← All lessons
📊

Comparing Things (-ere, -est)

Bigger, biggest, more interesting. Comparatives and superlatives, plus the common irregulars.

If you remember nothing else
  • Comparative usually adds -ere; superlative adds -est: stor → større → størst (some change vowel).
  • Use 'enn' for 'than': eldre enn meg = older than me.
  • Long adjectives use mer / mest instead: mer interessant, mest interessant.

The regular pattern

Add -ere for 'more ___' and -est for 'most ___'. The superlative often takes -este when it sits before a noun or after 'the'.

billig → billigere → billigst
cheap → cheaper → cheapest
Toget er billigere enn flyet.
The train is cheaper than the plane.
Dette er den billigste billetten.
This is the cheapest ticket.

Long adjectives: use mer / mest

For longer adjectives (and most words ending in -ig sometimes, plus -isk, -et), use mer (more) and mest (most) instead of endings.

interessant → mer interessant → mest interessant
interesting → more → most
Boka er mer interessant enn filmen.
The book is more interesting than the film.

Irregulars worth memorising

A few very common ones change shape completely.

god → bedre → best
good → better → best
dårlig → verre → verst
bad → worse → worst
gammel → eldre → eldst
old → older → oldest
mange → flere → flest
many → more → most

Quick check

3 questions. Get them right to lock in the lesson.