How to Form Comparatives and Superlatives in Finnish

Understanding Finnish Comparatives and Superlatives

Comparative and superlative forms are essential in any language when you want to compare things or express extremes, and Finnish is no different. For learners of Finnish, mastering these forms can significantly enhance your verbal and written expression.

Basic Rules of Forming Comparatives

To form the comparative of an adjective in Finnish, you typically add the suffix -mpi to the root of the adjective. For example, "kaunis" (beautiful) becomes "kauniimpi" (more beautiful).

Most often, adjectives take a regular pattern when the comparative form is created, but always be on the lookout for exceptions that might need slight modifications to the root or involve vowel harmony.

Forming Superlatives in Finnish

The superlative, on the other hand, is formed by adding the suffix -in to the comparative form. Thus, what was "kauniimpi" (more beautiful) becomes "kaunein" (the most beautiful).

Irregular Comparatives and Superlatives

As with any language, Finnish also has its share of irregular adjectives where the comparative and superlative forms do not follow the regular pattern. Some common examples include "hyvä" (good), which in comparative form becomes "parempi" (better) and in superlative form "paras" (the best).

Common Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Here is a list of some frequently used adjectives along with their comparative and superlative forms.

• kaunis - kauniimpi - kaunein
• nopea - nopeampi - nopein
• hyvä - parempi - paras
• korkea - korkeampi - korkein

Practical Examples in Sentences

To help you grasp the usage of these forms, here are some sample sentences:

1. Alice on kauniimpi kuin Emma. - Alice is more beautiful than Emma.
2. Leevi on nopeampi kuin Matti. - Leevi is faster than Matti.
3. Tämä on paras ruoka ikinä! - This is the best food ever!