Comparison of Adjectives | Grammar Rules

Brenda December 27, 2018 Grammar No Comments

Learn Comparison of Adjectives in English with Pictures and Examples.

The three different forms of comparison are the positive, the comparative and the
superlative.

 The positive is the form of the adjective that describes one noun.
 The comparative form of the adjective compares two nouns.
 The superlative form of the adjective compares more than two nouns.

Table of Contents

 Forms of Comparison of Adjectives

o Comparative Form of Adjectives
 Adjectives with One Syllable
 Adjectives with Two Syllables
 Adjectives with Three Syllables or More
o Superlative Form of Adjectives
 Adjectives with One Syllable
 Adjectives with Two Syllables
 Adjectives with Three Syllables or More
o Positive Form of Adjectives
 Irregular Forms in Comparison of Adjectives
 Comparison of Adjectives | Picture

Forms of Comparison of Adjectives

Comparative Form of Adjectives

Comparatives are used to compare and clarify the difference between two nouns. In other
words, comparative adjectives are used when two persons or objects being compared.

Adjectives with One Syllable

1. Usually add “er“

 fast => faster

 cheap => cheaper

2. Ending in –e: add “r”

 large => larger

 wide => wider

3. Ending in a vowel + a consonant: double the consonant, add “er”

  big => bigger
 fat => fatter

Adjectives with Two Syllables

1. Two syllables not ending in -y, -ow, -le, -er: more + adjective

 polite => more polite

 useful => more useful

2. Some two-syllable adjectives, especially ending in –y: y => i, add “er”

 hungry => hungrier

 heavy => heavier

3. Some two syllable adjectives ending in –ow: add “er”

 narrow => narrower

 shallow => shallower

4. Some two syllable adjectives ending in –o: add “r”

 humble => humbler

 gentle => gentler

5. Some two syllable adjectives ending in –er: add “er”

 clever => cleverer

Adjectives with Three Syllables or More

 interesting => more interesting

 comfortable => more comfortable
Superlative Form of Adjectives

When an adjective compares three or more things, the superlative form of the adjective is
used. Superlatives indicate that the quality or quantity is at its highest or is most intense.

Adjectives with One Syllable

1. Usually add “est“

 fast => fastest

 new => newest
 tall => tallest
 slow => slowest

2. Ending in –e: add “st”

 large => largest

 nice => nicest

3. Ending in a vowel + a consonant: double the consonant, add “est”

 big => biggest

 fit => fittest

Adjectives with Two Syllables

1. Two syllables not ending in -y, -ow, -le, -er: most + adjective

 polite => most polite

 obscure => most obscure

2. Some two-syllable adjectives, especially ending in –y: y => i, add “est”

 hungry => hungriest

 angry => angriest

3. Some two syllable adjectives ending in –ow: add “est”

 narrow => narrowest

 shallow => shallowest

4. Some two syllable adjectives ending in –o: add “st”

 humble => humblest

 gentle => gentlest

5. Some two syllable adjectives ending in –er: add “est”

 clever => cleverest

Adjectives with Three Syllables or More

 beautiful => most beautiful

 difficult => most difficult
 dangerous => most dangerous
 expensive => most expensive
Positive Form of Adjectives

The positive form is used in cases where there are no differences between the two compared
things or persons. To form the positive, we use the word as before and after the absolute form
of the adjective.

For Examples:

 as short as
 as polite as
 as friendly as

Irregular Forms in Comparison of Adjectives

Comparative Adjectives:

 good – better
 bad – worse
 far – farther
 little – less
 many – more

Superlative Adjectives:

 good – best
 bad – worst
 far – farthest
 little – least
 many – most

Comparison of Adjectives | Picture