COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES

COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES
REMEMBER
There are three forms of comparison: - positive - comparative - superlative

A - Comparison with er / -est

- positive clean - comparative cleaner - superlative (the) cleanest

We use er / -est with the following adjectives: Adjectives with one syllable
clean new cheap cleaner newer cheaper cleanest newest cheapest

Adjectives with two syllables and the following endings:

Adjectives with two syllables, ending in y dirty easy happy pretty dirtier easier happier prettier dirtiest easiest happiest prettiest

Adjectives with two syllables, ending in er clever cleverer cleverest

Adjectives with two syllables, ending in le simple simpler simplest

Adjectives with two syllables, ending in ow narrow narrower narrowest

Spelling of the adjectives using the endings er / -est

large big sad dirty shy larger bigger sadder dirtier shyer largest biggest saddest dirtiest shyest 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) and adjectives ending in ing. Boring more boring (the) most boring

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

uncountable nouns countable nouns

D - Special adjectives
Some adjectives have two possible forms of comparison. - positive common likely pleasant polite simple stupid subtle sure - comparative commoner / more common likelier / more likely pleasanter / more pleasant politer / more polite simpler / more simple stupider / more stupid subtler / more subtle surer / more sure - superlative commonest / most common likeliest / most likely pleasantest / most pleasant politest / most polite simplest / most simple stupidest / most stupid subtlest surest / most sure

Difference in meaning with adjectives:

far late farther further later later x older elder nearer x farthest furthest latest x last oldest eldest nearest next distance distance or time

old near

people and things people (family) distance order

The most pleasant?