A2 Comparisons 4 min read Facile

Comparative Adjectives

Use -are for 'more' and -ast for 'most' to compare anything in Swedish.
Marquer comme appris
Practice it

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

To compare things in Swedish, add '-are' to the adjective for 'more' and '-ast' for 'most'.

  • Add -are to most adjectives: snabb -> snabbare (faster).
  • Add -ast to most adjectives: snabb -> snabbast (fastest).
  • Some adjectives are irregular, like bra -> bättre -> bäst (good -> better -> best).
Adjective + -are / -ast

Overview

## Overview
In Swedish, comparing things is straightforward. You don't need to add extra words like 'more' or 'most' as you do in English. Instead, you modify the adjective itself.
By adding the suffix -are, you create the comparative form (e.g., stor becomes större). By adding -ast, you create the superlative form (e.g., störst). This system is highly regular, making it one of the easiest parts of Swedish grammar to master.
Whether you are talking about the weather, your job, or your favorite food, these endings will help you express yourself clearly. Remember that Swedish adjectives also change based on the noun they describe, but the comparative and superlative forms remain consistent regardless of gender or number, which is a huge relief for learners!
## How to Form It
To form the comparative, take the base adjective and add -are. For the superlative, add -ast.
Example: glad (happy) -> gladare (happier) -> gladast (happiest).
Watch out for spelling changes: If an adjective ends in -el, -en, or -er, you often drop the vowel before adding the suffix. For example, enkel (simple) becomes enklare. Also, some adjectives undergo a vowel shift (umlaut).
Stor (big) becomes större (bigger). These are common and you will recognize them quickly with practice.
## Common Mistakes
The biggest mistake is trying to use 'mer' or 'mest' with adjectives that take suffixes. For example, saying 'mer snabbare' is incorrect; it should just be 'snabbare'. Another mistake is forgetting the word 'än' when comparing two things.
Always remember: 'X är [adjective]-are än Y'. Finally, don't forget the definite article before the superlative: 'den snabbaste bilen' (the fastest car).
## How It's Different From...
It is different from English because English uses 'more' and 'most' for longer adjectives. In Swedish, almost all adjectives use the suffix system. Even long adjectives like 'intressant' (interesting) use the suffix: 'intressantare'.
You don't need to worry about word length as much as you do in English.
## CEFR-Level Explanations
A1: In Swedish, we change words to compare. If something is big, we say 'stor'. If it is bigger, we say 'större'. If it is the biggest, we say 'störst'. It is like a game of adding endings to words to show how much of a quality something has.
A2: At this level, you learn that most adjectives follow the -are and -ast rule. You also start to notice irregular adjectives like 'bra' (good), which becomes 'bättre' (better) and 'bäst' (best). You must use 'än' when comparing two things, such as 'Min katt är mindre än din hund'.
B1: Intermediate learners should focus on the orthographic changes that occur with certain adjectives. For instance, adjectives ending in -el, -en, or -er drop the final vowel. Furthermore, you should master the use of the definite article with superlatives, ensuring agreement with the noun's gender and number, such as 'den största boken' vs 'det största huset'.
B2: At the B2 level, you should be aware of how comparative structures function in complex sentences. You will encounter participial adjectives that may require 'mer' or 'mest' instead of suffixes, particularly those ending in -ande or -ende. Understanding the nuances of when to use these versus the standard suffix forms is key to sounding natural in professional and academic contexts.
C1: Advanced users should analyze the pragmatic functions of comparatives in Swedish discourse. This includes the use of intensifiers with comparatives (e.g., 'mycket bättre', 'något snabbare') and the stylistic choice of using superlatives in idiomatic expressions. You should also be able to identify dialectal variations in the formation of irregular comparatives.
C2: At the C2 level, you master the historical development and the subtle stylistic shifts of comparative adjectives. You can navigate archaic forms, poetic usage, and the integration of loanwords into the comparative system. You understand the interplay between morphological rules and prosodic constraints in spoken Swedish, ensuring near-native fluency in all registers.

Meanings

Comparative adjectives are used to compare two or more nouns based on a quality. They allow you to express degrees of difference.

1

Comparative

Comparing two items (more X).

“Hon är längre än mig.”

“Det här är roligare.”

2

Superlative

Comparing three or more items (most X).

“Han är snabbast i klassen.”

“Det är den bästa filmen.”

Comparative and Superlative Formation

Base Comparative Superlative Meaning
glad gladare gladast happy
snabb snabbare snabbast fast
stor större störst big
liten mindre minst small
bra bättre bäst good
gammal äldre äldst old

Reference Table

Reference table for Comparative Adjectives
Form Structure Example
Affirmative Adjective + -are Han är snabbare.
Negative Inte + Adjective + -are Han är inte snabbare.
Question Är + Subject + Adjective + -are? Är han snabbare?
Superlative Den/Det + Adjective + -ast Han är den snabbaste.
Comparison Adjective + -are + än Han är snabbare än mig.
Irregular Vowel shift Stor -> Större -> Störst

Spectre de formalité

Formel
Denna bil är snabbare.

Denna bil är snabbare. (General)

Neutre
Bilen är snabbare.

Bilen är snabbare. (General)

Informel
Bilen är snabbare.

Bilen är snabbare. (General)

Argot
Bilen är snabbare.

Bilen är snabbare. (General)

Comparative Adjective Map

Adjective

Regular

  • glad happy

Irregular

  • bra good

Suffix Comparison

Comparative
snabbare faster
Superlative
snabbast fastest

Choosing the Form

1

Is it a comparison of two?

YES
Use -are
NO
Use -ast
Sign up free to read full explanation

Examples by Level

1

Huset är större.

The house is bigger.

2

Hon är gladare.

She is happier.

3

Det är bäst.

It is the best.

4

Bilen är snabbare.

The car is faster.

1

Min hund är mindre än din.

My dog is smaller than yours.

2

Det här är den roligaste filmen.

This is the funniest movie.

3

Han är äldre än min bror.

He is older than my brother.

4

Vintern är kallast i Sverige.

Winter is coldest in Sweden.

1

Det är en mycket intressantare bok än den förra.

It is a much more interesting book than the last one.

2

Hon är den mest begåvade eleven i klassen.

She is the most gifted student in the class.

3

Det blir svårare och svårare att hitta jobb.

It is becoming harder and harder to find work.

4

Detta är det enklaste sättet att lösa problemet.

This is the easiest way to solve the problem.

1

Resultaten var betydligt bättre än förväntat.

The results were significantly better than expected.

2

Det är den mest utmanande uppgiften jag någonsin haft.

It is the most challenging task I have ever had.

3

Ju mer vi pratar, desto bättre förstår vi varandra.

The more we talk, the better we understand each other.

4

Det är oerhört mycket dyrare att bo i Stockholm.

It is extremely much more expensive to live in Stockholm.

1

Detta är utan tvekan den mest sofistikerade lösningen.

This is without a doubt the most sophisticated solution.

2

Han framstår som den mest framgångsrika kandidaten.

He appears as the most successful candidate.

3

Det är en av de mest diskuterade frågorna i modern tid.

It is one of the most discussed questions in modern times.

4

Detta är den mest anmärkningsvärda utvecklingen hittills.

This is the most remarkable development so far.

1

Det är den mest sublima tolkningen av verket.

It is the most sublime interpretation of the work.

2

Detta är den mest vedertagna teorin inom fältet.

This is the most accepted theory in the field.

3

Det är den mest förunderliga upplevelsen jag haft.

It is the most wondrous experience I have had.

4

Det är den mest ovedersägliga sanningen.

It is the most irrefutable truth.

Easily Confused

Comparative Adjectives vs Mer vs -are

Learners use 'mer' for everything.

Comparative Adjectives vs Än vs Som

Learners use 'som' for comparisons.

Comparative Adjectives vs Bäst vs Bästa

Confusing the adverbial and adjectival forms.

Erreurs courantes

✗

mer snabbare

✓

snabbare

Do not use 'mer' with -are.
✗

snabbare än mig

✓

snabbare än jag

Use subject pronoun after 'än' in formal contexts.
✗

den snabbare bil

✓

den snabbare bilen

Need definite article suffix.
✗

braare

✓

bättre

Irregular form.
✗

den snabbast bil

✓

den snabbaste bilen

Superlative needs definite article.
✗

större än han

✓

större än han är

Comparison needs full clause.
✗

gammalare

✓

äldre

Irregular vowel shift.
✗

intressantare än den

✓

mer intressant än den

Some long adjectives use 'mer'.
✗

den mest snabbaste

✓

den snabbaste

Double superlative.
✗

enklare än den andra

✓

enklare än den andra

Check spelling of -el adjectives.
✗

mest föredragen

✓

mest föredragna

Definite agreement.
✗

bättre än vad jag trodde

✓

bättre än jag trodde

Avoid unnecessary 'vad'.
✗

den mest unika

✓

den unika

Unique is absolute.
✗

den mest optimala

✓

den optimala

Optimal is absolute.

Sentence Patterns

___ är ___ än ___.

Det här är den ___ ___.

Ju ___ , desto ___.

Det är ___ ___ än förväntat.

Real World Usage

Social Media constant

Det här är den snyggaste bilden!

Ordering Food very common

Jag vill ha den större menyn.

Job Interviews common

Jag är den mest lämpade kandidaten.

Travel common

Vilket tåg är snabbast?

Texting constant

Det är bättre så!

Food Delivery Apps common

Den billigaste pizzan.

Sign up free to see all examples
💡

Check the vowel

If the adjective ends in -el, -en, or -er, drop the vowel before adding -are.
⚠️

Don't double up

Never use 'mer' with -are. It's redundant and incorrect.
🎯

Use 'än'

Always include 'än' when comparing two things. It's the 'than' of Swedish.
💬

Be modest

In Sweden, using superlatives too often can sound arrogant. Use them carefully.

Smart Tips

Check if the adjective is short. If yes, use -are.

Det är mer snabb. → Det är snabbare.

Use the definite article before the superlative.

Det är snabbast bil. → Det är den snabbaste bilen.

Use 'än' followed by the subject pronoun.

Han är längre än mig. → Han är längre än jag.

Memorize 'bra-bättre-bäst' as a set.

Det är braare. → Det är bättre.

Prononciation

snabb-are

Suffix stress

The stress remains on the root of the adjective.

Rising-falling

Huset är STÖRRE ↘

Emphasis on the comparison.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

ARE you faster? AST is the best!

Visual Association

Imagine a runner with a sign '-are' on their chest for 'more' speed, and a trophy with '-ast' on it for the 'most' speed.

Rhyme

For more, add -are, for most, add -ast.

Story

A rabbit named 'Are' runs faster than a turtle. A lion named 'Ast' is the fastest of them all. They race to the finish line to see who is the best.

Word Web

snabbarestörrebättregladastsnabbastminst

Défi

Write 3 sentences comparing your favorite foods using -are.

Notes culturelles

Swedes value modesty (Jantelagen), so using superlatives can sometimes feel boastful.

Similar usage, but sometimes more conservative.

Increased use of English-style 'mer' for emphasis.

Derived from Old Norse comparative and superlative suffixes.

Conversation Starters

“

Vilken stad är vackrast?

“

Är kaffe bättre än te?

“

Vilken är den bästa filmen du sett?

“

Vad är svårare, svenska eller engelska?

Journal Prompts

Compare your two favorite cities.
Describe the best day of your life.
Compare your current job with a previous one.
What is the most important thing in life?
Sign up free to see all tips

Test Yourself

Fill in the comparative form.

Huset är ___ (stor) än mitt.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: större
Stor becomes större.
Choose the correct superlative. Choix multiple

Det här är den ___ (bra) filmen.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: bästa
Superlative before noun needs definite agreement.
Fix the mistake. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Han är mer snabbare än jag.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Han är snabbare än jag.
Do not use 'mer' with -are.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Bilen är snabbare än tåget.
Standard SVO order.
Translate to Swedish. Traduction

She is the happiest.

Answer starts with: Hon...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Hon är gladast.
Superlative without noun.
Match the adjective to its comparative. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A, B, C
Correct irregulars and regulars.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Är det här billigt? B: Nej, det finns ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: billigare
Comparative for two options.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Use: 'vacker', 'den', 'i', 'staden'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Det är den vackraste staden.
Superlative with noun.

Score: /8

Exercices pratiques

8 exercises
Fill in the comparative form.

Huset är ___ (stor) än mitt.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: större
Stor becomes större.
Choose the correct superlative. Choix multiple

Det här är den ___ (bra) filmen.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: bästa
Superlative before noun needs definite agreement.
Fix the mistake. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Han är mer snabbare än jag.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Han är snabbare än jag.
Do not use 'mer' with -are.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

än / snabbare / är / bilen / tåget

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Bilen är snabbare än tåget.
Standard SVO order.
Translate to Swedish. Traduction

She is the happiest.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Hon är gladast.
Superlative without noun.
Match the adjective to its comparative. Match Pairs

Match: 1. Stor, 2. Glad, 3. Bra

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A, B, C
Correct irregulars and regulars.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Är det här billigt? B: Nej, det finns ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: billigare
Comparative for two options.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Use: 'vacker', 'den', 'i', 'staden'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Det är den vackraste staden.
Superlative with noun.

Score: /8

FAQ (8)

It's a historical feature called umlaut. It makes the word easier to pronounce.

No, only for long adjectives or participles.

'Bäst' is the adverbial form, 'bästa' is the adjectival form used before a noun.

Yes, when comparing two specific things.

Use the superlative form.

Yes, irregular adjectives like 'bra' and 'liten'.

Yes, it is standard in all registers.

No, it is for adjectives only.

Sign up free to practice

In Other Languages

German high

-er, -st

German has more complex case endings.

French low

plus... que

French uses separate words, Swedish uses suffixes.

Spanish low

más... que

Spanish relies on syntax rather than morphology.

Japanese low

yori

Japanese uses particles, Swedish uses morphology.

Arabic moderate

af'al

Arabic uses a root-and-pattern system.

Chinese low

bi

Chinese is analytic, Swedish is synthetic.

Next
Superlative Adjectives

Related Grammar Rules

A2

Superlative Adjectives

## Overview In Swedish, when you want to say something is the 'most' of something, you use the superlative form. Unlike...
A2

Comparative Structures

## Overview of Swedish Comparisons In Swedish, comparing things is a fundamental skill that allows you to express prefer...
A2

Comparison Rules

## Overview Comparing things is a fundamental part of daily communication. In Swedish, we don't usually use 'mer' (more)...
A2

Comparison Usage

## The World of Comparison Welcome to the heart of Swedish description! Comparing things is how we navigate the world—de...
A2

Comparison with 'Än'

## Overview In Swedish, when you want to compare two things, you use the comparative form of the adjective. This is usua...
Was this helpful?

Commentaires (0)

Connectez-vous pour Commenter
Pas encore de commentaires. Soyez le premier à partager vos idées !