Forming comparative and superlative adjectives

Forming comparative and superlative adjectives

R20 Information on how to use the comparatives and superlatives of adjectives is given in Chapter 2 (2.108 to 2.127).

R21 The comparative of an adjective is formed either by adding 'er' to the end of the normal form of the adjective, or by putting 'more' in front of it. The superlative is formed by adding 'est' to the end of the adjective, or by putting 'most' in front of it.

The choice between adding 'er' and 'est' or using 'more' and 'most' usually depends on the number of syllables in the adjective.

Superlatives are usually preceded by 'the'.

R22 With one-syllable adjectives, you usually add 'er' and 'est' to the end of the normal form of the adjective.

tall => taller => the tallest

quick => quicker => the quickest

Here is a list of common one-syllable adjectives which form their comparatives and superlatives usually, or always, by adding 'er' and 'est'.

Note that when 'er' and 'est' are added to some adjectives, a spelling change needs to be made.

The patterns of spelling change in forming comparatives and superlatives from adjectives are explained in paragraph R2

R23 You also add 'er' and 'est' with two-syllable adjectives ending in 'y', such as 'angry', 'dirty', and 'silly'.

happy => happier => the happiest

easy => easier => the easiest

Note that there is a spelling change here, which is explained in paragraph R2

Here is a list of common two-syllable adjectives ending in 'y' whose comparatives and superlatives are formed like this:

R24 Other two-syllable adjectives usually have comparatives and superlatives formed with 'more' and 'most'.

careful => more careful => the most careful

famous => more famous => the most famous

Note, however, that 'clever' and 'quiet' have comparatives and superlatives formed by adding 'er' and 'est'.

R25 Some two-syllable adjectives have comparatives and superlatives with either the endings 'her' and 'est', or 'more' and 'most'.

I can think of many pleasanter subjects.

It was more pleasant here than in the lecture room.

Exposure to sunlight is one of the commonest causes of cancer.

five hundred of the most common word's.

Here is a list of common adjectives which can have either kind of comparative and superlative:

R26 Adjectives which have three or more syllables usually have comparatives and superlatives with 'more' and 'most'.

dangerous => more dangerous => the most dangerous

ridiculous => more ridiculous => the most ridiculous

However, some three-syllable adjectives are formed by adding 'un' to the beginning of other adjectives. For example, 'unhappy' is related to 'happy' and 'unlucky' to 'lucky'.

These three-syllable adjectives have comparatives and superlatives formed either by adding 'er' and 'est' or by using 'more' and 'most'.

He felt crosser and unhappier than ever.

R27 When you add 'er or 'est' to an adjective, you sometimes need to make another change to the end of the adjective as well.

If a one-syllable adjective ends in a single vowel letter followed by a single consonant letter, you double the consonant letter when adding 'er' of 'est'.

big => bigger => the biggest

hot => hotter => the hottest

However, you do not do this with two-syllable adjectives.

common => commoner => the commonest

stupid => stupider => the stupidest

If an adjective ends in 'e', you remove the 'e' when adding 'er' or 'est'.

wide => wider => the widest

simple => simpler => the simplest

Note that with adjectives ending in 'le', the comparative and superlative have two syllables, not three. For example, 'simpler' (from 'simple' /sɪmpəl/) is pronounced /sɪmplə

If an adjective ends in a consonant letter followed by 'y', you replace the 'y' with 'i' when adding 'er' or 'est'.

dry => drier => the driest

angry => angrier => the angriest

unhappy => unhappier => the unhappiest

Note that with 'shy', 'sly', and 'spry', you add 'er' and 'est' in the ordinary way.

R28 'Good and 'bad' have special comparatives and superlatives which are not formed by adding 'er' and 'est' or by using 'more' and 'most'.

'Good' has the comparative 'better' and the superlative 'the best'.

There might be better ways of doing it.

This is the best museum we've visited yet.

'Bad' has the comparative 'worse' and the superlative 'the worst'.

Things are worse than they used to be.

The airstrip there was the worst place in the world.

Note that 'ill' does not have a comparative form and so 'worse' is used instead.

Each day Kunta felt a little worse.

R29 The adjective 'old' has regular comparative and superlative forms but, in addition, it has the forms 'elder' and 'the eldest'. These forms are used only to talk about people, usually relatives.

the death of his two elder sons in the First World War.

Bill's eldest boy is a doctor.

Note that unlike 'older', 'elder' never has 'than' after it.

R30 There is no comparative or superlative of 'little' in standard English, although children sometimes say 'littler' and 'the littlest'. When you want to make a comparison, you use 'smaller' and 'the smallest'.

R31 The comparatives and superlatives of compound adjectives are usually formed putting 'more' and 'most' in front of the adjective.

self-effacing => more self-effacing => the most self-effacing

nerve-racking => more nerve-racking => the most nerve-racking

Some compound adjectives have adjectives as their first part. Comparatives and superlatives of these compounds are sometimes formed using the comparative and superlative of the adjective.

good-looking => better-looking => the best-looking

Similarly, some compound adjectives have adverbs as their first part. Their comparatives and superlatives are sometimes formed using the comparative and superlative of the adverb.

well-paid => better-paid => the best-paid

badly-planned => worse -planned => the worst-planned

The comparatives and superlatives of adverbs are explained in paragraphs R150 to R15