Friday, 2 July 2010

Comparison: comparative and superlative adjectives

1   Short adjectives

(adjectives with one syllable; adjectives with two syllables ending in -y)































































ADJECTIVECOMPARATIVESUPERLATIVE
oldolderoldestMost adjectives:+ -er, -est.
talltallertallest
cheapcheapercheapest
latelaterlatestAdjectives ending in -e: + -r, -sf.
nicenicernicest
fatfatterfattestOne vowel +
one consonant:
double consonant.
bigbiggerbiggest
thinthinnerthinnest
happyhappierhappiestChange y to i.
easyeasiereasiest

2   Irregular comparatives and superlatives









































ADJECTIVE
COMPARATIVESUPERLATIVE
goodbetterbest
badworseworst
farfarther/furtherfarthest/furthest
oldolder/elderoldest/eldest
The determiners little and much/many have irregular comparatives and superlatives:
much/manymoremost

3   Longer adjectives

(adjectives with two syllables not ending in -y, adjectives with three or more syllables)

































ADJECTIVECOMPARATIVESUPERLATIVE
tiringmore tiringmost tiring
cheerfulmore cheerfulmost cheerful
handsomemore handsomemost handsome
intelligentmore intelligentmost intelligent
practicalmore practicalmost practical

Some two-syllable adjectives have two comparatives and superlatives:

  • commoner/more common;

  • politest!most polite.


We usually prefer the forms with more and most.

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