COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES

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.

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

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..

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 {

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.

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

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

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...

* 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

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