How to Use Comparative and Superlative Forms in Tamil

Understanding Comparative and Superlative Forms in Tamil

In Tamil, comparative and superlative forms are used to compare qualities between two or more things, similar to English. However, the way these forms are constructed differs significantly from English, and understanding these differences is essential for learners.

What Are Comparative and Superlative Forms?

The comparative form is used to compare two entities, indicating that one has more of a quality than the other. The superlative form expresses the highest degree of a quality among three or more entities.

Forming Comparatives in Tamil

In Tamil, comparatives are often formed by adding the suffix -இருந்து (irundu) or using words like மேலும் (mēlum) meaning 'more'. The adjective itself may remain unchanged, but the sentence structure indicates comparison.

For example:

• அவன் எனக்கு மேலும் புத்திசாலி. (He is more intelligent than me.)
• இந்த வீடு அந்த வீட்டிற்கு விட பெரியது. (This house is bigger than that house.)

Forming Superlatives in Tamil

Superlatives in Tamil are often formed by adding the suffix -இல்லாமல் (illāmal) or using words like மிகவும் (migavum) meaning 'most' or 'very'. The adjective is combined with these words to express the highest degree.

For example:

• அவன் பள்ளியில் மிகவும் புத்திசாலி. (He is the most intelligent in the school.)
• இது நகரத்தில் மிகவும் பெரிய வீடு. (This is the biggest house in the city.)

Common Words Used in Comparisons

Examples of Comparative and Superlative Sentences

1. இந்த புத்தகம் அந்த புத்தகத்திற்கு விட சிறந்தது. (This book is better than that book.)
2. அவள் என் சகோதரிக்கு மேலும் உயரமானவர். (She is taller than my sister.)
3. இந்த பழம் மிகவும் இனிமையானது. (This fruit is the sweetest.)
4. அவர் பள்ளியில் இல்லாமல் சிறந்த மாணவர். (He is the best student in the school.)