Comparatives and Superlatives

Comparative adjectives are used to compare one noun to another noun. For example, this flower is redder than that flower. In Old English, the comparative is made by adding 'r' between the adjective's stem and its suffix. Comparatives are always declined weak. Examine the sentences, 'seo is heardre - she is tougher' and 'we habbaþ heardran heortan - we have harder hearts'. In the first, 'heard' takes the weak nominative feminine suffix 'e' because it is related to 'heo', while in the second it takes the weak accusative plural suffix 'an' because it is modifying 'heortan'.

Superlative adjectives are used to compare one noun to a group. For example, this flower is the reddest flower. The superlative is made by adding '-ost' or, in some cases, '-st' between the adjective's stem and its suffix. For example, 'he god wære hehst ond halgost - he was the highest and holiest god'.

While comparative adjectives always decline weak, superlative adjectives can decline weak or strong depending on context. For example, examine the sentences, 'He hangie on þæm lengestan treow - He hangs on the tallest tree' and 'He sende to Egipta wisoste witan - He sent for Egypt's wisest magicians'. Note the weak neuter singular dative suffix 'an' on 'lengest' and the strong masculine accusative plural suffix 'e' on 'wisost'.

The Old English endings for comparatives and superlatives are relatively similar to modern English so you shouldn't have trouble differentiating between the two. For example, compare 'wise', 'wisra' and 'wisost' with the modern English 'wise', 'wiser' and 'wisest'. Though words like 'æðele - noble' may be less familiar.

Several common adjectives undergo i-mutation in the comparative and superlative, and have '-est' instead of '-ost' as the superlative suffix. The rules around i-mutation will be covered in more detail in the next module, but for now notice that the vowel in the stem changes with 'ea' becoming 'ie', 'eo' becoming 'i', and 'a' becoming 'e'.

There are some adjectives which are just irregular and need to be learned. These are, unfortunately, the most commonly used adjectives but you will notice that the adjectives that are irregular in Old English are the ones that are irregular in modern English. For example, little, less, least; good, better, best; and bad, worse, worst; are all recognisable in the declensions below. However, while 'yfel' can be translated as 'evil' it also commonly used to mean 'bad' or 'harm'.

The important thing to remember about comparative adjectives is that they usually have a suffix containing 'r', while superlative adjectives have an suffix containing 'st'. You can practice comparatives and superlative adjectives below.