Comparative And Superlative Adjectives

COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES
SOME RULES ABOUT FORMING COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES One syllable adjectives generally form the comparative by adding -er and the superlative by adding -est , e.g.: The thinnest Thinner Thin The sweetest Sweeter Sweet The cheapest Cheaper Cheap The softest Softer Soft Superlative Comparative Adjective
SPELLING RULES Note that if a one syllable adjectiveends in a single vowel letter followed by a single consonant letter, the consonant letter is doubled, e.g.: thin -> thinner, big -> biggest. If an adjective ends in -e, this is removed when adding -er/-est, e.g.: wide -> wider/widest. If an adjective ends in a consonant followed by -y, -y is replaced by -i when adding -er/-est, e.g.: dry -> drier/driest .
TWO SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES twosyllable adjectives which end in -y usually form the comparative by adding -er and the superlative by adding -est, (note the change of -y to -i in the comparative/superlative) e.g.: The tidiest Tidier Tidy The prettiest Prettier Pretty The luckiest luckier Lucky superlative Comparative Adjective
TWO SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES two syllable adjectives ending in -ed, -ing, -ful, or -less always form thecomparative with more and the superlative with the most , e.g.: The most useless More useless Useless The most careful More careful Careful The most boring More boring Boring The most worried More worried Worried superlative Comparative Adjective
THREE SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES Adjectives which have three or more syllables always form the comparative and superlative with MORE and THE MOST , e.g.: The onlyexceptions are some three syllable adjectives which have been formed by adding the prefix -un to another adjective, especially those formed from an adjective ending in -y. These adjectives can form comparatives and superlatives by using more/most or adding -er/-est, e.g.: unhappy – unhappier – the unhappiest/ the most unhappy Superlative Comparative Adjective The most difficult More difficultDifficult The most dangerous More dangerous Dangerous
IRREGULAR ADJECTIVES The farthest/furthest Farther/further Far The worst Worse Bad The best Better Good Superlative Comparative Adjective
USE OF COMPARATIVES Comparatives are very commonly followed by than and a pronoun or noun group, in order to describe who the other person or thing involved in the comparison is, e.g.: John is taller than me.I think that she’s more intelligent than her sister.
OTHER USES OF COMPARATIVES Comparatives are often qualified by using words and phrases such as much, a lot, far, a bit/little, slightly etc., e.g.: You should go by train, it would be much cheaper. Could you be a bit quieter? I’m feeling a lot better. Do you have one that’s slightly bigger? Two comparatives can be contrasted by placing thebefore them, indicating that a change in one quality is linked to a change in another, e.g.: The smaller the gift, the easier it is to send. The more stressed you are, the worse it is for your health. Two comparatives can also be linked with and to show a continuing increase in a particular quality, e.g.: The sea was getting rougher and rougher. Her illness was becoming worse and worse. He became moreand more tired as the weeks went by
USE OF SUPERLATIVES Like comparatives, superlatives can be placed before nouns in the attributive position, or occur after be and other link verbs, e.g.: the most delicious chocolate cake I’ve ever eaten Annabel was the youngest This restaurant is the best As shown in the second two examples, superlatives are often used on their own if it is clear what or whois being compared. If you want to be specific about what you are comparing, you can do this with a noun, or a phrase beginning with in or of , e.g.: Annabel was the youngest child Annabel was the youngest of the children This restaurant is the best in town.
THE OPPOSITES OF COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVES we use the forms less (the opposite of comparative more), and the least (the opposite of...