THE COMPARATIVE AND THE SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES PART-2

THE COMPARATIVE AND THE SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES PART-2

COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES

The comparative and the superlative adjectives part-2

Comparative adjectives are used to compare differences between the two objects they modify (larger, smaller, faster, and higher). They are used in sentences where two nouns are compared, in this pattern:

Noun (subject) + verb + comparative adjective + than + noun (object).

The second item of comparison can be omitted if it is clear from the context (final example below).

 

EXAMPLES

• My house is larger than hers.
• This box is smaller than the one I lost.
• Your dog runs faster than Jim’s dog.

 

 

SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES

Superlative adjectives are used to describe an object which is at the upper or lower limit 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.

Noun (subject) + verb + the + superlative adjective + noun (object).

The group that is being compared with can be omitted if it is clear from the context (final example below).

 

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 REGULAR 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

Adjectives with two syllables can form the comparative either by adding -er or by preceding the adjective with more. These adjectives form the superlative either by adding -est or by preceding the adjective with most. In many cases, both forms are used, although one user will be more common than the other. If you are not sure whether a two-syllable adjective can take a comparative or superlative ending, play it safe and use more and most instead. For adjectives ending in y, change they to an i before adding the ending.

 

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

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.

 

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THE COMPARATIVE AND THE SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES PART-2