When learning Hungarian, one of the most interesting and crucial aspects to master is the use of degrees of comparison. Degrees of comparison are used to express varying levels of qualities, such as size, speed, beauty, or intelligence. Understanding how to use these comparisons can significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in Hungarian. In this article, we will delve into the degrees of comparison in Hungarian, focusing particularly on the usage of the words nagy and nagyobb.

Introduction to Degrees of Comparison

Degrees of comparison in Hungarian are similar to those in English, consisting of the positive, comparative, and superlative forms. The positive form describes a basic quality, the comparative form compares two entities, and the superlative form expresses the highest degree of quality among three or more entities.

Positive Degree

The positive degree is the base form of the adjective or adverb. It simply describes a quality without making any comparisons.

nagy: large, big

Ez a ház nagyon nagy.

szép: beautiful

Ez a kert nagyon szép.

Comparative Degree

The comparative degree is used to compare two entities. In Hungarian, this is typically formed by adding the suffix -bb to the base form of the adjective or adverb.

nagyobb: larger, bigger

Ez a ház nagyobb, mint a másik.

szebb: more beautiful

Ez a kert szebb, mint az előző.

Superlative Degree

The superlative degree expresses the highest degree of a quality among three or more entities. In Hungarian, this is usually formed by adding the prefix leg- to the comparative form of the adjective or adverb.

legnagyobb: largest, biggest

Ez a ház a legnagyobb a környéken.

legszebb: most beautiful

Ez a kert a legszebb az egész városban.

Forming Comparative and Superlative Degrees

Now that we have a basic understanding of the positive, comparative, and superlative degrees, let’s dive deeper into how these forms are created in Hungarian.

Adjectives Ending in a Vowel

For adjectives ending in a vowel, the comparative and superlative forms are straightforward. You simply add -bb for the comparative and leg- + comparative for the superlative.

magas: tall

Péter magasabb, mint János.

legmagasabb: tallest

Péter a legmagasabb az osztályban.

gyors: fast

Ez az autó gyorsabb, mint az a másik.

leggyorsabb: fastest

Ez az autó a leggyorsabb a versenyen.

Adjectives Ending in a Consonant

For adjectives ending in a consonant, the process is slightly different. If the adjective ends in a consonant, you still add -bb for the comparative form, but you often need to adjust the vowel harmony according to the back or front vowel rule in Hungarian.

erős: strong

Ez a sportoló erősebb, mint a másik.

legerősebb: strongest

Ez a sportoló a legerősebb az országban.

szoros: tight

Ez a nadrág szorosabb, mint a másik.

legszorosabb: tightest

Ez a nadrág a legszorosabb a boltban.

Special Cases and Irregular Forms

As with any language, Hungarian has its fair share of irregular forms and special cases that don’t follow the standard rules.

Irregular Comparatives and Superlatives

Some adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms that you need to memorize.

jó: good

Ez a könyv jobb, mint a másik.

legjobb: best

Ez a könyv a legjobb a könyvtárban.

rossz: bad

Ez a film rosszabb, mint az előző.

legrosszabb: worst

Ez a film a legrosszabb, amit láttam.

Using More and Most

In some cases, instead of adding suffixes, you can use the words több (more) and legtöbb (most) to form the comparative and superlative degrees.

kedvelt: liked

Ez a dal több, mint a másik.

legkedveltebb: most liked

Ez a dal a legkedveltebb a rádióban.

Comparing Adverbs

Just like adjectives, adverbs can also be compared using the same principles. The comparative form is made by adding -bb to the base form, and the superlative by adding leg-.

gyorsan: quickly

Ő gyorsabban fut, mint én.

leggyorsabban: most quickly

Ő fut a leggyorsabban az osztályban.

lassan: slowly

Ez a teknős lassabban mozog, mint a másik.

leglassabban: most slowly

Ez a teknős mozog a leglassabban az állatkertben.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When learning to use degrees of comparison in Hungarian, there are some common mistakes that learners tend to make. Let’s address a few of these and provide tips on how to avoid them.

Mixing Up Suffixes

One common mistake is mixing up the suffixes for comparative and superlative forms. Remember that the comparative form ends with -bb while the superlative form starts with leg-.

Incorrect: Ez a ház legnagyobb, mint a másik.

Correct: Ez a ház nagyobb, mint a másik.

Forgetting Vowel Harmony

Hungarian vowel harmony can be tricky for learners. Make sure to adjust the suffixes according to the vowel harmony rules.

Incorrect: Ez a sportoló erősébb, mint a másik.

Correct: Ez a sportoló erősebb, mint a másik.

Using Incorrect Irregular Forms

Irregular forms need to be memorized as they do not follow the regular patterns.

Incorrect: Ez a könyv jóbb, mint a másik.

Correct: Ez a könyv jobb, mint a másik.

Conclusion

Understanding and correctly using degrees of comparison in Hungarian can greatly enhance your language proficiency. By mastering the positive, comparative, and superlative forms, you will be able to express varying degrees of qualities effectively. Remember to pay attention to vowel harmony, suffixes, and irregular forms to avoid common mistakes. Practice regularly, and soon you will find yourself using these forms naturally in your conversations.

Hungarian is a beautiful and complex language, and mastering its nuances, such as degrees of comparison, will bring you one step closer to fluency. Happy learning!