Jan is groter dan Piet.
English: Jan is taller than Piet.
- Language
- Dutch
- Level
- B2
- Unit
- Bijvoeglijke naamwoorden, vergelijking en telwoorden
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
The comparative and superlative in Dutch are used to compare people, things, or actions. The comparative shows a difference between two things, while the superlative shows the highest degree among three or more.
When to use it
Use the comparative to compare two things (for example, one is bigger than the other). Use the superlative when you want to say something is the most or least among three or more.
Key forms
- Comparative: adjective + -er (groter, sneller)
- Superlative: het + adjective + -st(e) (het grootst(e), het snelst(e))
Examples
Dit huis is mooier dan dat huis.
English: This house is prettier than that house.
Zij is het slimst van de klas.
English: She is the smartest in the class.
Vandaag is het koudst.
English: Today is the coldest.
Deze auto rijdt sneller dan mijn oude auto.
English: This car drives faster than my old car.
Tips
- Most adjectives add -er for the comparative and -st for the superlative.
- If the adjective ends in -r, add -der for the comparative (duurder).
- Always use 'dan' after the comparative, and 'het' before superlatives when used as adjectives.
Exceptions and edge cases
- Some adjectives are irregular: goed → beter → best, veel → meer → meest, weinig → minder → minst.
- Adjectives ending in -s or -sch sometimes use -st or -schst.