Porovnávacie

Porovnávacie is a term used in Slovak and Czech linguistics to describe the set of grammatical forms that express comparison of adjectives and adverbs. It encompasses the degrees of comparison, most notably the comparative and the superlative, which allow speakers to relate one quality to another or to a group of items.

In these languages, the porovnávacie forms are applied to adjectives and adverbs to indicate relative quality. The base form (positive) denotes the attribute without comparison, the comparative expresses a greater or lesser degree, and the superlative marks the extreme degree within a set or in comparison with all others. These forms are essential for describing differences in size, speed, quality, quantity and other properties.

Formation methods vary. Porovnávacie forms can be created synthetically, by adding suffixes to the stem of the word, or analytically, by using additional words that mean more or most, often with a prefix that emphasizes the highest degree. Some adjectives and adverbs have irregular comparative and superlative forms, while others follow regular patterns. The exact formation and pronunciation can differ between Czech and Slovak, and even among dialects or historical stages of the languages.

Usage and teaching of porovnávacie forms appear in school grammar, dictionaries, and language reference works. They are central to expressing relative attributes in everyday speech, writing, and literature, enabling precise comparisons between people, objects, actions, and qualities. See also degrees of comparison, comparative, and superlative.