Comparatives, Superlatives, Too, and Enough

What you’ll learn

Compare degree and express sufficient or excessive amounts.

ប្រៀបធៀបកម្រិត និងបង្ហាញភាពគ្រប់គ្រាន់ឬលើស។

Meaning and use

Comparatives compare; superlatives identify an extreme within a relevant group. Much, far, and a little can modify comparatives. Too means excessive for a purpose, not simply very. Enough follows an adjective or adverb but precedes a noun. Specify the comparison group when meaning would otherwise be unclear.

Comparative ប្រៀបធៀបកម្រិត។ Too មានន័យថាលើសសម្រាប់គោលបំណង មិនមែនគ្រាន់តែខ្លាំងទេ។ Enough នៅក្រោយគុណនាម តែនៅមុខនាម។

Grammar patterns

Pattern	Example or form
Comparison	much cheaper than / the most useful of these tools
Degree and position	too heavy to lift / warm enough / enough money

Examples

1. This route is much shorter than the other one.

   ផ្លូវនេះខ្លីជាងផ្លូវមួយទៀតច្រើន។

2. It is the most useful book on this shelf.

   វាជាសៀវភៅមានប្រយោជន៍បំផុតលើធ្នើនេះ។

3. The box is too heavy for me to carry.

   ប្រអប់ធ្ងន់ពេកឱ្យខ្ញុំយួរបាន។

4. We have enough chairs for everyone.

   យើងមានកៅអីគ្រប់គ្រាន់សម្រាប់មនុស្សទាំងអស់។

Everyday conversation

Dara: Is the room big enough for ten people?

Maly: Yes, and it is much cheaper than the larger one.

Common mistakes

Instead of	Use	Why
This is more easier.	This is easier.	Do not combine more with an -er comparative.
The water is enough warm.	The water is warm enough.	Enough follows the adjective.

Practice

Try these questions before opening the answers. Write or say each answer.

សាកល្បងឆ្លើយសំណួរទាំងនេះជាមុនសិន មុននឹងបើកមើលចម្លើយ។ អ្នកអាចសរសេរ ឬនិយាយចម្លើយរបស់អ្នក។

1. Correct: We do not have money enough.
2. Complete: This bag is too small ___ hold the laptop.
3. Does very expensive necessarily mean too expensive?

Answers and explanations

Show answers / បង្ហាញចម្លើយ

1. We do not have enough money.

   Enough precedes a noun.

2. to

   Too + adjective + to-infinitive gives the limiting result.

3. No.

   Too expensive means the cost exceeds a relevant limit or purpose.

Quick recap

• Comparison: much cheaper than / the most useful of these tools
• Degree and position: too heavy to lift / warm enough / enough money