comparative and superlative adjectives_1

comparative and superlative adjectives

1. one-syllable adjectives

   • adjectives ending in -e change to -e or -st
     • Example: late - later - the latest
   • other endings change to -er or -est
     • Example: old - older - oldest
   • Note: adjectives with a short vowel followed by a consonant --> the consonant doubles
     • Example: big - bigger - the biggest

2. two-syllable adjectives

   • adjectives ending in -y, -le, -er, -ow are compared with -er or est
     • Example: simple - simpler - the simplest
     • Note: adjectives ending in -y change in -ier or -iest
       • Example: happy - happier - the happiest
   • other endings (-ing, -ed, -ful, -less) are compared with more or the most
     • Example: boring - more boring - the most boring

3. longer adjectives

   • are compared with more or the most
     • Example: intelligent - more intelligent - the most intelligent

4. irregular comparison

   • good - better - the best
   • bad - worse - the worst
   • ill - worse - the worst
   • far - farther/further - the farthest/the furthest
   • little - less - the least
   • many - more - the most
   • much - more - the most

5. comparative

   • We use a comparative to compare a person, thing, etc. to another person,thing etc.
   • after the comparative we use "than"
     • Example: Neil is taller than Gudrun.

6. superlative

   • We use the superlative to compare somebody/something with the whole group she/he/it belongs to.
     • Example: Neil is the tallest.