võrdlusastmeid

Võrdlusastmed, also known as degrees of comparison, are grammatical forms used in Estonian to express different levels of a quality or characteristic. There are three degrees of comparison: the positive, the comparative, and the superlative.

The positive degree is the base form of an adjective or adverb, simply stating the quality without comparison. For example, "ilus" (beautiful) or "kiiresti" (quickly).

The comparative degree indicates a greater or lesser extent of a quality. In Estonian, this is typically formed by adding the suffix "-m" to the adjective or adverb. For instance, "ilusam" (more beautiful) or "kiirem" (faster). When comparing two things, the word "kui" (than) is often used. So, "See maja on suurem kui see teine" translates to "This house is bigger than that other one."

The superlative degree indicates the highest or lowest extent of a quality among a group. This is formed by adding the suffix "-im" to the adjective or adverb, or by using the prefix "kõige-" (most). For example, "kõige ilusam" (the most beautiful) or "kiireim" (the fastest). The latter form is less common and usually refers to the absolute fastest. The prefix "kõige-" is more frequently used for clarity and emphasis. For instance, "Tema on klassi kõige targem" means "He is the smartest in the class." Some adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms. Understanding võrdlusastmed is essential for constructing nuanced and accurate sentences in Estonian.