Comparison

of adjectives and adverbs

2. Comparative and Superlative adverbs

1. Comparative and Superlative Adjectives Usually formed by adding more to the existing adverb.

Adjective Comparative Superlative • commonly - more commonly

young younger the youngest • readily - more readily
large larger the largest
slim slimmer the slimmest Superlative adverbs are formed by adding the most to the existing adverb:

the most commonly - the most readily

- If an adjective ends in a single vowel and consonant ( not w), the final letter is
doubled (as in slim). Common examples oft that are: Irregulars:

sad, big, thin, fat, hot, wet - badly worse worst

- close closer closest
- two-syllable adjectives ending in consonant and followed by “y”:
- early earlier earliest
dirty – dirtier – dirtiest Examples: angry, busy, easy, funny, happy, - far farther farthest
heavy, silly, tiny. - fast faster fastest
- hard harder hardest
Most other two-syllable adjectives and longer, form their comparative and superlative like - near nearer nearest
this:
- well better best
Adjective Comparative Superlative
careful more careful the most careful
Comparison of equality
casual more casual the most casual
outrageous more outrageous the most • As/So (adjective) as -----My friends are all as tall as me.
outrageous • Not as (adjective) as-----I am not as intelligent as my teacher
*Some common two-syllable adjectives have both forms:
Comparative of Inferiority
*simple, clever, common, cruel, gentle, likely, narrow, pleasant, polite.
• Less + (adj. positive) than
Irregulars:
o less big than = smaller than
Adjective Comparative Superlative
good better the best Adverbs of degree.
bad worse the worst
far farther/further the furtherst/ farthest • In front of comparative adjectives:
old older/elder the oldest/ eldest o a bit, a good deal, a great deal, a little, a lot, much, rather, slightly
• In front of superlative adjectives:
o by far, easily, much, quite.