Focus: Grammar

WALA: Adjectives (Comparative and Superlative)

A comparative adjective is used to compare two things. A superlative adjective is

used when you compare three or more things. For example, looking at apples you can
compare their size, determining which is big, which is bigger, and which is biggest.
The comparative ending common for adjectives is generally "-er"; the superlative
suffix is generally "-est." For most longer adjectives, the comparative is made by
adding the word "more" (for example, more comfortable) and the superlative is made
by adding the word "most" (for example, most comfortable).

If a 1-syllable adjective ends in "e", the endings are "-r" and "-st", for example: wise,
wiser, wisest.

If a 1-syllable adjective ends in "y", the endings are "-er" and "-est", but the y is
sometimes changed to an "i". For example: dry, drier, driest.

If a 1-syllable adjective ends in a consonant (with a single vowel preceding it), then
the consonant is doubled and the endings "-er" and "-est" are used, for example: big,
bigger, biggest.

If a 2-syllable adjective ends in "e", the endings are "-r" and "-st", for example: gentle,
gentler, and gentlest.

If a 2-syllable adjective ends in "y", the endings are "-ier" and "-iest", for example:
happy, happier, happiest.

Some 2-syllable adjectives use the standard "-er" and "-est suffixes", including
adjectives that end in "er", "le", or "ow". For example: narrow, narrower, narrowest.

For most adjectives with two or more syllables, the comparative is formed by adding
the word "more," and you form the superlative by adding the word "most", for
example: colorful, more colorful, most colourful.