1. COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES

2. COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE Short word: low: lower (the) lowest Long word: expensive: more expensive (the) most expensive We form the comparative and superlative of short adjectives (e.g. low) and long adjectives (e.g. expensive) in different ways.

3. Short adjectives One-syllable adjectives (e.g. small, nice) usually have the (e)r, (e)st ending. Your hi-fi is smaller. Emma needs a bigger computer. This is the nicest colour. Long adjectives We also use more, most with three-syllable adjectives (e.g. ex-cit-ing) and with longer ones. The film was more exciting than the book. We did the most interesting project. This machine is the most reliable. COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES

4. TWO-SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES Some two-syllable adjectives have er, est, and some have more, most: a)Words ending in y yy y usually add er, est: happy – happier – happiest. (busy, dirty, easy, funny, happy, lovely, lucky, pretty, tidy...) b) Words ending in er, le, ly add er, est: clever – cleverer – cleverestsilly – sillier - silliest early – earlier – earliestnoble –nobler – noblest but eager, proper.... The following words have more, most: a) Words ending in ful or less, e.g. careful, helpful; careless, hopeless b) Words ending in ing or ed, e.g. boring, willing; damaged, surprised, freezing... c) Words ending in ard, al, ous, some, ent... e.g. awkward, crucial, gorgeous, loathsome, spacious..

5. TWO-SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES Some words have er, est or more, most: narrower - narrowest more narrow - most narrow Examples are: clever, common, cruel, gentle, narrow, pleasant, polite, quiet, simple, stupid, tired... narrow {

6. We often use a phrase with than after a comparative. This restaurant is nicer than the Pizza House. I had a bigger meal than you. The steak is more expensive than the fish. We normally use the before a superlative. The quickest way is along this path. The last question is the most difficult. Note the pattern with one of: Michael Jackson is one of the most famous pop singers ever. The comparative and than The superlative than me/than I am Compare than me and than I am. Both are correct, and they have the same meaning. You're twenty years older than me. You're twenty years older than I am. Harriet's husband isn't as tall as her. Her husband isn't as tall as she is.

7. positivecomparativesuperlative largelargerlargestleave out the silent e bigbiggerbiggest Double the consonant after short vowel sadsaddersaddest dirtydirtierdirtiest Change y to i (consonant before y) shyshyershyest y is not changed to i. (although consonant before -y) Spelling of the adjectives using the endings er/est

8. positivecomparative superlative goodbetterbest bad / illworseworst little (amout)lessleast little (size)smallersmallest much / manymoremost far (place + time)furtherfurthest far (place)fartherfarthest late (time)laterlatest late (order)latterlast old (people and things)olderoldest old (people)eldereldest IRREGULAR COMPARISON

9. EXCEPTIONS Short adjectives One-syllable adjectives (e.g. small, nice) usually have the (e)r, (e)st ending. Your hi-fi is smaller. Emma needs a bigger computer. This is the nicest colour. but: a) I am getting more and more tired. b) I feel more dead than I did yesterday. a) With adjectives that are also past participles, e.g. forced, lost, torn, burnt, drunk, tired,... b ) With adjectives that are not gradeable, e.g. true, dead, male, royal, perfect...

10. * Comparison between two persons, items, etc: He is the younger (of the two brothers) * Doubly marked forms He is the bestest friend i have ever had. This way, it's more easier to see. * the + comparative.... the + comparative (double the + comparative) the bigger the better The more I swimm, the more energetic I feel. EXCEPTIONS

11. as... as We use as... as to say that things are equal or unequal. Our house is as big as yours. NOT It is so big as yours. In a negative sentence we can also use so... as, but this is less common than as... as. This flat isn't as big as/so big as our old one. Comparison of equality