COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES IN ENGLISH

There are three forms of comparison:

Positive Degree is used when at least
one thing is being described or when
nothing is compared.
Her hair is long.
The street is narrow.
That book is expensive.
Comparative Degree is used when two
persons, groups, or things are compared.
Her hair is longer than mine.
The street is narrower than the one we
just passed.
That book is more expensive than the one
I bought last time.
Superlative Degree is used when three
or more persons, groups, or things are
compared.
Her hair is the longest I have ever seen.
The street is the narrowest of all the
streets in our town.
That book is the most expensive of them
all.

sad
dirty

sadder
dirtier

saddest
dirtiest

shy

shyer

shyest

after short vowel

Change -y to -i (conso
nant before -y)
Here -y is not changed
to -i.
(although consonant
before -y)

2. Comparison with more most

all adjectives with more than one
syllable (except some adjectives with two
syllables see 2.1. to 2.4.)
positive
comparative
superlative
difficult more difficult
(the) most difficult

3. Irregular adjectives
positiv
e
good
bad
much

comparativ
e
better
worse
more

superlativ
e
best
worst
most

many

more

most

clean cleaner (the) cleanest

We use -er/-est with the following
adjectives:

little
little

less
smaller

least
smallest

1.1. Adjectives with one syllable

4. Special adjectives

1. Comparison with -er/-est

positive
clean
new
cheap

comparative
cleaner
newer
cheaper

superlative
cleanest
newest
cheapest

1.2. Adjectives with two syllables and

the following endings:
1.2.1. Adjectives with two syllables,
ending in -y
positive
comparative
superlative
dirty
dirtier
dirtiest
easy
easier
easiest
happy
happier
happiest
pretty
prettier
prettiest
1.2.2. Adjectives with two syllables,
ending in -er
positive
comparative
superlative
clever
cleverer
cleverest
1.2.3. Adjectives with two syllables,
ending in -le
positive
comparative
superlative
simple
simpler
simplest
1.2.4. Adjectives with two syllables,
ending in -ow
positive
comparative
superlative
narrow
narrower
narrowest

1.3. Spelling of the adjectives using

the endings -er/-est
posit
ive
large
big

compara
tive
larger
bigger

superla
tive
largest
biggest

Some adjectives
have two possible forms
er/est and more/most).
positive comparative
clever
cleverer / more
clever
commo commoner / more
n
common
likely
likelier / more
likely
pleasant pleasanter / more
pleasant
polite
politer / more
polite
quiet
quieter / more
quiet
simple
simpler / more
simple
stupid
stupider / more
stupid
subtle
subtler / more
subtle
sure
surer / more sure

comment

uncountable
nouns
countable
nouns

of comparison (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

5. Difference in meaning with

adjectives

comment

positiv
e
far

comparativ
e
farther
further

superlativ
e
farthest
furthest

leave out the silent -e

Double the consonant

late

later

latest

comment
distance
distance or
time

old

near

latter
x
older

x
last
oldest

elder

eldest

nearer
x

nearest
next

people and
things
people
(family)
distance
order

THE COMPARISON OF
ADJECTIVES
positive
strong

Monosyllabic adjectives are compared with -er,

-est.
comparative
superlative
stronger
strongest
smaller
smallest
later
latest
nicer
nicest
bigger
biggest
thinner
thinnest
fatter
fattest

Example: London is bigger than Vienna.

Lesson Plan: Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Disyllabic adjectives ending with y, er, ow, le are

compared with -er, -est.
comparative
superlative
easier
easiest
happier
happiest
cleverer
cleverest
narrower
narrowest

Start the lesson by explaining the definition of a

positive
comparative adjective.
Compare two items of your choice. Ask the student to give
you an example of a comparative adjective in a sentence.
Trade examples back and forth.
narrow
Give the student a list of adjectives to turn into
comparative adjectives. The list could have the following
Example: Which is the easiest exercise?
adjectives: interesting, boring, big, pretty, funny, happy,
small, red, and wet. Make sure that the student realizes
All the other adjectives are compared
that:
with more, most.
Some of these adjectives, such as big or pretty are
comparative
superlative
turned into comparative adjectives by adding an
more careful
most careful
er.
expensive
more
expensive
most expensive
Some adjectives such as interesting are turned
into comparative adjectives by adding the word
more difficult
most difficult
more.
more tired
most tired
After the student completes the list, explain a superlative
more terrible
most terrible
adjective. Use an example with objects within the room in
which you are sitting.
Which dress is more expensive? Which dress is the most expensive
Ask the student to provide an example of a sentence using
a superlative adjective, and correct any mistakes which
you hear.
Special adjectives can be compared with -er,
Give the student the same list of adjectives that you gave
-est or more, most.
him or her for comparative adjectives. Ask him or her to
comparative
superlative
turn the adjectives into superlative adjectives.
cleverer / more clever
cleverest / most clever
As they complete the list, correct any mistakes you see
commoner / more common
commonest / most comm
and answer any questions which they may have.
likelier / more likely
likeliest / most likely
Theyve Completed the List, Now What?
pleasanter / more pleasant
pleasantest / most pleasa
Now, to further cement their understanding of the two
politer / more polite
politest / most polite
types of adjectives, give them a list of topics in which they
quieter / more quiet
quietest / most quiet
are interested. For example, if they are interested in
stupider / more stupid
stupidest / most stupid
sports, give them basketball, baseball, and football. If they
surer / more sure
surest / most sure
are interested in movies, create some topics out of
subter / more subtle
subtlest / most subtle
movies.
simpler / more simple
simplest / most simple
Once you have given them the topics, ask them to create
two sentences for each topics, one sentence using
Irregular forms
comparative adjectives, and one using superlative
positive
comparative
superlative
adjectives. Correct any mistakes.
better
best

worse
more
more
less

worst
most
most
least

(not) as ... as (nicht) genauso ... wie

ll as Mary. (Anna ist genauso gro wie Maria.)

orrow it will be as hot as today.

as not as difficult as the last one.