COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES
Comparative adjectives are used to compare differences between the two objects they modify: (large, small, fast, high). They are used in sentences where two things are compared, The format is:
subject + verb + comparative adjective + than + object.
EXAMPLES
- My house is larger than hers.
- This box is smaller than the one I lost.
- Your dog runs faster than Jim's dog.
- The rock flew higher than the roof.
SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES
Superlative adjectives are used to describe an object which is the BEST of a quality (the tallest, the smallest, the fastest, the highest). They are used in sentences where a subject is compared to a group of objects.
subject + verb + the + superlative adjective + object.
EXAMPLES
- My house is the largest one in our neighborhood.
- This is the smallest box I've ever seen.
- Your dog ran the fastest of any dog in the race.
FORMING COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES
Forming comparatives and superlatives is easy. The form depends on the number of syllables in the original adjective.
ONE SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES
Add -er for the comparative and -est for the superlative. If the adjective has a consonant + single vowel + consonant spelling, the final consonant must be doubled before adding the ending.
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| tall | taller | tallest |
| fat | fatter | fattest |
| big | bigger | biggest |
| sad | sadder | saddest |
TWO SYLLABLES
If the word has 2 syllables and ends in Y then we remove the Y and add ier. If the word has 2 syllables and doesn't end in Y we use more for comparatives and most for superlatiives.
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| happy | happier | happiest |
| simple | simpler | simplest |
| busy | busier | busiest |
| tilted | more tilted | most tilted |
| tangled | more tangled | most tangled |
THREE OR MORE SYLLABLES
Adjectives with three or more syllables form the comparative by putting more in front of the adjective, and the superlative by putting most in front.
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| important | more important | most important |
| expensive | more expensive | most expensive |
IRREGULAR COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES
These very common adjectives have completely irregular comparative and superlative forms.
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| good | better | best |
| bad | worse | worst |
| little | less | least |
| much | more | most |
| far | further / farther | furthest / farthest |
EXAMPLES
- Today is the worst day I've had in a long time.
- You play tennis better than I do.
- This is the least expensive sweater in the store.
- This sweater is less expensive than that one.
- I ran pretty far yesterday, but I ran even farther today.