Learn Comparison of Adjectives in English with Pictures and Examples.
The three different forms of comparison are the positive, the comparative and the superlative.
- The positive is the form of the adjective that describes one noun.
- The comparative form of the adjective compares two nouns.
- The superlative form of the adjective compares more than two nouns.
Forms of Comparison of Adjectives
Comparative Form of Adjectives
Comparatives are used to compare and clarify the difference between two nouns. In other words, comparative adjectives are used when two persons or objects being compared.
Adjectives with One Syllable
1. Usually add “er“
- fast => faster
- cheap => cheaper
2. Ending in –e: add “r”
- large => larger
- wide => wider
3. Ending in a vowel + a consonant: double the consonant, add “er”
- big => bigger
- fat => fatter
Adjectives with Two Syllables
1. Two syllables not ending in -y, -ow, -le, -er: more + adjective
- polite => more polite
- useful => more useful
2. Some two-syllable adjectives, especially ending in –y: y => i, add “er”
- hungry => hungrier
- heavy => heavier
3. Some two syllable adjectives ending in –ow: add “er”
- narrow => narrower
- shallow => shallower
4. Some two syllable adjectives ending in –o: add “r”
- humble => humbler
- gentle => gentler
5. Some two syllable adjectives ending in –er: add “er”
- clever => cleverer
Adjectives with Three Syllables or More
- interesting => more interesting
- comfortable => more comfortable
Superlative Form of Adjectives
When an adjective compares three or more things, the superlative form of the adjective is used. Superlatives indicate that the quality or quantity is at its highest or is most intense.
Adjectives with One Syllable
1. Usually add “est“
- fast => fastest
- new => newest
- tall => tallest
- slow => slowest
2. Ending in –e: add “st”
- large => largest
- nice => nicest
3. Ending in a vowel + a consonant: double the consonant, add “est”
- big => biggest
- fit => fittest
Adjectives with Two Syllables
1. Two syllables not ending in -y, -ow, -le, -er: most + adjective
- polite => most polite
- obscure => most obscure
2. Some two-syllable adjectives, especially ending in –y: y => i, add “est”
- hungry => hungriest
- angry => angriest
3. Some two syllable adjectives ending in –ow: add “est”
- narrow => narrowest
- shallow => shallowest
4. Some two syllable adjectives ending in –o: add “st”
- humble => humblest
- gentle => gentlest
5. Some two syllable adjectives ending in –er: add “est”
- clever => cleverest
Adjectives with Three Syllables or More
- beautiful => most beautiful
- difficult => most difficult
- dangerous => most dangerous
- expensive => most expensive
Positive Form of Adjectives
The positive form is used in cases where there are no differences between the two compared things or persons. To form the positive, we use the word as before and after the absolute form of the adjective.
For Examples:
- as short as
- as polite as
- as friendly as
Irregular Forms in Comparison of Adjectives
Comparative Adjectives:
- good – better
- bad – worse
- far – farther
- little – less
- many – more
Superlative Adjectives:
- good – best
- bad – worst
- far – farthest
- little – least
- many – most
Comparison of Adjectives | Picture
