A2 Danish GrammarComparatives & Superlatives
Compare things in Danish using -ere/-est patterns and learn common irregular comparisons like god-bedre-bedst.
1Regular Comparatives (-ere)
Most Danish adjectives form comparatives by adding -ere.
Regular Pattern
| Adjective | Comparative | English |
|---|---|---|
| hurtig | hurtigere | fast → faster |
| billig | billigere | cheap → cheaper |
| smuk | smukkere | beautiful → more beautiful |
| interessant | mere interessant | interesting → more... |
Examples
Min bil er hurtigere end din.
My car is faster than yours.
hurtig → hurtigere
Dette hotel er billigere.
This hotel is cheaper.
billig → billigere
København er smukkere om sommeren.
Copenhagen is more beautiful in summer.
smuk → smukkere
Bogen er mere interessant end filmen.
The book is more interesting than the movie.
mere + adjective for long words
2Regular Superlatives (-est)
Superlatives use -est. Before nouns, add -e: den hurtigste bil.
Superlative Pattern
| Adjective | Superlative | With noun |
|---|---|---|
| hurtig | hurtigst | den hurtigste |
| billig | billigst | det billigste |
| smuk | smukkest | den smukkeste |
Examples
Hun er hurtigst i klassen.
She is the fastest in the class.
hurtigst (predicate)
Det er den billigste bil.
It is the cheapest car.
billigste before noun
Bornholm er Danmarks smukkeste ø.
Bornholm is Denmark's most beautiful island.
smukkeste before noun
Det var det mest interessante.
That was the most interesting.
mest + adj for long words
3Irregular Comparisons
Common adjectives have irregular forms that must be memorized.
Irregular Forms
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| god | bedre | bedst |
| dårlig | værre | værst |
| stor | større | størst |
| lille | mindre | mindst |
| gammel | ældre | ældst |
| ung | yngre | yngst |
| mange | flere | flest |
| meget | mere | mest |
Examples
Det her er bedre.
This is better.
god → bedre
Han er ældre end mig.
He is older than me.
gammel → ældre
Det er det største hus.
It is the biggest house.
stor → størst
Hun har flest venner.
She has the most friends.
mange → flest
4Comparison Structures
'End' means 'than'. 'Lige så...som' means 'as...as'.
Examples
Hun er ældre end mig.
She is older than me.
end = than
Han er lige så klog som hende.
He is as smart as her.
lige så...som = as...as
Det er ikke så dyrt som jeg troede.
It's not as expensive as I thought.
ikke så...som
Jo mere du læser, desto bedre.
The more you read, the better.
jo...desto = the more...the more