Comparison of Adjectives
There are other rules in forming adjectives in the comparative and superlative degrees.
1. When an adjective is a one- or two-syllable word
- add the suffix -er for the comparative degree
- add the suffix -est for the superlative degree
Examples:
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| clean | cleaner | cleanest |
| great | greater | greatest |
| narrow | narrower | narrowest |
2. When an adjective ends in -y and is preceded by a consonant, change y to i then
- add the suffix -er for the comparative degree
- add the suffix -est for the superlative degree
Examples:
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| lazy | lazier | laziest |
| merry | merrier | merriest |
| healthy | healthier | healthiest |
3. When an adjective is a one- or two-syllable word that ends in -e
- add the suffix -r for the comparative degree
- add the suffix -st for the superlative degree
Examples:
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| nice | nicer | nicest |
| wise | wiser | wisest |
| simple | simpler | simplest |
4. When an adjective is a one-syllable word that ends in a single consonant preceded by a short vowel sound, double the consonant then
- add the suffix -er for the comparative degree
- add the suffix -est for the superlative degree
Examples:
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| big | bigger | biggest |
| hot | hotter | hottest |
| sad | sadder | saddest |
5. When an adjective has three or more syllables, put
- More/less before the adjective for the comparative degree
- Most/least for the superlative degree
This is also done for some one- or two-syllable adjectives.
Examples:
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| responsible | more responsible | most responsible |
| effective | more effective | most effective |
| patient | more patient | most patient |
| odd | less odd | least odd |
Here are some more examples of adjectives in the positive, comparative, and superlative degrees.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| happy | happier | happiest |
| thin | thinner | thinnest |
| cooperative | more cooperative | most cooperative |
| independent | less independent | least independent |
| cheerful | more cheerful | most cheerful |
| generous | less generous | least generous |
Some adjectives completely change in form from the positive degree to the comparative and superlative degrees. Study this table.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| little | less | least |
| bad | worse | worst |
| good | bettter | best |
| many | more | most |
| much | more | most |