A2 Dutch GrammarComparatives & Superlatives
Compare things in Dutch using -er/-st patterns and learn common irregular forms like goed-beter-best.
1Regular Comparatives (-er)
Most Dutch adjectives form comparatives by adding -er. Use 'dan' for 'than'.
Comparative Pattern
| Adjective | Comparative | English |
|---|---|---|
| groot | groter | big → bigger |
| klein | kleiner | small → smaller |
| snel | sneller | fast → faster |
| mooi | mooier | beautiful → more beautiful |
Examples
Mijn huis is groter dan jouw huis.
My house is bigger than your house.
groter + dan
Deze auto is sneller.
This car is faster.
snel → sneller
Hij is ouder dan ik.
He is older than me.
oud → ouder
Amsterdam is mooier in de zomer.
Amsterdam is more beautiful in summer.
mooi → mooier
2Regular Superlatives (-st)
Superlatives add -st. Before nouns, add -e: de grootste man.
Superlative Pattern
| Adjective | Superlative | With noun |
|---|---|---|
| groot | grootst | de grootste |
| klein | kleinst | het kleinste |
| snel | snelst | de snelste |
| mooi | mooist | de mooiste |
Examples
Dit is de grootste stad van Nederland.
This is the biggest city in the Netherlands.
de grootste + noun
Hij is de snelste loper.
He is the fastest runner.
de snelste + noun
Dat is het mooiste.
That is the most beautiful.
het mooist (neuter)
Zij is het kleinst in de familie.
She is the smallest in the family.
predicative superlative
3Irregular Comparisons
Common adjectives have irregular forms that must be memorized.
Irregular Forms
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| goed | beter | best |
| veel | meer | meest |
| weinig | minder | minst |
| graag | liever | liefst |
Examples
Dit boek is beter dan dat boek.
This book is better than that book.
goed → beter
Ik heb meer tijd nodig.
I need more time.
veel → meer
Hij verdient het minst.
He earns the least.
weinig → minst
Ik drink liever thee.
I prefer drinking tea.
graag → liever
4Comparison Structures
'Dan' means 'than'. 'Zo...als' means 'as...as'. 'Hoe...hoe' for correlation.
Comparison Words
| Dutch | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| dan | than | groter dan |
| zo...als | as...as | zo groot als |
| even...als | just as...as | even mooi als |
| hoe...hoe | the more...the more | hoe meer, hoe beter |
Examples
Zij is even slim als hij.
She is just as smart as him.
even...als for equality
Het is niet zo koud als gisteren.
It's not as cold as yesterday.
zo...als with negation
Hoe meer je oefent, hoe beter je wordt.
The more you practice, the better you become.
hoe...hoe correlation
Hij is veel groter dan ik.
He is much bigger than me.
veel + comparative