Comparison of adjectives

There are three forms of comparison: - positive - comparative - superlative

A - Comparison with -er/-est

clean - cleaner - (the) cleanest We use -er/-est with the following adjectives: 1) Adjectives with one syllable positive clean new cheap comparative cleaner newer cheaper superlative cleanest newest cheapest

) Adjectives with two syllables and the following endings: 2 - 1) Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -y positive comparative superlative dirty dirtier dirtiest easy easier easiest happy happier happiest pretty prettier prettiest 2 - 2) Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -er positive comparative superlative clever cleverer cleverest 2 - 3) Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -le positive comparative superlative simple simpler simplest 2 - 4) Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -ow positive comparative superlative narrow narrower narrowest

3) Spelling of the adjectives using the endings -er/-est positive large big sad dirty shy comparative larger bigger sadder dirtier shyer superlative largest biggest saddest dirtiest shyest comment leave out the silent -e Double the consonant after short vowel Change -y to -i (consonant before -y) Here -y is not changed to -i. (although consonant before -y)

B - Comparison with more - most

positive difficult comparative more difficult superlative (the) most difficult

all adjectives with more than one syllable (except some adjectives with two syllables - see 2 - 1 to 2 - 4

C - Irregular adjectives
positive good bad much many little little comparative better worse more more less smaller superlative best worst most most least smallest comment

uncountable nouns countable nouns

D - Special adjectives
Some adjectives have two possible forms of comparison (-er/est and more/most). positive clever common likely pleasant polite quiet simple stupid subtle sure comparative cleverer / more clever commoner / more common likelier / more likely pleasanter / more pleasant politer / more polite quieter / more quiet simpler / more simple stupider / more stupid subtler / more subtle surer / more sure superlative cleverest / most clever commonest / most common likeliest / most likely pleasantest / most pleasant politest / most polite quietest / most quiet simplest / most simple stupidest / most stupid subtlest / most subtle surest / most sure

strong

stronger sweeter taller younger

strongest sweetest tallest youngest

More examples:
By adding er and est POSITIV E bright bold clever cold fast great high kind long small COMPARATI VE brighter bolder cleverer colder faster greater higher kinder longer smaller SUPERLATI VE brightest

sweet tall young

By adding r and st boldest cleverest coldest fastest greatest highest kindest longest smallest POSITIV E brave fine large nice noble simple wise COMPARATI VE braver finer larger nicer nobler simpler wiser SUPERLATI VE bravest finest largest nicest noblest simplest wisest

white

whiter

whitest

us

courageous

courageous most cunning most difficult most famous most faithful most proper most popular most splendid

By deleting the final y and adding ier and iest POSITIVE costly dry easy happy heavy lazy mercy wealthy COMPARATIVE costlier drier easier happier heavier lasier mercier wealthier SUPERLATIVE costliest driest easiest happiest heaviest lasiest merciest wealthiest

cunning difficult famous faithful proper popular

more cunning more difficult more famous more faithful more proper more popular

splendid

more splendid

Irregular Comparisons POSITIV E bad evil good ill well late little much COMPARATI VE worse worse better worse better later less more more nearer older elder SUPERLATI VE worst worst best worst best latest least most most nearest oldest eldest

By doubling the final consonats POSITIV E big dim fat hot thin COMPARATI VE bigger dimmer fatter hotter thinner SUPERLATI VE biggest dimmest fattest hottest thinnest

By using more and most many POSITIV E active COMPARATI VE more active more attractive more beautiful more brilliant more careful more SUPERLATI VE most active most attractive most beautiful most brilliant most careful most near old old

attractive

beautiful brilliant careful courageo