Comparative and Superlative

Comparative

Superlative

Comparative and Superlative.

Use -er for one-syllable wordsFor one-syllable words we add -er to the adjective to make it a comparative. The following are all one syllable adjectives:Small becomes smallerCheap becomes cheaperQuick becomes quicker

A superlative adjective is used to compare three or more objects, people, or places. Using the superlative form takes a comparison to the highest degree possible. As shown in the beginning sentence example, the adjective best is a superlative adjective that compares three or more desserts. You can’t get better than best!The rules for creating superlative adjectives are similar to those used when making comparative adjectives.

The key to making comparative adjectives is counting the syllables in the word. Every word is made up of units of speech, usually containing vowel sounds.

Use more / less for two+ syllable wordsAdjectives with two or more syllables take more / less:Beautiful becomes more beautifulSensitive becomes more sensitiveDangerous becomes more dangerousNote - If the adjective ends in a consonant-vowel-consonant combination (CVC), double the final consonant before adding –er:Big becomes biggerHot becomes hotterWet becomes wetter

Use -ier for adjectives ending with yFor most adjectives that end with a y we change the y to i and add er:Dirty becomes dirtierSmelly becomes smellierUgly becomes uglier

Some adjectives take both formsSome two-syllable adjectives can take either -er or more:Simple becomes simpler or more simpleNarrow becomes narrower or more narrowQuiet becomes quieter or more quiet

Irregular formsSome adjectives don't follow any of the above rules. Here are some of the most common irregular forms:good becomes betterbad becomes worsefar becomes farther

For a one-syllable word simply add the suffix –est to the word. Often times it is necessary to double the final consonant.Long-longestBig – Biggest

If the one syllable word ends with an “e” you only need to add an -st. An example is:Fine-finest

If a two-syllable word ends with a “y” then change the “y” to “I” and add -est.Pretty – prettiestWords that contain two or three syllables are preceded by the words most or least. An example would be most handsome or least perfect.