Parts of speech - Woordsoorten

Formation of the comparative

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Forming the comparative is fairly simple. As with many English adjectives, the suffix -er is added to the bare adjective:

 

adjective comparative translation
groot groter bigger
leuk leuker nicer
dun dunner thinner

 

Remember to follow the spelling rules when adding the suffix -er: You might have to lose a vowel (groot - groter) or double a consonant (dun - dunner).

For some adjectives the form of the suffix is not -er but -der. This happens only when the last sound of an adjective is /r/:

adjective comparative translation
ver verder further
duur duurder more expensive
lekker lekkerder tastier

 

There is one adjective with an irregular comparative which has to be learnt by heart

adjective comparative translation
goed beter better

 

The comparative is an adjective. Like all other adjectives, it follows the rules for >adjectival declension if it is used attributively before a noun. I.e. an -e will be added except when the noun it precedes is an indefinite neuter noun:

Abdul heeft twee jongere zusjes.

Abdul has two younger sisters.

Harry heeft één jongere broer.

Harry has two younger brothers.

Kamil heeft één jonger zusje.

Kamil has one younger sister.

Wie is het jongere zusje?

Who is the younger sister?

 

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