bardziej + Adjective

Comparatives with Bardziej

Level 3

The word bardziej (more) or mniej (less) is placed before an adjective to change its degree. This 'analytical' method is used for longer words, participles, and for comparing 'downward'.

How It Works

In Polish, there are two ways to form the comparative degree. While the suffix method is the standard for most short and medium-length adjectives, the bardziej + adjective pattern is preferred in these specific scenarios:

  • Longer Adjectives: Adjectives with four or more syllables often use this form for clarity (e.g., bardziej skomplikowany - more complicated).
  • Participles: Adjectives derived from verbs, specifically those ending in -ący, -ony, -ty, or verbal adjectives ending in -ny (e.g., bardziej interesujący - more interesting, bardziej zmęczony - more tired). Note that standard, non-verb adjectives ending in -ny (like zimny or trudny) still use the suffix method (zimniejszy, trudniejszy).
  • Certain Short Adjectives: Some simple adjectives lack a natural-sounding suffix form and default to this pattern (e.g., bardziej chory - more sick, bardziej łysy - more bald).
  • Downward Comparison: This is the only way to say 'less'. Use mniej + adjective (e.g., mniej głodny - less hungry).
  • Complex Stems: When adding a suffix would create a difficult consonant cluster, bardziej is used to maintain readability.

To form the superlative degree ('the most' or 'the least'), simply change bardziej to najbardziej and mniej to najmniej. When comparing two things, 'than' is expressed using either niż or od. Note that od (followed by the Genitive case) is typically used with nouns, pronouns, or adjectives acting as nouns. Niż (which takes the same case as the first item being compared) must be used if the second element is a clause, adverb, or number.

Note that the four irregular adjectives—dobry (lepszy), zły (gorszy), duży (większy), and mały (mniejszy)—typically use their special forms. However, they do use bardziej when comparing two different qualities of the same subject (e.g., On jest bardziej dobry niż mądry - He is more good than smart). The adjective itself must still follow standard agreement rules for gender and case. Meanwhile, bardziej and mniej remain unchanged because they are adverbs (the comparative forms of bardzo and mało), and adverbs do not decline in Polish.

Examples (5)

  1. Ta książka jest bardziej interesująca niż tamta.

    This book is more interesting than that one.

    Word by Word: This book is more interesting than that-one.

    Interesujący is a participle ending in -ący, so it must use bardziej.

  2. Dzisiaj czuję się bardziej zmęczony niż wczoraj.

    Today I feel more tired than yesterday.

    Word by Word: Today (I) feel myself more tired than yesterday.

    Zmęczony is a participle ending in -ony, requiring the analytical comparison.

  3. Jego argumenty były bardziej przekonujące.

    His arguments were more convincing.

    Word by Word: His arguments were more convincing.

    Przekonujący is a long, derived adjective where bardziej is the natural choice.

  4. Ten projekt jest bardziej skomplikowany.

    This project is more complicated.

    Word by Word: This project is more complicated.

    Skomplikowany has five syllables; using a suffix would be nearly impossible.

  5. Ten aktor jest bardziej znany ode mnie.

    This actor is more known than me.

    Word by Word: This actor is more known from me.

    Znany is a verbal adjective (participle) ending in -ny, making bardziej the standard form.

Common Mistakes

  • Double comparison (using both 'bardziej' and a suffix).

    Ta zupa jest bardziej lepsza.
    Ta zupa jest lepsza.

    Never use 'bardziej' with an adjective that already has a comparative suffix like -szy. 'Lepszy' already means 'better', so 'bardziej lepszy' is redundant.

  • Using 'bardziej' with irregular adjectives.

    Mój dom jest bardziej duży.
    Mój dom jest większy.

    The four most common irregular adjectives—dobry (good), zły (bad), duży (big), and mały (small)—must generally use their unique comparative forms (lepszy, gorszy, większy, mniejszy). Using 'bardziej' with these is a significant error, unless you are specifically comparing two qualities of the same subject (e.g., 'bardziej dobry niż mądry').

  • Using 'bardziej' for common short adjectives.

    Ten nóż jest bardziej ostry.
    Ten nóż jest ostrzejszy.

    For most short and medium-length adjectives, the suffix method (e.g., -szy, -ejszy) is the standard and preferred way to form a comparison. Using 'bardziej' in these cases can sound unnatural or like a stylistic mistake.

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bardziej + AdjectiveLevel 3Comparatives with Bardziej

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Words in This Pattern

bardziej