Rules Adjective Comparative Superlative

1 Syllable Late Later Latest

words Large Larger Largest
-Ending in -e: Nice Nicer Nicest
Add -r or -st Short Shorter Shortest
-two Small Smaller Smallest
consonants or Fast Faster Fastest
two vowels + Old Older Oldest
consonant: Cheap Cheaper Cheapest
Add -er or -est Great Greater Greatest
Long Longer Longest
-one vowel + Few Fewer Fewest
one consonant: Low Lower Lowest
Double the High Higher Highest
consonant and
Big Bigger Biggest
add -er or -est
Hot Hotter Hottest
Thin Thinner Thinnest
2 syllable words Happy Happier Happiest
ending in -y: Busy Busier Busiest
Change -y into - Sleepy Sleepier Sleepiest
i and add -er or Angry Angrier Angriest
-est Easy Easier Easiest
2 syllable words Simple Simpler / more… Simplest / the most…
not ending in - Gentle Gentler / more… Gentlest / the most…
y: Can use -er/- Narrow Narrower / more… Narrowest / the most…
est Clever Cleverer / more… Cleverest / the most…
Or more / the Polite Politer / more… Politest / the most…
most Common Commoner / more… Commonest / the most…
Cruel Crueler / more… Cruelest / the most…
Likely Likelier / more… Likeliest / the most…
Friendly Friendlier / more… Friendliest / the most…
2 syllable words Thoughtful more The most
ending in l or h: Useful more The most
more /The Careful more The most
most Thorough more The most
3 syllable Intelligent more The most
adjectives: Extensive more The most
more /The Complicated more The most
most Interesting more The most
Expensive more The most
Beautiful more The most
Irregular Bad worse The Worst
adjectives Good Better The best
Little Less The least
Far Farther The Farthest
Further The Furthest