Bigger and Better
Bits
A number of adjectives have corresponding
comparatives and superlatives. In many cases the comparative is formed by
doubling the final consonant (some are also hardened) and adding a.
The superlative is formed by putting an the before the comparative. In pronunciation, a long vowel in the
adjective is shortened in the comparative and superlative, e.g.:
broas big
brassa bigger
an
brassa the biggest
O
chei ew broas. My house is big.
Dha
chei ew brassa. Your house is bigger.
Chei
an Vyternes ew an brassa. The
Queen’s house is the biggest.
bian small
behatna smaller
an
behatna the smallest
Edhen
ew bian. A bird is small.
Prev
del ew behatna. A caterpillar is smaller.
Lowan
ew an behatna. A louse is the
smallest.
coth old
cottha older
an
cottha the oldest
yonk young
yonca younger
an
yonca the youngest
teg beautiful, lovely
tekka more beautiful, lovelier
an
tekka the most beautiful, the loveliest
hir long,
tall
hirra longer, taller
an
hirra the longest, the tallest
da good
gwell better
an
gwella the best
Da ew genam gwin gwydn. I like white wine.(White wine is
good with me.)
Gwell ew genam gwin rüdh, I prefer red wine, (Red wine is
better with me)
bes
bolla te ew an gwella genam. but
I like a cup of tea best.
(but
a cup of tea is best with me.)
drog bad
gweth worse
an
gwettha the worst
e’n
gwella pres fortunately
e’n
gwettha pres unfortunately
lak useless, poor
lakka worse
an
lakka the worst
Ma
lies gwreg lakka ’vel seg. There are many wives more useless than draff.
There are also other forms of comparison:
moy ... es more ... than
maga ... avel as ... as
gweth avel hedna worse than that
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