Comparison of Adjectives
When we want to compare two or more
nouns using adjectives, we use the comparative and superlative forms of the
adjective to show the comparison between the nouns. E.g. -
Honey
is sweet, sugar is sweeter but victory is the sweetest.
In this sentence, we are comparing
the three nouns using the positive, comparative and superlative forms of the
word ‘sweet’.
Positive Form -
These are the simple adjectives that
simply describe the noun without comparing it to another - big, sweet, clean,
etc.
She
has a big black dog.
He
is a sweet boy.
The
cupboard is clean.
Comparative Form -
These are used when we are comparing
two nouns and need to show which noun possesses the adjective or character in a
greater or lesser amount, when compared with the other. - bigger, sweeter,
cleaner, etc.
I
have a big dog but hers is bigger.
He
is sweeter than the other boys.
The
cupboard is cleaner than before.
Superlative Form -
This form is used when three or more
nouns are being compared and we need to show that one or more of the nouns
posses the adjective or characteristic to the highest amount possible. We
usually add ‘the’ before the superlative form. - biggest, sweetest, cleanest,
etc.
She
has the biggest dog in the colony.
He
is the sweetest boy in his class.
The
cupboard is the cleanest thing in the house.
Making Comparatives and Superlatives
There are certain rules that must be
followed in the making of the comparatives and superlatives of the adjectives.
Not all adjectives form their comparatives and superlatives in the same way and
there are also some irregular adjectives that form completely different
comparative and superlative forms.
Single Syllable Words and Double
Syllable Words ending with -y, -er, -ow, -le -
We use ‘-er’ to make the comparative
and ‘-est’ to make the superlative.
Positive
|
Comparative
|
Superlative
|
Black
|
Blacker
|
Blackest
|
Fair
|
Fairer
|
Fairest
|
Clever
|
Cleverer
|
Cleverest
|
When there is a silent ‘e’ at the
end of the positive form, we remove that and add ‘-er’ and ‘-est’
Positive
|
Comparative
|
Superlative
|
Nice
|
Nicer
|
Nicest
|
Late
|
Later
|
Latest
|
When the adjective ends with a ‘y’,
we convert the ‘y’ into ‘i’ before adding ‘-er’ and ‘-est’
Positive
|
Comparative
|
Superlative
|
Pretty
|
Prettier
|
Prettiest
|
Lazy
|
Lazier
|
Laziest
|
If the adjective is a small one with
little stress on the vowel, we double the last consonant.
Positive
|
Comparative
|
Superlative
|
Hot
|
Hotter
|
Hottest
|
Wet
|
Wetter
|
Wettest
|
Other Words with Two or More
Syllables -
For other double syllable words that
do not end with -y, -er, -ow, -le, and for adjectives with more than two
syllables we use more and most to form the comparatives and
superlatives.
Positive
|
Comparative
|
Superlative
|
Difficult
|
More Difficult
|
Most Difficult
|
Careful
|
More Careful
|
Most Careful
|
Handsome
|
More Handsome
|
Most Handsome
|
Interesting
|
More Interesting
|
Most Interesting
|
Special Adjectives
There a few adjectives that can use
both ‘-er and -est’ and ‘more’ and ‘most’ to form their comparative and
superlative forms. The distinction between these is that ‘-er and -est’ are
used when we are comparing the noun to another noun and ‘more’ and ‘most’ is
used when we are comparing characteristics within the noun.
Positive
|
Comparative
|
Superlative
|
Example
|
Clever
|
Cleverer/ More Clever
|
Cleverest/Most Clever
|
He is cleverer than her.
He is more clever than
studious.
|
Quiet
|
Quieter/ More Quiet
|
Quietest/ Most Quiet
|
This is the most quiet it
gets here.
This is the quietest place.
|
Brave
|
Braver/ More Brave
|
Bravest/ Most Brave
|
She is braver than other
girls.
She was more brave than
afraid.
|
Sure
|
Surer/ More Sure
|
Surest/ Most Sure
|
He was surer of the result
than others.
You’ll be more sure about
the concept after you read the chapter.
|
Irregular Comparisons
These adjectives do not make their
comparative and superlative forms using the rules above. Their comparative and
superlative forms are different words altogether.
Positive
|
Comparative
|
Superlative
|
Bad
|
Worse
|
Worst
|
Good
|
Better
|
Best
|
Far (place & time)
|
Further
|
Furthest
|
Far (place)
|
Farther
|
Farthest
|
Old (people)
|
Elder
|
Eldest
|
Little (amount)
|
Less
|
Least
|
Late (order)
|
Latter
|
Last
|
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