сѐ + Comparative
Better and Better
Put сѐ in front of a comparative to show gradual change: сѐ подобро (better and better), сѐ подолг (longer and longer).
How It Works
When something keeps growing or shrinking, Macedonian puts сѐ before the comparative from по-; нај-. The comparative is said only once.
With adjectives (agreeing with the noun): Денот станува сѐ подолг. · Цените се сѐ повисоки.
With adverbs: Сѐ подобро зборуваш македонски. · Се гледаме сѐ поретко.
With amounts: сѐ повеќе (more and more) and сѐ помалку (less and less), from многу; повеќе; најмногу: Сѐ повеќе луѓе учат македонски.
Verbs of change fit naturally here: станува (becomes), расте (grows), оди (goes): Станува сѐ поладно. (It is getting colder and colder.)
Spelling: сѐ (all, ever) has a grave mark, which keeps it apart from the reflexive се. Both can appear in one sentence: Се гледаме сѐ поретко. (We see each other less and less.) See ѐ; ѝ.
Other uses of сѐ: the same word means "everything" (секој; сите; сѐ) and appears in сѐ уште (still, веќе; сѐ уште; уште не). With a superlative it keeps the meaning "everything": Сѐ најдобро! means "All the best!", not gradual change.
Examples (6)
- Сѐ подобро зборуваш македонски.
You speak Macedonian better and better.
Word by Word: Ever better you-speak Macedonian.
- Денот станува сѐ подолг.
The days are getting longer and longer.
Word by Word: Day-the becomes ever longer.
- Сѐ повеќе луѓе учат македонски.
More and more people are learning Macedonian.
Word by Word: Ever more people learn Macedonian.
- Станува сѐ поладно.
It is getting colder and colder.
Word by Word: It-becomes ever colder.
- Се гледаме сѐ поретко.
We see each other less and less often.
Word by Word: Ourselves we-see ever more-rarely.
The first се is reflexive; the second сѐ, with the mark, means "ever".
- Цените растат сѐ побрзо.
Prices are rising faster and faster.
Word by Word: Prices-the grow ever faster.
Common Mistakes
Writing сѐ without the grave mark.
Се подобро зборуваш македонски.Сѐ подобро зборуваш македонски.Plain се is the reflexive word, as in се мие. The word that means "ever, all" is written сѐ.
Using the plain adjective instead of the comparative.
Станува сѐ ладно.Станува сѐ поладно.Gradual change needs the comparative with по-. The intended meaning "colder and colder" is сѐ поладно.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Better and better combines comparatives and сѐ.
Related Patterns
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice сѐ + Comparative in Bubblegum
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