-ее/-ей

Simple Comparative in -ее and -ей

Level 2Sounds Like sravnitelʹnaâ stepenʹ na -ee/-ej

Use -ее (or colloquial -ей) to compare two things without changing the ending for gender or number. It is used as a predicate (e.g., 'This is faster') or an adverb ('He speaks faster').

How It Works

The simple comparative is the most common way to express comparison in Russian, corresponding to the English suffix -er.

1. Formation:

  • Standard: Remove the ending (like -ый) and add -ее. The stress in the comparative form can be unpredictable, but it often follows the stress of the short-form feminine adjective (if the feminine short form is stressed on the ending, the comparative is usually stressed on the suffix).
    быстрый (fast) → быстрее (faster), красивый (beautiful) → красивее (more beautiful)
  • Consonant Mutation: Many common adjectives with stems ending in г, д, з, к, т, х, с, ст take the suffix -е (unstressed) and undergo consonant mutation: г/д/з → ж, к/т → ч, х/с → ш, ст → щ. (Note: suffixes like -ок- or -к- often drop before mutating). However, this is not an absolute rule, and some adjectives with these consonants take the standard -ее suffix (e.g., гордый → гордее).
    дорогой (expensive) → дороже (more expensive), узкий (narrow) → уже (narrower), громкий (loud) → громче (louder), тихий (quiet) → тише (quieter), высокий (high) → выше (higher), простой (simple) → проще (simpler).

2. Irregular Forms:
Some of the most common adjectives have unique comparative forms that you should become proficient in: лучше (better), хуже (worse), больше (bigger/more), меньше (smaller/less).

3. The Prefix по-:
In colloquial speech, the prefix по- is often added to the comparative (e.g., побыстрее, подешевле). It means "a little bit more" or is used to soften a request (e.g., "a bit faster, please").

4. The Variant -ей:
In speech and literature, the suffix -ее is often shortened to -ей (e.g., быстрей, умней). This is a stylistic variant common in informal conversation and poetry.

5. Usage Rules:

  • Predicative Use: It follows the subject directly. Russian does not use 'is/are' in the present tense.
  • Genitive of Comparison: Instead of using чем (than), you can place the object being compared in the genitive case.
    Он сильнее брата (He is stronger than his brother).
  • Adverbial Use: These forms also function as comparative adverbs (e.g., 'run faster').
  • No Declension: The form remains the same regardless of the subject. Он быстрее (He is faster) and Они быстрее (They are faster).

6. Limitations:
You cannot use this form directly before a noun (attributive use). To say 'a faster train,' you must use the analytic comparative.

Examples (5)

  1. Этот чай вкуснее.

    This tea is tastier.

    Word by Word: This tea tastier.

    Here, 'вкуснее' acts as the predicate describing the tea. Notice there is no word for 'is'.

  2. Моя сестра выше и умнее меня.

    My sister is taller and smarter than me.

    Word by Word: My sister taller and smarter [than] me.

    Even though 'сестра' is feminine, the comparative forms 'выше' and 'умнее' do not change their endings.

  3. Пожалуйста, говори медленнее.

    Please speak more slowly.

    Word by Word: Please, speak slower.

    In this sentence, 'медленнее' functions as a comparative adverb modifying the verb 'speak'.

  4. Сегодня на улице теплей, чем вчера.

    It is warmer outside today than yesterday.

    Word by Word: Today on street warmer, than yesterday.

    This uses the colloquial '-ей' ending and the word 'чем' to introduce the comparison.

  5. Твоя машина быстрее моей.

    Your car is faster than mine.

    Word by Word: Your car faster [than] mine.

    This demonstrates the comparative with the genitive case (моей) to show what is being compared.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'более' together with the -ее suffix (Double Comparative).

    Этот фильм более интереснее.
    Этот фильм интереснее.

    You must choose one: either the simple form (интереснее) or the compound form (более интересный). Using both is a common error even for some native speakers, but it is grammatically incorrect.

  • Trying to decline the -ее form to match a feminine or plural noun.

    Эти книги интереснееые.
    Эти книги интереснее.

    The simple comparative in -ее is a 'frozen' form. It never takes plural or gendered endings.

  • Using the -ее form directly before a noun.

    Я хочу быстрее машину.
    Я хочу более быструю машину.

    Before a noun the simple comparative cannot be used as an adjective. You must use 'более' + the full adjective in the correct case.

How It Connects

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

-ее/-ейLevel 2Simple Comparative in -ее and -ей

Learn This First

To understand the simple comparative in -ее/-ей, a learner must first be familiar with basic Russian adjectives and their use as predicates in the nominative case. It is also helpful to understand the concept of comparison through the analytic 'более' construction before learning the suffix-based forms.

Words in This Pattern

-ее-ей