Comparatives and Superlatives Part Five.

Once again I have modified the comparative and superlative system. Hopefully this will be the final version!

I have reverted to using prefixes. I hope to have a relatively small number of easily recognizable endings for adverbs and adjectives so using prefixes facilitates this.

The prefixes are based on “ta” and “ko”, which respectivly indicate large and small quantities or numbers of something._­ On their own these words can mean “much/ great” or “few/ little”.

To form a comparative “ta” or “ko” has “e-” placed before it to form “eta” or “eko”. Used on their own these words mean “more” or “lesser/ fewer”. The use of “e-” to indicate more or multiple is an idea I have adopted from Sona.

To form a superlative “ta” or “ko” has “o-” placed before it to form “ota” or “oko”. Used on their own these words mean “most” or “least/ fewest”. This use of “o-” is reminiscent of the formation of some Japanese words, as indeed is “ko” and to a lesser degree “ta”.

For the word “bon” (good) we can therefore form “bon, tabon, etabon and otabon”. If things are not so good we can say “kobon, ekobon or okobon”!

If we decided to have absolute superlatives there are a couple of options. We could add an additional augmentative or diminutive to the end of the superlative. Alternately the definite article can be placed before the superlative. “It bi de otabon!”