Adjectives are declined exactly like substantives, and like them have no
gender.
Besides declension they are susceptible of inflections indicating the
comparative and superlative degrees.
I. The Comparative is formed by adding to the root of the positive
=-mpa= or =-mpä=. =Huono=, _bad_, =huonompa=, _worse_; =paksu=, _fat_,
=paksumpa=, _fatter_. Root, =iloise=, _gay_ (nominative of positive
=iloinen=), comparative =iloisempa=.
If a dissyllabic root end in =a= or =ä=, that vowel becomes =e= before
the termination =mpa=. =Vanha=, _old_, =vanhempa= (=13=).
It is important to note that the suffix =-mpa= is added to the root, and
not to the nominative of the positive.
The stem thus formed is declined with the usual suffixes, after the
models given above: =mpa= in the nominative sing. becomes =mpi=, and in
the cases where the syllable is closed =mma=.
II. The Superlative is formed by adding to the root of the positive the
suffix =impa=. Before this suffix the vowels =a=, =ä=, =e=, =i= are
rejected, and =aa=, =ää=, =ee=, become =ai=, =äi=, =ei=. Thus =iso=,
_great_, =isoimpa=: =huono=, _bad_, =huonoimpa=; but =köyhä=, =köyhimpä=,
=valkea=, =valkeimpa=, etc.
The root thus obtained is declined after the third declension. Notice the
difference in the declension of comparatives and superlatives. In the
comparative the final =a= becomes =i= in the nominative sing., in the
superlative it is lost and =mp= becomes =n= by rule =2=.
Comparative stem =suurempa=. Superlative stem =suurimpa=.
_Sing._
_Nom._ =suurempi= =suurin=
_Gen._ =suuremman= =suurimman=
_Part._ =suurempaa= (=ta=) =suurimpaa=, =suurinta=
_Ill._ =suurempaan= =suurimpaan=
_Ess._ =suurempana= =suurimpana=, =suurinna=
etc. etc.
_Plur._
_Nom._ =suuremmat= =suurimmat=
_Gen._ [=suurempaen=] =suurempain= =suurinten=, =suurimpain=
=suurimpien=
_Part._ =suurempia= =suurimpia=
etc. etc.
Examples of the formation of the comparative and superlative.
_Positive._ _Comparative._ _Superlative._
=vanha=, _old_ =vanhempi= (=11=) =vanhin=
=raaka=, _raw_ =raaempi= (=28=, =9=) =raain= (=28=)
=vapaa=, _free_ =vapaampi= =vapain=
=ihava=, _fat_ =lihavampi= =lihavin=
=köyhä=, _poor_ =köyhempi= (=11=) =köyhin=
=terävä=, _sharp_ =terävämpi= =terävin=
=suruinen=, _sorrowful_ =suruisempi= =suruisin=
=lyhyt=, _short_ =lyhyempi= =lyhyin=
=aulis=, _liberal_ =auliimpi= =auliin=
=paksu=, _fat_ =paksumpi= =paksuin=
=mieto=, _mild_ =miedompi= (=32=) =miedoin=
=rikas=, _rich_ =rikkaampi= =rikkain=
=kaunis=, _beautiful_ =kauniimpi= =kauniin=, =kaunein=
=oppinut=, _learned_ =oppineempi= =oppinein=
The following words are irregular, the comparative and superlative being
formed from different roots to the positive.
_Positive._ _Comparative._ _Superlative._
=hyvä=, _good_ =parempi= =paras=, =parhain=
(root =paraa=)
=paljo=, _much_ =enempi= =enin=
=pitkä=, _long_ =pitempi= =pisin= (as if from
root =pitä=)
=moni=, _many_ =useampi= =usein=
=Molemmat=, _both_, is an isolated comparative form.
The following adjectives are not declined or compared, but remain
invariable in all cases.—=Aika=, _strong_; =aimo=, _good_; =kelpo=,
_worthy_; =eri=, _different_; =koko=, _all_; =ensi=, _next_; =viime=,
_last_; =pikku=, _little_. =Kaikki=, _all_, is not usually changed in the
nominative plural, but otherwise is declined.