Page:A simplified grammar of the Swedish language.djvu/63

Rh used in the sense of adjectives; as, ett leende barn, 'a laughing child;' inhyses hjon, 'a dependant,' 'a person living free of cost in another person's house;' inbördes krig, 'intestine war.'

Certain superlatives are used only in prayer or invocation, and in epistolary and official communications; as, den aller Högste, 'the Most High;' stormäktigst, 'most mighty;' allernådigst, 'most gracious;' tropligtigst, 'most obedient;' underdånigst, ' most humbly.'

The comparative degree may be expressed by the help of the conjunction än 'than;' as, Adolf är äldre än sin syster Maria, 'Adolphus is older than his sister Mary.'

A comparison between two persons or things is not expressed with the comparative but the superlative; as, hvilken af de tvänne qvinnorna är yngst? 'which is the younger of the two women?'

As in English, a certain definite preposition must follow the adjective, to give it the special meaning required; as, ledsen vid, 'weary of;' glad öfver, 'glad of;' kunnig i, 'conversant with.'

The preposition may be omitted with some adjectives; as, Albert är mäktig det svenska språket, 'Albert is master (of) the Swedish language;' min Moder blef henne qvitt, 'my mother got rid (of) her.'