How to Use Comparative and Superlative Forms of Adjectives in Latvian

Understanding Adjectives in Latvian

In Latvian, adjectives agree with the nouns they describe in gender, number, and case. When expressing comparisons, adjectives take special forms to indicate comparative and superlative degrees, similar to English but with unique Latvian rules.

Forming the Comparative Degree in Latvian

The comparative form of adjectives in Latvian is typically formed by adding the suffix -āks (masculine) or -āka (feminine) to the adjective stem. This suffix corresponds to the English '-er' ending or the word 'more' before an adjective.

For example:

Note that the adjective stem may change slightly before adding the suffix, depending on the adjective.

Examples of Comparative Forms

Here are some examples of adjectives in their positive and comparative forms:

Forming the Superlative Degree in Latvian

The superlative degree is formed by adding the prefix vis- to the comparative form of the adjective. This corresponds to the English 'the most' or '-est' endings.

For example:

Examples of Superlative Forms

Examples of adjectives in their positive, comparative, and superlative forms:

Using Comparative and Superlative Adjectives in Sentences

When using comparative adjectives, Latvian often includes the word nekā (than) to compare two things, similar to English.