162. In the spoken language the adjective is sometimes intensified by repeating the positive twice, as—
- ḃí sé tinn tinn, he was very sick.
- tá sé trom trom, it is very heavy.
- lá fliuċ fliuċ, a very wet day.
163. Sometimes de is annexed to the comparative; it is really the prepositional pronoun de, of it.
- Ní móide (mó + de) go raġad. It is not likely that I shall go.
- Ní misde (measa + de) ḃeiṫ ag braṫ ort! It is no harm to be depending on you!
164. 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 ná (than) which always follows the comparative, except when de is used; the superlative is never followed by either.
165. When comparing adjectives (i.e., giving the three degrees of comparison), it is usual to use níos before the comparative, and is before the superlative, as—
| POSITIVE. | COMPARATIVE. | SUPERLATIVE. |
| bán | níos báine | is báine |
| glas | níos glaise | is glaise |
Remember that níos and is change their forms according to the tense of the verb in the sentence.
