Comparative and superlative adjectives

Comparative and superlative adjectives.

The comparative form of an adjective is used to compare two items, The superlative form is used to compare three or more items.

There are three degrees of comparatives and superlatives. They are known as higher degree (or superiority), lower degree (or inferiority), or same degree ( or equality).

Higher degree

We use the higher degree to say that something is more than something else.

When the adjective has one syllable, we usually form the comparative by adding -er, and the superlative by adding -est:

Examples:

• Young → younger → youngest
• Small → smaller → smallest
• Blue → bluer → bluest

When an adjective has three syllables, we usually form the comparative to a higher degree by adding ‘more’. For the superlative we add ‘most’.

Examples:

• Beautiful → more beautiful → most beautiful
• Fantastic → more fantastic → most fantastic
• Lethargic → more lethargic → most lethargic

We can treat most adjectives that have two syllables either as if they had two syllables or as if they had three. But some always take a certain form. There is no particular rule on which to rely.

Examples:

• Ugly → uglier → ugliest OR ugly → more ugly → most ugly
• Tiny → tinier → tiniest OR tiny → more tiny → most tiny
• Useful → more useful → most useful
• Happy → happier → happiest

Lower degree

We use the lower degree to say that something is less than something else

To indicate comparatives to a lower degree we use ‘less’. For superlatives we use ‘least’.

Examples:

• Wealthy → less wealthy → least wealthy
• Tidy → less tidy → least tidy
• Cold → less cold → least cold

Same degree

We use the same degree to say that something is the same as something else.

For comparatives to the same degree we usually use the phrase ‘as…as’.

Examples:

• It is as white as snow
• She is as old as him
• Toni was not as quick as Mary

There are no superlatives in this form.

Irregular forms

Some adjectives have irregular comparatives and superlatives.

Examples:

• Bad, worse, worst
• Good, better, best
• Many, more, most
• Little, less, least

Some adjectives have an absolute meaning and therefore don’t normally have a comparative or superlative form.

Examples:

• Unique
• Perfect
• Occasional
• Real

‘Comparrative and superlative adjectives – posted by Graham