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Comparatives & Superlatives

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Grammar: Stative Verbs


Summary:
Grammar lesson: How do we construct adjectives in the comparative and superlative in English? It depends on the number of syllables and spelling. The explanation is divided into 4 parts. 1) Adding '-er than' and 'the -est'; 2) Adding '-ier than' and 'the -iest'; 3) Adding 'more ...-er than' and 'the most ...' and 4) Irregular forms.

1) Add -er than & the -est:


a) Most one-syllable adjectives i) Most one-syllable adjectives form comparatives and superlatives with: -er than and the -est.

Examples: tall / taller than / the tallest old / older than / the oldest long / longer than / the longest ii) For one-syllable adjectives ending with -e, just add -r.
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Examples: nice / nicer than / the nicest safe / safer than / the safest large / larger than / the largest iii) For one-syllable adjectives ending with vowel + consonant, add a double consonant. Examples: big / bigger than / the biggest fat / fatter than / the fattest thin / thinner than / the thinnest b) Certain two-syllable adjectives Some two-syllable adjectives also form comparatives and superlatives with: -er than and the -est.

Examples: simple / simpler than / the simplest quiet / quieter than / the quietest clever / cleverer than / the cleverest Note these are adjectives with the emphasis on the first

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syllable. Note these two-syllable adjectives can also take more... than & the most.... See 3) below. 2) Add -ier than & the -iest: Two-syllables, ending with -y For two-syllable adjectives ending with -y add: -ier than and the -iest.

Examples: happy / happier than / happiest easy / easier than / easiest friendly / friendlier than / friendliest Note These two-syllable adjectives can also take more... than & the most.... See below 3) Add more... than & the most...: a) Some two-syllable adjectives - optional Adjectives in sections 1b) and 2) above can also take more... than & the most.... Examples: more simple than / the most simple more quiet than / the most quiet more friendly than / the most friendly b) Most other two-syllable adjectives However, most other adjectives with 2 syllables, and in particular those ending with -ing, -ed, -ful and -less must take more... than & the most....

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Examples: caring, more caring, the most caring gifted, more gifted, the most gifted careful, more careful, the most careful useless, more useless, ... most useless c) Three (or more)-syllable adjectives For adjectives of three syllables or more add: more... than and the most.... Examples: important / more important than / the most important intelligent / more intelligent than / the most intelligent beautiful / more beautiful than / the most beautiful 4) Irregular forms The following adjectives are irregular. Learn them all by heart.

Examples: good / better than / the best bad / worse than / the worst far / farther than / the farthest little / less than, the least many/much, more than, the most [End of PDF]
Copyright 2012 Hill, EnglishGrammarExpress.com

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