How to Use Comparative and Superlative Adjectives in Ukrainian

Understanding Comparative Adjectives in Ukrainian

In Ukrainian, comparative adjectives are used to compare two things, similar to English. However, the formation and usage have unique rules that differ from English. Comparatives can be formed synthetically (by adding suffixes) or analytically (using words like "більш" meaning "more").

Synthetic Formation of Comparatives

Many Ukrainian adjectives form the comparative by adding the suffix -іш- or -ш- to the adjective stem. For example, the adjective високий (high) becomes вищий (higher). This method is common for short adjectives.

Examples:

• високий → вищий (high → higher)
• швидкий → швидший (fast → faster)
• сильний → сильніший (strong → stronger)

Analytical Formation of Comparatives

For some adjectives, especially longer or borrowed ones, the comparative is formed by placing більш (more) before the adjective in its normal form.

Examples:

• більш цікавий (more interesting)
• більш складний (more complex)
• більш корисний (more useful)

Using Superlative Adjectives in Ukrainian

Superlative adjectives express the highest degree of a quality among three or more items. Ukrainian forms superlatives both synthetically and analytically.

Synthetic Superlative Formation

The synthetic superlative is formed by adding the prefix най- to the comparative form of the adjective.

Examples:

• вищий → найвищий (higher → highest)
• швидший → найшвидший (faster → fastest)
• сильніший → найсильніший (stronger → strongest)

Analytical Superlative Formation

Alternatively, the superlative can be formed by using найбільш (the most) before the adjective.

Examples:

• найбільш цікавий (the most interesting)
• найбільш складний (the most complex)
• найбільш корисний (the most useful)

Important Notes on Usage

- Some adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms, such as добрий (good) → кращий (better) → найкращий (best).

- When using comparatives, the word ніж (than) is used to compare two things, e.g., Він вищий ніж я (He is taller than I).

- Ukrainian adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify, so comparative and superlative forms will change accordingly.

Examples in Sentences

Here are some examples to illustrate comparative and superlative adjectives in Ukrainian:

• Ця книга цікавіша за ту. (This book is more interesting than that one.)
• Вона найрозумніша в класі. (She is the smartest in the class.)
• Мій будинок більший за твій. (My house is bigger than yours.)
• Це найкращий фільм, який я бачив. (This is the best movie I have seen.)