
kleinkleinerkleinst
05

much/many - more - most

Show Dutch answer
veelmeermeest
06

little/few - less/fewer - least/fewest

Show Dutch answer
weinigminderminst
07

long - longer - longest

Show Dutch answer
langlangerlangst
08

short - shorter - shortest

Show Dutch answer
kortkorterkortst
09

high - higher - highest

Show Dutch answer
hooghogerhoogst
10

low - lower - lowest

Show Dutch answer
laaglagerlaagst
11

thick/fat - thicker/fatter - thickest/fattest

Show Dutch answer
dikdikkerdikst
12

thin - thinner - thinnest

Show Dutch answer
dundunnerdunst
13

fast - faster - fastest

Show Dutch answer
snelsnellersnelst
14

slow - slower - slowest

Show Dutch answer
langzaamlangzamerlangzaamst
15

heavy - heavier - heaviest

Show Dutch answer
zwaarzwaarderzwaarst
16

light - lighter - lightest

Show Dutch answer
lichtlichterlichtst
17

warm - warmer - warmest

Show Dutch answer
warmwarmerwarmst
18

cold - colder - coldest

Show Dutch answer
koudkouderkoudst
19

expensive - more expensive - most expensive

Show Dutch answer
duurduurderduurst
20

cheap - cheaper - cheapest

Show Dutch answer
goedkoopgoedkopergoedkoopst

Comparing things

Many adjectives take -er and -st: klein – kleiner – kleinst. In a sentence: Mijn tas is kleiner dan jouw tas. — My bag is smaller than your bag. Deze tas is het kleinst. — This bag is the smallest.

Learn irregular forms: goed – beter – best, veel – meer – meest, weinig – minder – minst. For equality: Deze tas is even groot als die tas.