Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
Three Forms of Comparison of Adjectives in English
Positive: it is an ordinary form of adjectives
Comparative: shows when two persons or objects being compared
Superlative: indicates that the quality or quantity is at its highest or is most intense
• Comparative are used to describe people and things. - My car is fast but John’scar is faster. - Emily is tall but Sophia is taller. - I need a bigger car
• “Than” is used to compare one thing with another.
- Henry is older than Tom.
- Emily is smarter than Sophia.
- The second test was easier than the first one.
• “The” is used with a superlative:
- Where Are the Tallest Buildings in the World?
- Harry is the tallest student in this class.
• "As...as" is used to compare the attributes of two things that are equal
- Emily is as tall as Sophia.
- The first test is as easy as the second one.
General Rules in Forming Comparison of Adjectives
There are basic rules in forming the degrees of comparison:
1. For one-syllable adjective, add –er to form comparative and –est for superlative.
Examples:
• clear / clearer / clearest,
• dark / darker / darkest
2. For most two-syllable adjectives, add –er for comparative and – est for superlative.
Examples:
• simple / simpler / simplest,
• gentle / gentler / gentlest
3. For three or more syllables, always use more and most to form the comparative and superlative.
Examples:
• creative / more creative / most creative
4. Some adjectives end with a consonant letter y, change y to I and add –er or -est.
Examples:
• busy / busier / busiest,
• merry / merrier / merriest
5. Some adjectives end with a single vowel and single final consonant letter. Double the final consonant and add –er/-est.
Examples:
• thin / thinner / thinnest,
• fat / fatter / fattest
6. When the adjectives end in “e”, add –r for the comparative and –st for superlative
Examples:
• wise / wiser / wisest,
• simple / simpler / simplest
7. Irregular comparisons of adjectives are compared irregularly
Examples:
• good / better / best
• ill / worse / worst
