1. FORMATION OF THE COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES
OF ADJECTIVES
There are two ways of forming the comparative and superlative in English:
a) By adding the suffix –er to the absolute form to make the comparative and –
est to make the superlative.
b) By placing the word more in front of the absolute form to make the
comparative and –the most to make the superlative.
Let’s examine which adjectives use either or both of these methods.
The following adjective make use of the suffixes –er and –est to form the comparative
and superlative respectively:
1. Monosyllables: tall-taller than-the tallest. However, it is not uncommon to find
cases where they are formed by placing more and most in front of the absolute
form. Some adjectives like real, right and wrong seem to prefer this method. It
is more usual to find: more real than-the mot real. On the other hand, sometimes
more and most are used with any adjective for stylistic reasons: more fresh and
enjoyable.
2. Words of two syllables ending in -y,-er, -le and –ow: happy-happier, the
happiest / clever, cleverer, cleverest / gentle, gentler, the gentlest / narrow,
narrower, the narrowest. Nevertheless, this rule has a number of exceptions:
eager, subtle, fragile, etc.
3. Words of two syllables having the stress on the last syllable: polite-politer-the
politest / sincere-sincerer-the sincerest.
4. Other two-syllable words with the stress on the first syllable: quiet-quieter-the
quietest / handsome-handsomer-the handsomest. However, the use is variable
and these adjectives tend to form the comparative and the superlative by using
more and most. In fact, the use of more and most is becoming more and more
common: more common-commoner/ the most common-the commonest.
5. All two-syllable adjectives which have not been mentioned and all polysyllabic
words form the comparative and the superlative by using more and most:
stubborn-more stubborn, the most stubborn / intelligent-more intelligent-the
most intelligent.
2.
CHANGES IN SPELLING
The following spelling changes should be noted:
1. Adjectives ending in –e add only –r for the comparative and –st for the
superlative: nice-nicer-the nicest.
2. Adjectives ending in –y preceded by a consonant change the y into i: easyeasier-the easiest. Nevertheless, when the y is preceded by a vowel, it does not
change: grey-greyer-the greyest.
3. Adjectives ending in a single consonant , preceded by a single short vowel
sound, double the consonant: hot-hotter-the hottest.
3.
IRREGULAR COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES
The following adjectives form the comparative and the superlative irregularly:
good better the best
bad
worse the worst
little less
the least
much more the most
many more the most
The next three have two comparatives and superlatives:
late later
the latest
latter
the last
old older
the oldest
elder
the eldest
far farther the farthest
further the furthest
Let us exemplify what they mean:
a) His last novel (It may mean the last novel he ever wrote or the latest one of
his to come out) / His latest novel (The most recent one).
b) Older and the oldest are the most usual forms; elder and the eldest are used
only to refer to family relationships: my elder brother. When followed by
than, only older is used.
c) Farther means ‘más lejos’, in space or in time; further can mean the same as
farther, but it is also used in the sense of ‘adicional’, ‘más’: Have you any
further information?. Both superlative forms mean the same ‘el más lejano,
lo más lejos’.