Grammar
Comparatives & Superlatives
Dutch comparatives add -er to the adjective; superlatives add -st. Choosing between predicative and attributive forms, and knowing the irregular verbs, is the real challenge.
groot → groter → het grootst → big → bigger → biggest
goed → beter → het best → good → better → best
goed → beter → het best → good → better → best
1. Comparatives — adjective + -er
Add -er to the adjective and use dan (than).
Klein is kleiner dan groot.
Small is smaller than big.
Small is smaller than big.
Hij is ouder dan zij.
He is older than she is.
He is older than she is.
Deze auto is duurder dan die.
This car is more expensive than that one.
This car is more expensive than that one.
Ze werkt harder dan haar collega.
She works harder than her colleague.
She works harder than her colleague.
Spelling rules
als vs dan
even groot als — as big as (equal comparison — even...als)
groter dan — bigger than (unequal comparison — comparative + dan)
Ze is even oud als ik. — She is as old as I am.
Hij is groter dan zijn broer. — He is taller than his brother.
2. Superlatives — adjective + -st
Add -st to form the superlative. The form then depends on whether it is predicative (after the noun, no -e) or attributive (before the noun, adds -e).
Quick rule: if a noun follows → add -ste. If no noun follows → use het + -st.
Dit is het grootste huis. (noun follows → -ste) vs Dit huis is het grootst. (no noun → -st)
Dit is het grootste huis. (noun follows → -ste) vs Dit huis is het grootst. (no noun → -st)
3. Irregular forms — must be memorised
Ik drink liever thee dan koffie.
I'd rather drink tea than coffee. — graag → liever
I'd rather drink tea than coffee. — graag → liever
Dit is het beste boek dat ik heb gelezen.
This is the best book I have read. — goed → best (attributive: beste)
This is the best book I have read. — goed → best (attributive: beste)
Ze heeft meer geld dan haar zus.
She has more money than her sister. — veel → meer
She has more money than her sister. — veel → meer
Ik heb het minst geslapen.
I slept the least. — weinig → minst
I slept the least. — weinig → minst
