Let’s learn how to say “good – better – the best”, “bad – worse – the worst”, and “beautiful – more beautiful – the most beautiful”. First of all, let’s look at the consonant change in endings of the comparative form:

P – plj

B – blj

V – vlj

D – đi

S – š:

Z – ž

K – č

T – ć

H – š

G – ž

St – šč

These consonant changes will alternate the letter J in the ending described below.

The ending of the comparative form depends on how many syllables an adjective has. If an adjective has…

1 syllable – look at consonant changes above and add one if appropriate, if not – add the ending –JI (m), –JA(f), –JE (n) or:

Brz – fastbrži (m)brža (f)brže (n)Faster, consonant change Z – ž.
Ljut – angryljući (m)ljuća (f)ljuće (n)More angry, consonant change t – ć.
Skup – expensiveSkuplji (m)Skuplja (f)Skuplje (n)More expensive, consonant change p-plj

2 or 3 syllables – add the ending –IJI (m),–IJA (f),–IJE(n):

Consonant change is not applicable for adjectives with 2 or more syllables.

Jeftin – cheap, Poznat – famous, Glasan – loud

JeftinJeftiniji (m)Jeftinija (f)Jeftinije (n)Cheaper
PoznatPoznatiji (m)Poznatija (f)Poznatije (n)More famous
GlasanGlasniji (m)Glasnija (f)Glasnije (n)Louder

Exceptions

Dobar – goodBolji (m)Bolja (f)Bolje (n)Better
Loš – badGore (m)Gore (f)Gore (n)Worse
Mal – smallManji (m)Manja (f)Manje (n)Smaller
Visok – highViši (m)Viša (f)Više (n)Higher
Nizok – lowNiži (m)Niža (f)Niže (n)Lower
Lep – beautifulLepši (m)lepša (f)lepše (n)More beautiful
Lak – easyLakši (m)lakša (f)lakše (n)Easier
Mek – softMekši (m)mekša (f)mekše(n)Softer

The comparative form of adverbs

The comparative form of adverbs is the same as the comparative form in the neuter gender.

Brzo – quickly, Brže – quicker/faster

Sporo – slowly, Sporije – slower

Superlative form

Fortunately, there is not anything special regarding the Superlative form of adjectives in the Serbian language.

In order to build a superlative form, just add the prefix NAJ- in front of the comparative form:

Skuplji (m) – more expensive, Najskuplji (m) – the most expensive

Bolji (m) – better, Nakbolji (m) – the best

Lepša (f) – more beautiful, Najlepša (f) – the most beautiful

Brže (n) – faster, Najbrže (n) – the fastest

Examples

Moj automobil je jeftiniji nego tvoj – My car is cheaper than yours

Zažto ova soba je manja? – Why this room is smaller?

Možeš da trčiš brže? – Can you run faster?

Jul je najtopliji mesec – July is the warmest month

Srpska hrana je najukusnija – Serbian food is the most tasty

Srpski je teže nego Engleski – Serbian is more difficult than English

Koja je naša najveća cilj? – What is our biggest goal?

Moja sestra je starijia od meni – My sister is older than me

Najbolji momenat je sada – The best moment is now

Kada je bio student, bilo je najsretnije vreme za njega – When he was a student, it was the most happy time for him

Najgora stvar je da nismo radili ništa veoma dugo – The worst thing is that we didn’t do anything for a long time

Najviša zgrada se nalazi u Dubaju – The highest building is situated in Dubai

Taj fotoaparat je skuplje nego ovaj – That photo camera is more expensive than this one

Vocabulary

Nego – than

Jul – july

Topao – warm

Mesec – month

Hrana – food

Ukusan – tasty

Brz – fast

Visok – high/tall

Nalaziti se – to be situated

Fotoaparat – photo camera

Skup – expensive

Cilj – goal

Nalaziti se – to be situated

Haljina – dress

Košulja – shirt

Pantalone – pants

Exercises

Use an appropriate degree of comparison

  1. Kada sam bio student, bilo je __________________________ vreme mojeg života (SREĆAN – happy) – When I was a student, it was the happiest time of my life
  2. Dete imaju _________________ odgovornosti nego odrasli (MALO – little) – Children have less responsibility than adults
  3. Ritam ove pesme je _______________ od prethodne (BRZ – fast) – The rhythm of this song is faster than of the previous one
  4. Ko hoće da dobije _________________ ponudu (KORISTAN – benefit) – Who wants to get the most beneficial offer?
  5. Koja hrana je _____________________ za tebe? (UKUSAN – tasty) – What is the tastiest food for you?
  6. Moja ćerka je ______________ od njegovog sin (VISOK – tall) – My daughter is taller than his son
  7. Koji šampanjac od ova dva je __________________? (DOBAR – good) – Which champagne is the best of these two?
  8. Ko od vas je ____________________ (MLAD – young) – Who of you is younger?
  9. Kada se moze kupiti _________________ karte? (JEFTIN – cheap) – When can one buy the cheapest tickets?
  10. Molim te, možeš da govoriš _____________________? (GLASAN – loud) – Can you speak louder please?
  11. Koja frizura je ________________ (DOBAR – good) – Which hairstyle is better?
  12. Koji je __________________ grad na svetu? (VELIKI – big) – Which is the biggest city in the world?

Answers

1: najsrećnije; 2: manje; 3: brže; 4: najkorisnu; 5: najukusnija; 6: više; 7: najbolji; 8: mlađi; 9: najjeftinije; 10: glasnej; 11: bolje; 12: najveći