How to add an ‘er’ to Korean adjectives | Comparatives and Superlatives using 더 and 덜

KSJ 쌤
5 days ago
4 min read

안녕하세요 리더님~ 코리안스터디전키입니다! In this lesson you will learn to make comparative sentences in Korean. For example; sentences like "I am smarter than you".

Before that let's learn two very commonly used words '더' and '덜' In comparative sentences. Let's start with '더'.

BEFORE YOU CONTINUE:

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USING MORE IN KOREAN

'더' means 'more' in English. It can be placed before verbs, adjectives, adverbs and even counter words.

더 is placed before an verb to indicate that an action will happen ''more''.

Examples :

저는 손을 더 씻을 거예요.

I will wash my hands more.

저는 밥을 더 먹을 거예요.

I will eat more.

저는 더 공부할 거예요.

I will study more.

Similarly 더 can be used with adjectives.

Examples:

한식은 더 맛있어요.

Korean food is more delicious.

추억은 더 중요해.

Memories are more important.

When 더 is placed after an adverb, it is common that a verb is present after the adverb. In these type of sentences, 더 is used to indicate the degree in which the action occurs.

Examples:

저는 더 열심히 공부할 거예요.

I will study harder.

저는 밥을 더 건강하게 먹을 거예요.

I will eat healthier.

It is also natural to add 더 to sentences with

counters in them.

사과 두 개 더 있어요.

I have two more apples.

나는 어제 시장에 세 번 더 갔다.

I went to market three more times yesterday.

더 is commonly used with 좋다 to mean “more good" (better) and 많다 to mean "there is more of something”.

Examples:

그 영화가 더 좋았어요.

That movie was better.

오늘은 날씨가 더 좋아요.

The weather is better today.

저는 펜이 더 많아요.

I have more pens.

Note: You can use '훨씬 더' to say 'much more’.

Until now, we haven't specifically indicated what the subjects are being compared to.

덜 is an antonym of 더, that is it is used to mean "less".

나는 남동생보다 덜 똑똑해요.

I’m less smart than my brother.

The above sentence is grammatical correct and well understood but it is more natural to create the opposite sentence and use 더 instead.

For example:

남동생이 나보다 똑똑해요.

My brother is more smart than me.

is more common and natural to use.

USING -보다 TO MAKE COMPARISONS

더 is commonly used in sentences when specific comparison is being made.

To make specific comparison in Korean the particle ~보다 is attached to the thing that is being compared to.

Pattern: Noun + 보다

Attaching 보다 to a noun means "Than Noun".

Examples:

기차 - train: 기차보다 = than a train.

고양이 - cat: 고양이보다 = than cats.

비행기가 기차보다 더 빨라요.

Airplanes are faster than trains.

저는 고양이보다 강아지를 더 좋아해요.

I like dogs more than cats.

NOTE:

You don’t really need 더 in these types of sentences. The use of ~보다 in these types of sentences would also carry this meaning.

Two words that ~보다 is commonly attached to are 평소 (usually) and 생각 (think).

Examples:

나는 평소보다 더 공부하고 있어.

I am studying more than usual.

한식은 생각보다 매워요.

Korean food is spicier than I thought.

In Conclusion

Adding 더 is the same as when English speakers add an extra ‘-er’ to certain adjectives.

더 좋다 - Better (more good)

더 크다 - Bigger (more big)

더 작다 - Smaller (more small)

더 춥다 - Colder (more cold)

더 덥다 - Hotter (more hot)

It’s not always like adding an ‘-er’ for all words though

더 맛있다 - More delicious (in comparison to something else)

더 많아요 - More, A lot more (in comparison to another amount)

The word ‘덜’ can also be used to mean ‘less …’ than something - but its not as natural

덜 좋다 - Less good

덜 크다 - Less big

덜 작다 - Less small

덜 춥다 - Less cold

덜 덥다 - Less hot

The particle N보다 is used a lot for making comparisons (you don’t have to add 더/덜)

어제보다 - Than yesterday

한국보다 - Than Korea

너보다 - Than you

여름보다 - Than summer

Example Sentences:

오늘 날씨가 어제보다 (더) 좋아요.

Today’s weather is better than yesterday’s (weather).

미국은 한국보다 (더) 커요.

America is bigger than Korea.

한국은 미국보다 (더) 작아요.

Korea is smaller than America.

이번 여름은 작년 여름보다 더 더워요.

This Summer is hotter than last Summer.

That’s all for this lesson! Thanks for reading my lesson.

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