A2 · Elementary Chapter 20

Comparisons

4 Total Rules
1 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Unlock the power to evaluate and rank the world around you in Kazakh.

  • Modify adjectives to express 'more' using specific suffixes.
  • Identify the 'best' or 'most' of any category using superlatives.
  • Construct full sentences comparing two items using the ablative case.
Better, faster, stronger: Mastering the Kazakh scale.

What You'll Learn

Comparing people and things using the comparative and superlative forms. Expressing degrees of quality.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to apply the correct comparative suffix based on vowel harmony.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to identify the superlative form in a spoken sentence.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to compare two people's ages or heights using the ablative case.

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

Check the vowels

Always look at the last vowel of the word to decide between -raq and -rek.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Comparative (-raq/-rek)
💡

Keep it simple

Don't overthink it. Just add 'ең' and you are done.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Superlative (en)
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Vowel Harmony

Always check the last vowel of the noun.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Comparing Objects
💡

Vowel Harmony

Always check the last vowel of the noun to choose -dan or -den.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Degrees of Comparison

Key Vocabulary (7)

jaqsı good jaman bad ülken big / old kışı small / young qımbat expensive arzan cheap biyik tall / high

Real-World Preview

shopping-cart

At the Green Bazaar

Review Summary

  • Adjective + -raq/-rek
  • eñ + Adjective
  • Noun + -dan/-den + Adjective
  • öte / tım / asa + Adjective

Common Mistakes

You must use the ablative case (-dan/-den) on the person you are being compared to. Without it, the sentence is incomplete.

Wrong: Men sen jaqsıraqpın.
Correct: Men senden jaqsıraqpın. (I am better than you.)

If an adjective ends in a consonant, a connecting vowel (ı/i) is often needed, and you must follow vowel harmony. 'Ülken' is soft, so it needs '-rek'.

Wrong: Ülkenraq
Correct: Ülkenirek (Bigger)

Do not mix the superlative 'eñ' with the comparative suffix '-raq'. Use one or the other, not both at once.

Wrong: Bül alma eñ jaqsıraq.
Correct: Bül alma eñ jaqsı. (This apple is the best.)

Next Steps

You've mastered a core part of Kazakh grammar! Being able to compare things makes you much more persuasive and descriptive. Keep practicing those suffixes!

Compare your family members' ages and heights in Kazakh.

Look at an online store and find the 'eñ arzan' (cheapest) and 'eñ qımbat' (most expensive) items.

Continue to: Postposition Logic

Quick Practice (10)

Find the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

Ol men-ten jaqsy.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Pronoun declension.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Comparing Objects

Choose the correct form.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ülkenirek
Ülken has a front vowel.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Comparative (-raq/-rek)

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

Choose the correct one.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Correct word order and suffix.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Degrees of Comparison

Choose the correct superlative form.

Bul ___ jaqsı kitap.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Eŋ is the superlative marker.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Degrees of Comparison

Fill in the correct suffix.

Astana ___ ülken.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Astana ends in a vowel.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Comparing Objects

Fix the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

Ол ең жақсырақ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ол ең жақсы.
No comparative suffix with superlative.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Superlative (en)

Fix the error in the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Ol menen bïikrek.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Adjectives don't take -rek.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Degrees of Comparison

Fix the mistake.

Find and fix the mistake:

Bul arzan-rek.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Arzanraq
Arzan has a back vowel.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Comparative (-raq/-rek)

Choose the correct superlative.

Ол ___ оқушы.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ең ақылды
Standard superlative form.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Superlative (en)

Fill in the blank.

Astanada kün Almatydan ___ (suvyq).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Adjective remains unchanged.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Degrees of Comparison

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

Almost all, yes. It is a very productive suffix.
Usually, you just add the suffix. Sometimes the final vowel might merge.
Yes, it works with all adjectives.
No, it stays the same.
Use vowel harmony rules. If the word ends in a vowel or voiced consonant, use -dan/-den. If voiceless, use -tan/-ten.
No, the suffix -dan/-den replaces 'than'.
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Postposition Logic
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