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Adjective – Comparative – Superlative

Form the comparative and superlative forms of a one-syllable adjective by adding –er for the
comparative form and –est for the superlative.

Comparative Superlative
tall taller tallest
cold colder coldest
long longer longest

If the one-syllable adjective ends with an e, just add –r for the comparative form and –st for the
superlative form.

Comparative Superlative
large larger largest
wise wiser wisest

If the one-syllable adjective end with a single consonant with a vowel before it, double the
consonant and add –er for the comparative form; and double the consonant and add –est for
the superlative form.

Comparative Superlative
big bigger biggest
thin thinner thinnest

fat fatter fattest

Two-syllable adjectives.
With most two-syllable adjectives, you form the comparative with more and the superlative with
most.

Comparative Superlative
peaceful more peaceful most peaceful
pleasant more pleasant most pleasant
careful more careful most careful
thoughtful more thoughtful most thoughtful

If the two-syllable adjectives ends with –y, change the y to i and add –er for the comparative form. For the
superlative form change the y to i and add –est.

Comparative Superlative
happy happier happiest
angry angrier angriest
busy busier busiest

Two-syllable adjectives ending in –er, -le, or –ow take –er and –est to form the comparative
and superlative forms.

Comparative Superlative
narrow narrower narrowest
gentle gentler gentlest
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Adjectives with three or more syllables.

For adjectives with three syllables or more, you form the comparative with more and the
superlative with most.

Comparative Superlative
generous more generous most generous
important more important most important
intelligent more intelligent most intelligent

Exceptions.
Irregular adjectives.

Comparative Superlative
good better best
bad worse worst
far farther farthest
little less least
many more most

Two-syllable adjectives that follow two rules. These adjectives can be used with -er and -est
and with more and most.

Comparative Superlative
clever cleverer cleverest
clever more clever most clever
gentle gentler gentlest
gentle more gentle most gentle
friendly friendlier friendliest
friendly more friendly most friendly
quiet quieter quietest
quiet more quiet most quiet
simple simpler simplest
simple more simple most simple
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How to apply:

Adjective Comparative Superlative

big bigger than the biggest

busy busier than the busiest

exciting more exciting than the most exciting

pretty prettier than the prettiest

tall taller than the tallest

interesting more interesting than the most interesting

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good better than the best

happy happier than the happiest

sad sadder than the saddest

unusual more unusual than the most unusual

bad worse than the worst

short shorter than the shortest

amazing more amazing than the most amazing

red redder than the reddest

green greener than the greenest

sleepy sleepier than the sleepiest

wonderful more wonderful than the most wonderful

terrible more terrible than the most terrible

large larger than the largest

hot hotter than the hottest

expensive more expensive than the most expensive

old older than the oldest

fascinating more fascinating than the most fascinating

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