Essential Grammar - Master the Basics | MANO Academy

5.1 Adjectives Adverbs and Comparison

Adverbs (bijwoorden) modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs and are used to add detail about how, when, where, or to what degree something happens. Below are common types of adverbs and examples of their use.

1.1 Types of Adverbs

A. Adverbs of Manner (How? – "quickly") These describe how an action is performed.

English	Dutch	Example Sentence	Translation
Quickly	Snel	Hij loopt snel.	He walks quickly.
Slowly	Langzaam	Zij spreekt langzaam.	She speaks slowly.
Well	Goed	Hij zingt goed.	He sings well.
Badly	Slecht	Hij schrijft slecht.	He writes badly.

B. Adverbs of Frequency (How often? – "often") These indicate how frequently something happens.

English	Dutch	Example Sentence	Translation
Often	Vaak	Ik ga vaak naar de bioscoop.	I often go to the cinema.
Sometimes	Soms	Wij fietsen soms naar school.	We sometimes bike to school.
Never	Nooit	Hij leest nooit boeken.	He never reads books.
Always	Altijd	Jij bent altijd te laat!	You are always late!

C. Adverbs of Time (When? – "now") These describe when an action occurs.

English	Dutch	Example Sentence	Translation
Now	Nu	Ik eet nu lunch.	I am eating lunch now.
Then	Toen	Toen gingen we naar huis.	Then, we went home.
Today	Vandaag	Hij komt vandaag thuis.	He is coming home today.
Tomorrow	Morgen	Wij vertrekken morgen.	We leave tomorrow.

D. Adverbs of Place (Where? – "here") These describe where an action occurs.

English	Dutch	Example Sentence	Translation
Here	Hier	Kom hier!	Come here!
There	Daar	Het boek ligt daar.	The book is there.
Inside	Binnen	Zij zijn binnen.	They are inside.
Outside	Buiten	Wij wachten buiten.	We are waiting outside.

2. Comparative and Superlative Forms of Adjectives

2.1 Comparative Forms

In Dutch, the comparative form of an adjective is created by adding -er to the adjective.

Structure:
Adjective + -er + "dan" (than)

English	Dutch (Comparative)	Example Sentence	Translation
Big → Bigger	Groot → Groter	Dit huis is groter dan dat huis.	This house is bigger than that house.
Small → Smaller	Klein → Kleiner	Deze kamer is kleiner dan mijn kamer.	This room is smaller than my room.
Fast → Faster	Snel → Sneller	Hij is sneller dan jij.	He is faster than you.
Good → Better	Goed → Beter	Deze film is beter dan die.	This movie is better than that one.

2.2 Superlative Forms

The superlative form of an adjective is created by adding -st to the adjective, and it is often preceded by het (the) or de (the), depending on the noun's gender.

Structure:
(Het / De) + Adjective + -st

English	Dutch (Superlative)	Example Sentence	Translation
Big → Biggest	Groot → Grootst	Dit is het grootste gebouw.	This is the biggest building.
Small → Smallest	Klein → Kleinst	Hij is de kleinste jongen.	He is the smallest boy.
Fast → Fastest	Snel → Snelst	Zij is de snelste atleet.	She is the fastest athlete.
Good → Best	Goed → Best	Dit is het beste boek.	This is the best book.

2.3 Irregular Comparatives

Some adjectives are irregular in their comparative and superlative forms.

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative	Meaning
Goed (Good)	Beter (Better)	Best (Best)	Good → Better → Best
Veel (Much/Many)	Meer (More)	Meest (Most)	Much → More → Most
Weinig (Few)	Minder (Less)	Minst (Least)	Few → Less → Least

By mastering adverbs and comparative forms, you can add rich detail and express comparisons effectively in Dutch conversations!