Adjectives can generally be :
– positive – expressing the presence of some characteristic,
– comparative – expressing the more intensive presence of some characteristic,
– superlative – expressing the maximized presence of some characteristic.
Comparative
In Montenegrin language the comparative form of adjectives is formed by adding there types of suffixes to a positive form:
– -ji, -ja, -je to monosyllabic (mainly),
– -iji, -ija, -ije to disyllabic and trisyllabic adjectives (mainly),
– -ši, -ša, -še to only three monosyllabic adjectives: mek, lep and lak.
| -JI, -JA, -JE | -IJI, -IJA, -IJE | -ŠI, -ŠA, -ŠE |
| mlad + ji = mlađi, -a, -e | jeftin + iji = jeftiniji, -a, -e | lijep + ši = ljepši, -a, -e |
| ljut + ji = ljući, -a, -e | miran + iji = mirniji, -a, -e | mek + ši = mekši, -a, -e |
| brz + ji = brži, -a, -e | interesantan + iji = interesantniji, -a, -e | lak + ši = lakši, -a, -e |
| tih + ji = tiši, -a, -e | dosadan + iji = dosadniji, -a, -e | |
| skup + ji = skuplji, -a, -e | mastan + iji = masniji, -a, -e | |
| EXCEPTIONS | ||
| visok + ji = viši, -a, -e | ||
| nizak + ji = niži, -a, -e | ||
There are sound alternations in the adjective stems of the first group of adjectives (those forming the comparative by adding the suffix -ji).
| k > č : | jak – jači | l > lj : | beli – belji |
| g > ž : | drag – draži | p > plj : | skup – skuplji |
| h > š : | tih – tiši | b > blj : | grub – grublji |
| d > đ : | mlad – mlađi | v > vlj : | suv – suvlji |
| t > ć : | žut – žući | z > ž : | brz – brži |
| n > nj : | crn – crnji | s > š : | visok – viši |
It is the fleeting A that appears in the positive, and disappears in the comparative.
e.g. dosadan dosadniji, interesantan interesantniji
In some cases, along with the fleeting A, the consonant T disappears as well.
e.g. mastan masniji, bolestan bolesniji
Some adjectives form comparatives from their reduced stems.
e.g. visok viši, nizak niži, uzak uži, širok širi
The comparative form of adverbs has the same form as the comparative of a neuter gender adjective.
e.g. lepo lepše, sporo sporije
Superlative
The superlative of adjectives is formed by adding the prefix naj- in front of the comparative form of adjective.
naj + mlađi = najmlađi naj + jeftiniji = najjeftiniji naj + lepši = najlepši
Adjectives beginning with j- in the superlative are written with double j.
e.g. najjači, najjasniji, najjužniji
The superlative of adverbs is formed by adding the preffix naj- to the comparative form of the adverb.
e.g. lepše najlepše, sporije najsporije
Irregular comparison
Four adjectives have irregular comparisons.
| positive | comparative | superlative |
| dobar, -bra, -bro | bolji, -a, -e | najbolji, -a, -e |
| zao, zla, zlo | gori, -a, -e | najgori, -a, -e |
| mali, -a, -o | manji, -a, -e | najmanji, -a, -e |
| velik, -a, -o | veći, -a, -e | najveći, -a, -e |
Sentence patterns using the comparative :
A(Nom.) je ljepši (-a/-e) nego B(Nom.)
Tvoja žena je ljepša nego moja žena.
A(Nom.) je ljepši (-a/-e) od B(Nom.)
Tvoja žena je ljepša od moje žene.
