Degrees of comparison; Céimeanna comparáide na haidiachta

Degrees of comparison Céimeanna comparáide

all adjectives have 3 degrees of comparison: -

1.  simple (bunchéim), when things are equal to each other (comh)

2. comparative (breischéim), when something is better than

3. superlative (Ardchéim) when something is best.

as Gaeilge:

1. Bunchéim, nuair atá rudaí cothrom (comh)

2. Breischéim, 'níos'

3. Ardchéim/Sárchéim, 'is'

an bunchéim: 'comh'

tá Seán comh hard le Síle anois

Bhí an fear comh bán le taibhse

comh ciúin le broim Easpaig

De ghnáth deintear an bhreischéim agus an ardchéim as an dtuiseal ginideach uatha baininscneach MS

bán               níos báine              is báine

láidir             níos láidre             is láidre

ciúin              níos ciúine             is ciúine

ard                níos airde              Is áirde

If an adjective ends in 'ach' or a vowel then the ending is often (but not always) 'í'

oiriúnach       níos oiriúnaí          is oiriúnaí

tábhachtach   níos tábhachtaí     is tábhachtai

déanach         níos déanai           is déanai

aidíochta leis an ruball '-iúil' beidh 'a' acu:

fearúil níos fearúla is fearúla

banúil níos banúla is banúla

We must have exceptions or irregulars:

maith             níos fearr              is fearr

olc                 níos measa            is measa

beag               níos lú                  is lú

mór                níos mó                 is mo

éasca             níos éasca               is éasca

fuiriste          níos fusa               is fusa

MS.

Tá Seán beag anois ach beidh sé comh hard le Síle um a chéad lá breithe eile. Is fusa é sin a fheiceáil nuair atá siad ina seasamh droim le droim. Tá sé níos láidre ná Síle cheana féin. Tá Síle níos cliste ná Tomás. Is maith le Tomás sport ach is fearr le Síle na leabhair.

There are many exceptions - too many to list in a single blog. HOWEVER, please do not let 'not knowing the right degree of comparison' put you off speaking. Remember the most important thing is to communicate. No one has perfect knowledge, and speaking Gaeilge does not require it any more than speaking English requires it.