Comparative -er
To compare two things, add -er: groot → groter, mooi → mooier. After r, add -der: duur → duurder. Than is as: Kaapstad is groter as Stellenbosch.
How It Works
1. The basic rule: add -er. klein → kleiner, mooi → mooier, warm → warmer, vinnig → vinniger. Then use as for than: Die trein is vinniger as die bus.
2. After r: add -der. duur → duurder, ver → verder, swaar → swaarder, lekker → lekkerder.
3. Spelling follows the syllable rules. A long vowel written double becomes single before -er: groot → groter, laat → later. A consonant after a short vowel doubles: dik → dikker, slim → slimmer.
4. Sound changes. The comparative uses the same stem as the adjective before a noun (see adjective sound changes):
- d or g after a long vowel drops: oud → ouer, koud → kouer, hoog → hoër, moeg → moeër.
- g after a short vowel adds t: sag → sagter, sleg → slegter.
- f becomes w: grof → growwer, lief → liewer.
- nuut → nuwer, lank → langer, jonk → jonger.
5. Before a noun. A comparative adds no extra -e: 'n groter huis, die ouer kinders.
6. Never both. Do not combine -er with meer: meer groter is wrong. A few adjectives, mostly longer ones ending in -e, use meer instead (see meer and mees), and a few are irregular, such as goed → beter (see irregular comparisons).
Examples (6)
- Kaapstad is groter as Stellenbosch.
Cape Town is bigger than Stellenbosch.
Word by Word: Cape Town is bigger than Stellenbosch.
Groot → groter: the double oo becomes single before -er.
- My broer is ouer as ek.
My brother is older than me.
Word by Word: My brother is older than I.
Oud → ouer: the d drops, just as in die ou man.
- Vandag is dit kouer as gister.
Today it is colder than yesterday.
Word by Word: Today is it colder than yesterday.
Koud → kouer: the d drops.
- Hierdie skoene is duurder as daardie.
These shoes are more expensive than those.
Word by Word: These shoes are dearer than those.
Duur ends in r, so it adds -der.
- Ons soek 'n groter huis.
We are looking for a bigger house.
Word by Word: We seek a bigger house.
Before a noun, the comparative takes no extra -e.
- Praat asseblief 'n bietjie stadiger.
Please speak a little more slowly.
Word by Word: Speak please a bit slower.
The comparative also works as an adverb.
Common Mistakes
Combining meer with -er.
Hierdie huis is meer groter.Hierdie huis is groter.An adjective takes either -er or meer, never both. Groot takes -er.
Adding plain -er after r.
Die kar is duurer.Die kar is duurder.Adjectives ending in r add -der: duurder, verder, lekkerder.
Keeping the d in words like koud and oud.
Vandag is dit kouder as gister.Vandag is dit kouer as gister.After a long vowel or ou, the final d drops before -er: koud → kouer, oud → ouer.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The comparative adds -er to an adjective.
Related Patterns
- Superlative -ste
The next step up: groot → groter → grootste.
Level 2 - as (Than)Than: As
As means than after a comparative.
Level 2 - Irregular Comparisons
Words like goed → beter that do not follow the -er rule.
Level 2 - meer/mees + AdjectiveMore and Most: Meer and Mees
The adjectives that compare with meer instead of -er.
Level 3 - goed → goeieGoed Becomes Goeie
The same stem changes (oud → ou, hoog → hoë) that shape ouer and hoër.
Level 2 - so ... soosAs ... as: So ... Soos
The way to say two things are equal: so groot soos.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Comparative -er in Bubblegum
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