Comparative and superlative
In the A2 exam, you will use comparisons in two ways. First, in the Schrijven section, you need to compare things (like houses or jobs). Second, in the KNM section, the exam often uses meer dan (more than) and minder dan (less than) as a trap to see if you know the exact rules for income, taxes, or age limits.
1. The Comparative: -er + dan
To compare two things, add -er to the adjective and use the word dan (than).
- Groot becomes groter.
- Klein becomes kleiner.
Warning: Do NOT use the English style "meer groot". In Dutch, we almost always add the suffix.
2. The Superlative: het ...-st
To say something is the 'most' or the 'best', use het before the word and add -st to the end.
- Groot becomes het grootst.
- Duur becomes het duurst.
3. Irregular forms (High Priority)
These words do not follow the rules. You must memorize these because they appear in almost every exam paper.
| Basis | Comparative (Better/More) | Superlative (Best/Most) |
|---|---|---|
| goed (good) | beter | het best |
| veel (much/many) | meer | het meest |
| weinig (little/few) | minder | het minst |
| graag (gladly/like) | liever | het liefst |
4. The KNM "Direction Swap" Trap
When the exam asks about money or rules, look closely at these phrases:
- Meer dan: More than / Higher than.
- Minder dan: Less than / Lower than.
- Precies: Exactly.
If a rule says you must earn minstens (at least) € 2000, then an answer saying minder dan € 2000 is always a distractor.