The Comparative Form (-are)
To compare two things in Swedish, you typically add the suffix -are to the base form of the adjective. This is the equivalent of adding "-er" to an adjective in English. To say "than", use the conjunction än.
| Today the newspaper is thinner than the book. | Idag är tidningen tunnare än boken. |
| The wall is wider than the door. | Väggen är bredare än dörren. |
| My knife is sharper than yours. | Min kniv är vassare än din. |
The Superlative Form (-ast)
When you want to single out the extreme among three or more things, use the superlative form. For regular adjectives, you add the suffix -ast (meaning "-est" or "most"). You use this standard -ast ending when the adjective sits independently after the verb.
| Which ruler is narrowest? | Vilken linjal är smalast? |
Definite Superlatives (-aste)
When a superlative adjective is placed directly in front of a specific, definite noun (such as "the widest wall" or "the narrowest line"), the ending changes slightly. You add an -e to the suffix, making it -aste. Just like other definite descriptions in Swedish, you must also use the independent definite article (den, det, or de) before the adjective.
| The widest wall is white. | Den bredaste väggen är vit. |
| The boy paints the narrowest line. | Pojken målar den smalaste linjen. |
Describing Dimensions and Weights
You can attach these highly predictable endings to almost any regular adjective that describes physical properties, like shapes and weights.
| The ball is round, but the apple is rounder. | Bollen är rund, men äpplet är rundare. |
| A letter is lighter than a book. | Ett brev är lättare än en bok. |