Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs

We often use adjectives and adverbs to compare. There are three degrees of comparison,
positive (or negative), comparative, and superlative.
Definition:
 
If you are talking about only one thing, you can't really compare, but if the word
modified possesses that characteristic, it is used in the positive. If it is a negative
characteristic, it is in the negative.
I am old.
You are young.

Definition:
 
If you are comparing two things, you must use the comparative (compare) form or
degree.
I am older than my brother.
You are younger than your sister.

Definition:
 
If you are comparing more than two things, you must use the superlative (super)
form or degree.
I am the eldest of three sisters.
You are the youngest person in your family.

Hint:
Superman is the strongest. Superlative means the best.
 Forming Degrees of Comparison

Positive Comparative Superlative

add suffix er add suffix est

One syllable adjectives and adverbs bigger, older, newer biggest, oldest,
newest

Two syllable some (including ones add suffix er add suffix est

adjectives ending in y, ow, le) sillier, quieter, politer silliest, quietest,
politest
(Check a dictionary
if you aren't sure.) some (including ones use more use most
ending in ful) more often, more most often, most
careful careful

some can either add can either add

suffix er or use more suffix est or
heavier or more use most
heavy heaviest or most
cleverer or more heavy
clever cleverest or most
clever

Two syllable adverbs use more use most

more quickly most quickly

Three syllable adjectives and adverbs use more use most

more incredible most incredible

Negatives Comparative Superlative

all adjectives and adverbs use less use least

less friendly least friendly

Hint:
 When you are comparing one thing to the group, you can use the
words other or else in your writing or in your mind to clarify what you are
comparing.
 James is taller than any boy in his class. (Is it comparative or superlative?)
James is taller than any other boy in his class. (It is clearly comparative.)
Michelle is a better artist than anyone in her art class. (Which is it?)
Michelle is a better artist than anyone else in her art class. (Clearly superlative.)

Hint:
 Watch out for adjectives and adverbs that share the same root. They are not the
same word.
careful, more careful, most careful
carefully, more carefully, most carefully

Spelling changes
One syllable adjectives with a short vowel before a single consonant usually double the
consonant before adding the suffixes.
big - bigger, biggest; mad - madder, maddest
One syllable adjectives that end in silent e or two syllable words that end in le do not
double the e.
cute - cuter, cutest; little - littler, littlest
When adding suffixes er and est to words ending in y, you must change the y to
an i before adding the suffix.
merry - merrier, merriest; friendly - friendlier, friendliest