COMPARISON
OF ADJECTIVES
FORMING
THE COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE
Number
of syllables |
Comparative |
Superlative |
one
syllable |
+
-er |
+
-est |
tall |
taller |
tallest |
one
syllable with the spelling consonant + single vowel + consonant:
double
the final consonant: |
fat |
fatter |
fattest |
big |
bigger |
biggest |
sad |
sadder |
saddest |
|
Number
of syllables |
Comparative |
Superlative |
two
syllables |
+
-er OR
more + adj |
+
-est OR most + adj |
ending
in: -y, -ly, -ow
ending in:
-le,
-er or -ure
these common
adjectives - handsome, polite, pleasant, common,
quiet |
happy |
happier/
more happy |
happiest/
most happy |
yellow |
yellower/
more yellow |
yellowest/
most yellow |
simple |
simpler/
more simple |
simplest/
most simple |
tender |
tenderer/
more tender |
tenderest/
most tender |
If
you are not sure, use MORE + OR MOST +
Note:
Adjectives
ending in '-y' like happy, pretty, busy, sunny, lucky etc:.
replace the -y with -ier or
-iest
in
the comparative and superlative form |
busy |
busier |
busiest |
|
|
|
Number
of syllables |
Comparative |
Superlative |
three
syllables or more |
more
+ adj |
most
+ adj |
important |
more
important |
most
important |
expensive |
more
expensive |
most
expensive |
Examples:
a. A cat is
fast,
a
tiger is faster
but a cheetah
is the fastest
b. A car is
heavy,
a
truck is
heavier, but a train
is the heaviest
c.
A
park bench is
comfortable,
a restaurant chair is more comfortable,
but
a sofa is the most comfortable
|
Original source: http://www.edunet.com/english/grammar/ADJECTIVES1.cfm |