Comparatives and Superlatives — Finnish Grammar

To compare things, Finnish changes the adjective, much as English adds "-er" and "-est". There are two steps: the comparative ("bigger") for comparing two things, and the superlative ("biggest") for the top of a group. Because the comparative and superlative are still adjectives, they continue to agree with their noun in case and number.

The Comparative: -mpi

Add -mpi to the adjective stem. This corresponds to English "-er" or "more".

iso → isompi
big → bigger
vanha → vanhempi
old → older
halpa → halvempi
cheap → cheaper
kaunis → kauniimpi
beautiful → more beautiful
Tämä auto on isompi.
This car is bigger.

The Superlative: -in

Add -in for "the most" - the top of the group. This corresponds to English "-est" or "most".

iso → isoin
big → biggest
halpa → halvin
cheap → cheapest
kaunis → kaunein
beautiful → most beautiful
Tämä on halvin.
This is the cheapest.

Saying "than"

Use for "than" when comparing two things directly.

Hän on nuorempi kuin minä.
He/she is younger than I am.
Tänään on lämpimämpää kuin eilen.
Today is warmer than yesterday.

They Still Take Case Endings

Because they remain adjectives, comparatives and superlatives agree with their noun and take the usual case endings.

Asun isommassa talossa.
I live in a bigger house.
Ostin halvimman lipun.
I bought the cheapest ticket.

Irregular Comparisons

As with English "good → better → best", a few common adjectives form these grades irregularly and must be learned as they come.

hyvä → parempi → paras
good → better → best
pitkä → pidempi → pisin
long → longer → longest

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Finnish course

28 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 77. A few of them, with the words “Comparatives and Superlatives” is about in bold:

Minulla on kaksi nuorempaa siskoa ja kaksi vanhempaa siskoa.
I have two younger sisters and two older sisters.
Lesson 138
Toivon, että olisit säästäväisempi.
I wish you were more frugal.
Lesson 328

Comments

Loading comments…