Grammar Slides KAPITEL 11

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1 Grammar Slides KAPITEL 11

2 Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs Stem + -er Stem + -(e)st All function as normal adjectives (with endings) and adverbs.

3 Umlauts

4 Exceptional Comparisons: Stem Changes

5 Exceptional Comparisons: Gern(e), lieber, am liebsten

6 Recognition of Comparatives and Superlatives Adjectives or adverbs ending in -er

7 Recognition of Comparatives and Superlatives Adjectives or adverbs ending in -er

8 Recognition of Comparatives and Superlatives Adjectives or adverbs ending in -er

9 Recognition of Comparatives and Superlatives 1. Diese Methode ist schneller. (comparative/predicate adj.) This method is faster. 2. ein schneller Dampfer (attributive adj., mixed ending: masc/nom) a fast steamboat 3. die schnellere Methode (comparative/attributive adj., weak ending: fem/nom) a faster method 4. Dieser Generator ist einfacher gebaut. (comparative/adv.) This generator is built more simply. 5. ein schwerer Hammer (attributive adj., mixed ending: masc/nom) a heavy hammer 6. ein schwererer Hammer (comparative/attributive adj., mixed ending: masc/nom) a heavier hammer 7. Der Hammer ist schwer. (predicate adj.) The hammer is heavy 8. eine sich schneller entwickelnde Situation (comparative/adv., modifying reflexive present participle used as adj., sich entwickelnde, mixed ending: fem/nom) a (rather/more) quickly developing situation [See Korb 123: comparison implied] 9. das Problem höherer Preise (comparative/adj., strong ending: pl/gen) the problem of higher prices (Korb 121)

10 Recognition of Comparatives and Superlatives Characteristic st ending Superlatives are most (equally?) common either as an attributive adjective or as a predicate in the construction am + superlative + -en

11 Special Uses of the Comparative N.b. Als is also often a subordinating conjunction at the beginning of a clause, meaning as or when (z.b. Als ich neun Jahre alt war, spielte ich oft.) In other idiomatic expressions (z.b. als ob, als wenn), it will have a different meaning and/or function.

12 Special Uses of the Comparative

13 Special Uses of the Comparative

14 Special Uses of the Comparative

15 Other Comparative Construction (nicht) so + predicate adj + wie : (not) as... as equal or lesser degree Mein Auto ist so schnell wie sein Auto. My car is as fast as his car. Ist Frankfurt so groß wie München? Is Frankfurt as large as Munich? Er ist genauso alt wie seiner Neffe. He is exactly as old as his nephew. Meine Schwester ist nicht so groß wie ich aber ich habe nicht so viel Geld wie sie. My sister is not as tall as I am, but I do not have as much money as she has.

16 Special Uses of the Comparative Korb 123: comparison implied, best to translate as positive, e.g. rather large, a fairly long time, for some time, a comparatively long time, etc.

17 Comparatives and Superlatives Used as Nouns See Korb 9.4 (99-100) for other adjectives used as nouns. See Korb 10.5 ( ) for other present participles used as adjectives, with similarly elided nouns.

18 Examples with Case Difference Masculine der längste Text: the longest text Ich habe den längsten Text gelesen.: I read the longest text. Dieser Text ist am längsten.: This text is the longest. Dieser Text ist der Längste.: This text is the longest one. Ich habe den Längsten gelesen: I read the longest one. (n.b. accusative) Feminine: die größte Giraffe: the biggest giraffe Ich habe die größte Giraffe kennengelernt.: I met the tallest Giraffe. Diese Giraffe ist am größsten.: This giraffe is the biggest. Diese Giraffe ist die Größte.: This giraffe is the biggest one. Ich habe die Größte kennengelernt.: I met the tallest one. (n.b. accusative) Neuter: das schnellste Auto: the fastest car. Ich habe das schnellste Auto gekauft.: I bought the fastest car. Dieses Auto ist am schnellsten.: This car is the fastest. Dieses Auto ist das Schnellste: This car is the fastest one. Ich habe das Schnellste gekauft: I bought the fastest one. (n.b. accusative)