Comparatives in -е and consonant alternation
A productive historical pattern creates -е forms with changes at the end of the stem.
- The alternations must be learned by family and lexeme; do not attach -ее to every adjective mechanically.
- Stem checkpoint: Store base and comparative together: доро́гой — доро́же. The comparative is a lexical diagnostic, not merely an ending exercise.
| Base | Comparative | Stem change |
|---|---|---|
| дорого́й | доро́же | г → ж |
| стро́гий | стро́же | г → ж |
| ти́хий | ти́ше | х → ш |
| круто́й | кру́че | т → ч |
| молодо́й | моло́же | д → ж |
| высо́кий | вы́ше | stem reduction/alternation |
Read the model
3.15 · Comparatives in -е and consonant alternation · table 1
дорого́й · доро́же · г → жстро́гий · стро́же · г → жMini-check
Form: стро́гий; ти́хий. Correct *высо́кее.
Apply this next
- Say the Russian examples aloud, cover the model, and retrieve the pattern once before continuing.