Language/Kirghiz/Grammar/Comparative-and-Superlative
| ◀️ Adjective Agreement — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Seasons ▶️ |
Today, we will explore the fascinating world of adjectives and adverbs in the Kirghiz language. More specifically, we will focus on forming comparative and superlative forms, which are essential for making comparisons, describing qualities, and expressing preferences. There's so much to be learned about the Kirghiz language, and mastery of these linguistic elements will only enrich your understanding and appreciation of this beautiful language.
Consider broadening your understanding by checking out these related lessons: Personal Pronouns & How to Use Have.
Forming the Comparative
In Kirghiz, the comparative form is used when comparing two things or people. To form the comparative, we simply add the suffix "-раак" ("-raak") to the stem of the adjective, while dropping the ending "-уу" ("-uu") if present. Consider the following examples:
Examples:
| Kirghiz | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ачык | /atʃɯk/ | open |
| ачыкраак | /atʃɯkraak/ | more open |
| сабак | /sabak/ | lesson |
| сабакраак | /sabakraak/ | more lessons |
Irregular Comparatives
Some adjectives have irregular comparative forms. They do not follow the standard rules for forming comparatives. Here are some examples:
Examples:
| Kirghiz | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| жакшы | /dʒakʃɯ/ | good |
| жакшырак | /dʒakʃɯrak/ | better |
| настоящий | /nastojaʃɪj/ | real |
| эң настоящий | /eŋ nastojʌʃɪj/ | more real |
Forming the Superlative
To form the superlative in Kirghiz, we add the prefix "эң" (eŋ) before the adjective. This prefix means "the most" or "the -est." With this versatile prefix, you can easily form superlatives for any adjective in the Kirghiz language. Let's have a look at some examples:
Examples:
| Kirghiz | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ачык | /atʃɯk/ | open |
| эң ачык | /eŋ atʃɯk/ | the most open |
| балдар | /baldar/ | children |
| эң балдар | /eŋ baldar/ | the youngest children |
Practice
Now that you've learned the rules for forming comparatives and superlatives in Kirghiz, it's time for some practice. Try to form the comparative and superlative forms of the following adjectives:
- мыкты (strong)
- бай (rich)
- кам (little)
- көп (a lot)
Conclusion
Congratulations, you've learned how to form the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs in Kirghiz! Keep practicing these forms as you work through the rest of this A1 Kirghiz course. Making comparisons and describing qualities is an essential part of everyday conversation, so your newly gained knowledge will come in handy as you continue learning Kirghiz.
Now that you've completed this lesson, don't stop learning! Check out these related topics: Personal pronouns & Noun Cases.
Other Lessons
- Noun Cases
- Pronouns
- Possessive Pronouns
- Gender
- Questions
- Nouns
- Adjectives
- Future Tense
- Personal pronouns
- How to Use Be
| ◀️ Adjective Agreement — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Seasons ▶️ |