Comparison of adjectives
Grammar Notes
Preparatore Linguistico:Barbara
Meloni
Comparison of adjectives
To compare in English means: to make a
confrontation, to examine differences or
similarities between 2 or more people,
things,topics, etc.
We use comparative adjectives + than to compare
2 people / things.
Mosquitoes are more dangerous than sharks.
Comparison of adjectives
There are 3 different forms of comparison in English.
Comparison with –er /-est
Eg.: clean - cleaner - (the) cleanest
We use -er/-est with the following adjectives:
Adjectives with one syllable:
Clean cleaner cleanest new newer newest cheap cheaper cheapest
adjectives with two syllables and the following endings:
Adjectives with two syllables, ending in –y:
Dirty dirtier dirtiest easy easier easiest happy happier happiest pretty prettier
prettiest
Adjectives with two syllables, ending in –er:
Clever cleverer cleverest
Adjectives with two syllables, ending in –le:
Simple simpler simplest
Adjectives with two syllables, ending in –ow:
Narrow narrower narrowest
Comparison of adjectives
We use the + superlative adjective to say which is the (biggest) in a
group.
It’s the hottest country in the world.
Spelling of the adjectives using the endings -er/-est:
Large larger largest : leave out the silent –e
Big bigger biggest : Double the consonant after short vowel
Dirty dirtier dirtiest : Change -y to -i (consonant before -y) shy shyer shyest
Here -y is not changed to -i.
(although consonant before -y)
Comparison of adjectives
Comparison with more – most
difficult - more difficult - (the) most
difficult
all adjectives with more than one syllable
(with few exceptions)
Comparison of adjectives
Irregular adjectives:
Good better best / bad worse worst / much more most
little less least
Special adjectives:
Some adjectives have two possible forms of comparison:
Common commoner / more common commonest / most
common pleasant pleasanter / more pleasant
pleasantest / most pleasant / polite politer / more polite
politest / most polite /simple simpler / more simple
simplest / most simple / stupid stupider / more stupid
stupidest
Comparison of adjectives
To sum up, there are 3 so-called degrees of comparison in English.
1. Positive: This fruit is as sweet as that one (= the same)
2. Comparative: This fruit is sweeter than that one (= it is
more sweet).
3. Superlative: This fruit is the sweetest of all.(= it is the most
sweet).
Finally, we use less+ adjective+ than (COMPARATIVE OF
INFERIORITY) to express the idea that a thing or a person shows a
lower degree of quality: Football is less interesting than tennis.