Lesson III Substantives
news, khabar.
workman, tukang.
cat, kuching.
rat, tikus.
sugar, gula.
needle, jarum.
form, rupa.
elephant, gajah.
Adjectives excellent, endah.
careful, jimat.
worthless, burok.
difficult, susah.
Verbs
To do, make, buat.
To seek, chăhari.
To conceal, sembunyi.
To find, obtain, dapat.
On the Degrees of Comparison
One form of the comparative degree is similar in construction to the Hindustani comparative, that is to say, the object with which the comparison is made is put in the ablative case (by the use of the preposition deri or deri-pada), while the adjective remains unmodified by adverb or particle. Thus the phrase “This house is larger than that,” may be rendered Besar rumah ini deri rumah itu (Yih ghar us ghar se baṛā hai).
Examples
The rumour is better than the reality— Endah khabar deri rupa.
The Chinese workman is more skilful than the Kling— Pandei tukang China deri tukang Kling.
The cat is larger than the mouse— Besar kuching deri tikus.
This is better than that— Baik ini deri-pada itu.
(Note that the adjective always precedes the objects compared.)
The comparative degree is also formed by the use of the adverb lebeh or ter-lebeh, more, prefixed to the adjective, which is followed by the preposition deri or deri-pada.
Hotter than before— Lebeh panas deri dahulu.
Sweeter than honey— Lebeh manis deri gula.
It is better to go than to remain— Ter-lebeh baik pergi deri-pada tinggal.
The adverb lagi, more, is sometimes used instead of lebeh.
You must make it larger— Mahu buat besar lagi.
This is better— Ini lagi baik.
Another form of comparison is constructed with the adverb korang, less, prefixed to the adjective; as korang baik, not very good; korang biasa, inexperienced (lit. less accustomed).
The superlative degree is formed in several ways: First, by making a comparison of universal application; as—
This is the best (lit. this is better than all)— Baik ini deri sumua.
The finest needle of all— Jarum yang lebeh halus deri-pada sumua-nia.
The hardest of all to obtain— Yang ter-lebeh susah men-dapat deri-pada sumua-nia.
Secondly, by the use of the adverb sakali, very, exceedingly, after the adjective when the latter is preceded by the relative pronoun yang; as—
The best— Yang baik sakali.
The worst— Yang burok sakali.
Such-a-one was the handsomest— Yang elok sakali si-anu.
Thirdly, by duplication of the adjective, which then takes the particle sa before it; as—
The quickest pace of an elephant is the slowest walk of a man— Sa-chepat-chepat jalan-an gajah, sa-lambat-lambat jalan an orang.
The very least— Sa-korang-korang.
Utterly and completely guilty— Sa-penoh-penoh salah.
The most just king— Sa-adil-adil raja.
With the greatest care— Dengan sa-habis-habis jimat.
You must look out for the very best article— Handak chăhari yang sa-baik-baik-nia.
He hides it with the greatest pains— Di-sembunyi-kan-nia dengan sa-buleh-buleh-nia.
Exercise
My horse is better than your horse. These people are more stupid than those. The form of the horse is handsomer than that of the elephant. The men are more wicked than the women. The pace of the horse is swifter than that of the elephant. That woman is the handsomest, but this one is the wisest. His house is the worst of all. Bring the slowest elephant of all. The father is wiser than the child. It is better to bring the ox than the horse.