Formation of Comparatives and Superlatives

Formation of Comparatives and Superlatives :



In all Adjectives of more than two syllables and in most Adjectives of two syllables, the Comparative is formed by adding the word MORE and the Superlative by adding the word MOST.

Positive….Comparative….Superlative

1. Beautiful….more beautiful….most beautiful
2. Famous….more famous….most famous
3. Useful….more useful….most useful

But Adjectives of one syllable and some Adjectives of two syllables can also form the Comparative by adding ER or R and the Superlative by adding EST or ST.


If the Positive ends in two consonants or in a single consonant preceded by two vowels ER and EST are added.

Positive….Comparative….Superlative

1. Dee….deeper….deepest
2. Great….greater….greatest
3. Small….smaller….smallest
4. Thick….thicker….thickest


If the Positive ends in one consonant and the consonant is preceded by a short vowel, the final consonant is doubled when ER and EST are added.

Positive….Comparative….Superlative

1. Fat….fatter….fattest
2. Hot ….hotter….hottest
3. Thin….thinner….thinnest
4. Wet….wetter….wettest


If the Positive ends in E, only R and ST are added (not ER and EST).

Positive….Comparative….Superlative

1. Brave….braver….bravest
2. Fine….finer….finest
3. Humble….humbler….humblest
4. Noble….nobler….noblest
5. True….truer….truest


If the Positive ends in Y and the Y is preceded by a consonant, the Y is changed into I when ER and EST are added.

Positive….Comparative….Superlative

1. Dry….drier….driest
2. Happy….happier….happiest


If the Y is preceded by a vowel, the Y is NOT changed into I.

Positive….Comparative….Superlative

1. Gay….gayer….gayest
2. Grey….greyer….greyest


Irregular Comparisons


Some Adjectives form their Comparatives and Superlatives in an irregular way.

Positive….Comparative….Superlative

1. Bad….worse….worst
2. Ill….worse….worst
3. Evil….worse….worst
4. Far (distance)….farther….farthest
5. Fore….former….foremost
6. Fore….former….first
7. Good….better….best
8. Hind ….hinder….hind most
9. Late….later….latest
10. Late…. latter….last
11. Little….Less….least
12. Much (quantity) ….more….most
13. Many (number) ….more….most
14. Nigh….nigher….nighest
15. Nigh….nigher….next
16. Old….older….oldest
17. Old….elder….eldest


There are five words which are Adverbs in the Positive Degree, but Adjectives in the Comparative and Superlative.

Positive….Comparative….Superlative

1. Fore (movement) ….further….furthest
2. In….inner….innermost
3. In….inner….inmost
4. Out….outer….uttermost
5. Out….utter….utmost
6. Beneath….nether….nethermost
7. Up….upper….uppermost


Latin Comparatives

All of these comparatives end in IOR and not in ER and all are followed by TO instead of THAN.

Superior
Inferior
Anterior
Priorv
Posterior
Senior
Junior

1. His strength is superior to (greater than) mine.
2. His strength is inferior to (less than) mine.
3. This event was anterior to (earlier than) that.
4. This event was prior to (earlier than) that.
5. This event was posterior to (later than) that.
6. This man is senior to (older than) that.
7. This man is junior to (younger than) that.

RELATED PAGES :

1. The Adjective
   
2. An Adjective
   
3. Attribute Position of Adjective
   
4. Predicative Position of Adjective
   
5. Kinds of Adjectives
   
6. Proper Adjectives
   
7. Descriptive Adjectives
   
8. Quantitative Adjectives ( Adjectives of Quantity )
   
9. Qualitative Adjectives ( Adjectives of Quality )
   
10. Numeral Adjectives ( Adjectives of Number )
    
11. Definite Numeral Adjectives
    
12. Indefinite Numeral Adjectives
    
13. Demonstrative Adjectives ( Demonstrative Adjective )
    
14. Definite Demonstrative Adjectives
    
15. Definite Demonstratives
    
16. Indefinite Demonstrative Adjectives
    
17. Indefinite Demonstratives
    
18. Distributive Adjectives
    
19. Interrogative Adjectives
    
20. Exclamatory Adjectives
    
21. Possessive Adjectives
    
22. Possessive Determiners
    
23. First Person Possessive Adjectives
    
24. Second Person Possessive Adjectives
    
25. Third Person Possessive Adjectives
    
26. Emphasizing Adjectives
    
27. Coordinate Adjectives
    
28. Paired Adjectives
    
29. Cumulative Adjectives
    
30. Non-Coordinate Adjectives
    
31. Two Uses of Adjectives
    
32. Attributive Use of Adjectives
    
33. Predicative Use of Adjectives
    
34. The Degrees of Comparison
    
35. Comparison of Adjectives
    
36. Latin Comparatives of Adjectives
    
37. Irregular Comparisons of Adjectives
    
38. Formation of Comparative and Superlative
    
39. Uses of Quantitative Adjectives
    
40. Uses of Numeral Adjectives
    
41. Definite Numeral Quantities
    
42. Uses of Demonstrative Adjectives
    
43. Uses of Distributive Phrases
    
44. Uses of Distributive Adjectives
    
45. Example Sentences with suitable Adjectives
    
46. Uses of Degrees of Comparison of Adjectives
    
47. Uses of Positive Degree of Comparison of Adjectives
    
48. Uses of Comparative Degree of Comparison of Adjectives
    
49. Uses of Superlative Degree of Comparison of Adjectives
    
50. Use of The Comparative Degree
    
51. OTHER after Positives and Comparatives
    
52. Preferables in English Grammar
    
53. Double Comparatives
    
54. Double Superlatives
    
55. Comparatives which have lost their force
    
56. Latin Comparatives
    
57. English Comparatives
    
58. Adjectives used as Nouns
    
59. Adjectives in Pairs
    
60. Adjectives preceded by THE
    
61. Position of Adjectives
    
62. Adjectives Used Attributively
    
63. Adjectives Used Predicatively
    
64. The Adjective Clause
    

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