COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

 

The structure as adjective as is used to show equal degree.

Examples:     -Joe is as tall as Mark.

   -I am as hungry as a bear.

   -It would be nice to be as free as a bird.

To show a difference in degree, we can use the structure not as ... as

Examples:    -Joe is not as tall as David.

   -My glasses are not as expensive as my watch.

   -The test was not as hard as we expected.

 

We can also use comparative and superlative forms to show a difference in degree:

I)  SHORT ADJECTIVES.   The comparative of a short adjective (1 syllable word, or a 2 syllable word ending in y) is formed by adding -er 

(the  ...-est for superlatives).  Before adding -er (the ...-est), apply the same spelling rules as those used with the past tense, i.e.:

   a) for adjectives ending in consonant-"y", change "y" to "i"

   b) for adjectives ending in consonant-vowel-consonant, double

       the final consonant (but not w, x, or y)

   c) remove a final "e" before adding -er (the ...-est).

 

II)  LONG ADJECTIVES.  The comparative of a long adjective (more than 1 syllable) is formed by adding the word more before the adjective.  The superlative is formed by adding the words the most.

 

 

 

Adjective

 

Comparative Form

 

Superlative Form

 

1 syllable

 

big

small

strange

 

bigger

smaller

stranger

 

the biggest

the smallest

the strangest

 

2 syllables end­ing in "y"

 

friendly

happy

 

friendlier

happier

 

the friendliest

the happiest

 

2 or more syl­lables

 

expensive

beautiful

careful

interest­ing

 

more expensive

more beautiful

more careful

more interesting

 

the most expensive

the most beautiful

the most careful

the most interesting

 

Irregular Forms

 

good

bad

many/much

 

better

worse

more

 

the best

the worst

the most

Note that comparative adjectives are usually followed by the conjunction "than", and superlatives are usually followed by "in the..." or "of the...".   Examples:

  Comparatives: -Joe is shorter than David.

 -Chinese is more difficult than English.

 -My spoken English is better than my written English.

 

  Superlatives:   -China is the most populated country in the world.

                              -If you marry me I'll be the happiest man alive.

                              -I think Psycho was the best of all Hitchcock's movies.

NoNonsense English
© Copyright 2001 by Eric Squire