bolji / gori / veći / manji

Irregular Comparatives

Level 3

Use bolji, gori, veći and manji as whole comparative stems.

How It Works

Useful pairs are dobar → bolji, loš → gori, velik → veći and malen/mali → manji. Gori can also compare zao in its relevant meaning.

Once you know the comparative stem, use adjective agreement: bolja ideja, gore vrijeme, veća soba and manji stol. Cases change normally for this adjective pattern.

The meaning depends on what is compared. Veći can mean bigger in physical size or greater in amount. Do not confuse manji, smaller, with manje when it modifies an action or quantity.

Examples (3)

  1. Ovo je bolja ideja.

    This is a better idea.

    Bolja agrees with feminine ideja.

  2. Vrijeme je danas gore.

    The weather is worse today.

    Gore agrees with neuter vrijeme.

  3. Trebamo veći stol i manju sobu.

    We need a bigger table and a smaller room.

    Veći and manju fit the gender and accusative forms of their nouns.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

bolji / gori / veći / manjiLevel 3Irregular Comparatives

Learn This First

Common irregular comparatives contrast with the productive degree patterns.

Words in This Pattern

dobarlošzaogorivelikmalen