Comparison of adjectives

There are three forms of comparison:

- positive
- comparative
- superlative


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A - Comparison with -er/-est
clean - cleaner - (the) cleanest

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

1) adjectives with one syllable
clean cleaner cleanest
new newer newest
cheap cheaper cheapest

2) adjectives with two syllables and the following endings:
2 - 1) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -y
dirty dirtier dirtiest
easy easier easiest
happy happier happiest
pretty prettier prettiest

2 - 2) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -er
clever cleverer cleverest

2 - 3) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -le
simple simpler simplest

2 - 4) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -ow
narrow narrower narrowest


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spelling of the adjectives using the endings -er/-est
large larger largest leave out the silent -e
big bigger biggest Double the consonant after short vowel
sad sadder saddest
dirty dirtier dirtiest Change -y to -i (consonant before -y)
shy shyer shyest Here -y is not changed to -i.
(although consonant before -y)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

B - Comparison with more - most
difficult - more difficult - (the) most difficult

all adjectives with more than one syllable (except some adjectives with two syllables - see
2 - 1 to 2 - 4)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

C - Irregular adjectives
good better best
bad worse worst
much more most uncountable nouns
many more most countable nouns
little less least
little smaller smallest


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

D - Special adjectives
Some ajdectives have two possible forms of comparison.

common commoner / more common commonest / most common
likely likelier / more likely likeliest / most likely
pleasant pleasanter / more pleasant pleasantest / most pleasant
polite politer / more polite politest / most polite
simple simpler / more simple simplest / most simple
stupid stupider / more stupid stupidest / most stupid
subtle subtler / more subtle subtlest
sure surer / more sure surest / most sure


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Difference in meaning with adjectives:
far farther farthest distance
further furthest distance or
time
late later latest
latter x
x last
old older oldest people and things
elder eldest people (family)
near nearer nearest distance
x next order