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 Forming Comparatives and Superlatives

A. Regular Comparisons of Adjectives

I. For one-syllable adjectives and some two-syllable adjectives the structure adjective + -er / -est is used:

ADJECTIVE

COMPARATIVE

SUPERLATIVE

bright

brighter

brightest

narrow

narrower

narrowest

shallow

shallower

shallowest

slow

slower

slowest

smooth

smoother

smoothest

 

II. For most other adjectives of two or more syllable the structure more / less / the most / the least + adjective is used:

ADJECTIVE

COMPARATIVE

SUPERLATIVE

beautiful

more beautiful

the most beautiful

confident

more confident

the most confident

careful

more careful

the most careful

expensive

more expensive

the most expensive

important

more important

the most important

sensible

more sensible

the most sensible

violent

more violent

the most violent

 

III. For some adjectives either structure can be used:

ADJECTIVE

COMPARATIVE

SUPERLATIVE

common

commoner / more  common

commonest / most common

cruel

crueler / more  cruel

cruelest / most cruel

deadly

deadlier / more  deadly

deadliest / most deadly

friendly

friendlier / more friendly

friendliest / most friendly

handsome

handsomer / more  handsome

handsomest / most handsome

happy

happier  / more  happy

happiest / most happy

likely

likelier / more  likely

likeliest / most likely

lonely

lonelier / more  lonely

loneliest / most lonely

lovely

lovelier / more  lovely

loveliest / most lovely

pleasant

pleasanter / more  pleasant

pleasantest / most pleasant

polite

politer / more  polite

politest / most polite

quiet

quieter / more  quiet

quietest / most quiet

sincere

sincerer / more  sincere

sincerest / most sincere

stupid

stupider / more  stupid

stupidest / most stupid

true

truer / more  true

truest / most true

 

B. Irregular Comparisons of Adjectives, Adverbs, and Quantifiers

ADJECTIVE

ADVERB

COMPARATIVE

SUPERLATIVE

bad

badly

worse

worst

far

far

farther/further

farthest/furthest

good

well

better

best

little

little

less

least

many/a lot of

-

more

most

much*/a lot of

much*/a lot

more

most


 Grammar  Title: Forming Comparatives and Superlatives  Date Modified: Thu 17 Sep 2009, 0:33 AM
 Category: Grammar