Page:Graimear na Gaedhilge.djvu/83

Rh In the spoken language the adjective is sometimes intensified by repeating the positive twice, as—
 * , he was very sick.
 * , it is very heavy.
 * , a very wet day.

Sometimes is annexed to the comparative; it is really the prepositional pronoun, of it.
 * It is not likely that I shall go.
 * It is no harm to be depending on you!

Although the comparative and the superlative are absolutely alike in form, yet they may be easily distinguished:—

(1) By the context; the comparative can be used only when we are speaking of two persons or things, the superlative is always used for more than two.

(2) By the word (than) which always follows the comparative, except when  is used; the superlative is never followed by either.

When comparing adjectives (i.e., giving the three degrees of comparison), it is usual to use before the comparative, and  before the superlative, as—

Remember that and  change their forms according to the tense of the verb in the sentence.