comparativ

The comparativ, or comparative degree, is a grammatical form used to indicate that one entity has a higher or lower degree of a given property than another. It is part of the broader system of degree of comparison, alongside the positive (base form) and the superlative (the highest degree).

Formation and variation occur across languages. In many languages the comparative is formed analytically with a helper word such as more or less: more beautiful, more quickly. In others it is formed synthetically by adding a suffix to an adjective: bigger, faster. Some languages use vowel changes or internal modification rather than a dedicated suffix. Irregular forms also exist, such as good becoming better and bad becoming worse in English, where the form does not follow a single rule.

Usage and syntax are relatively consistent across languages. The comparative typically compares two entities and is often accompanied by the word than, as in This box is bigger than that one. Some languages allow the comparative to express a general standard without an explicit second item, while others rely on additional particles or prepositional phrases. Comparatives can modify adjectives and certain adverbs, and in some languages may also interact with negation or adverbial forms.

Relation to other degrees is straightforward: the positive is the base form, the comparative expresses a higher or lower degree relative to another item, and the superlative denotes the highest degree within a group (e.g., biggest, most beautiful). The exact morphology and syntax of the comparativ vary by language, but the underlying concept is a cross-linguistic means of indicating relative magnitude.