\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not sure if the title is a known concept in the English language. It\u2019s a literal translation of:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n De trappen der vergelijking = literal: The Stairs of Equation = Comparative and Superlative Adjectives.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Every Dutch adjective can take three forms to convey the amount of strength of the word. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We have: <\/span><\/p>\n De stellende trap (de positief\/ positive?). For example: groot<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n This is the standard form of the adjective. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n De vergrotende trap (de comparatief\/comparative). To continue with the previous example\u2026 the comparative would be: groter<\/strong> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n De overtreffende trap (de superlatief\/superlative). The superlative of previous examples would be: grootst<\/strong>. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In Dutch we get the different \u2018steps\u2019 by adding \u2013er and \u2013st to the adjective. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Examples: <\/span>groot \u2013 groter \u2013 grootst (big \u2013 bigger \u2013 biggest)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n klein \u2013 kleiner \u2013 kleinst (small \u2013 smaller \u2013 smallest) <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Adjectives which end with an \u2013r, will get an extra letter in the superlative form\u2026 the d. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Examples: raar \u2013 raard<\/strong>er \u2013 raarst (w<\/span>eird \u2013 weirder \u2013 weirdest) <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n ver \u2013 verd<\/strong>er – verst (far \u2013 further \u2013furthest) <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. The most common exceptions are:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n goed \u2013 beter \u2013 best (good \u2013 better \u2013 best)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n veel \u2013 meer \u2013 meest <\/span>(much \u2013 more \u2013 most)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n weinig \u2013 minder \u2013 minst <\/span>(little \u2013 less \u2013 least)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n graag \u2013 liever \u2013 liefst (not sure how to translate this\u2026 but you can compare it with: like to \u2013 rather \u2013 love to \u2026 I think)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ‘<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \n <\/span><\/p>\n Sometimes adjectives get split: <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Dichtbevolkt \u2013 dichter bevolkt \u2013 dichtbevolkst (closely populated \u2013 more closely populated \u2013 most closely populated)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n In the standard Dutch language, the word \u2018dan\u2019 (than) follows the superlative or comparative and not the word \u2018als\u2019 (as). A lot of mistakes are made with this. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s: hij is groter dan mij NOT hij is groter als mij (he is bigger than me)<\/span><\/p>\n hij is jonger dan mij NOT hij is jonger als mij <\/span>(he is younger than me)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n The word \u2018als\u2019 (as) is used in sentences to show an \u2018equal state\u2019. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n hij is net zo groot als<\/strong> mij – <\/span>he is just as big as me<\/span><\/p>\n hij is net zo oud als<\/strong> mij – <\/span>he has the same age as me<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Not all languages use the stairs of equation the way we do in the Netherlands. In English there are also the three different steps (great \u2013 greater \u2013 greatest) but often the comparatives en superlatives use \u2018more\u2019 and \u2018most\u2019. Like: recent \u2013 more recent \u2013 most recent, in Dutch this would be: recent \u2013 recenter \u2013 recentst <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Sometimes Dutch people also start to use the English rules, causing \u2018anglicisme\u2019. People start using: meest bekende instead of bekentste (most known) etc. etc. Also expressions like: \u2018de tweede grootste\u2019 instead of \u2018de op \u00e9\u00e9n na grootste\u2019 (the second biggest\u2026) are sometimes used. Still, the Dutch prefer the Dutch constructions, though sometimes with very long words the use of \u2018most\u2019 would make it better readable. And sometimes even in Dutch there are cases when \u2018meer\u2019 and \u2018meest\u2019 are used (more and most). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Ze zijn meer bereid tot extra financi\u00eble steun dan tot een wijziging van het beleid. <\/span><\/p>\n They are more prepared to give additional financial support, than to change the policy. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Zij is de meest verdorven persoon die ik ooit heb ontmoet<\/span><\/p>\n She is the most corrupted person I\u2019ve ever met. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n