Forming Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Forming Comparative and Superlative Adjectives Reference Sheet

Single Syllable Adjectives

For one-syllable adjectives spelled with a final consonant preceded by either two vowels or additional consonants, simply add the -er or -est suffix. For example: cold – colder – coldest deep – deeper – deepest fast – faster – fastest lean – leaner – leanest

For one-syllable adjectives spelled with a final consonant preceded by a single vowel, double the final consonant and add the -er or -est suffix. For example: big – bigger – biggest fat – fatter – fattest hot – hotter – hottest sad – sadder – saddest

For one-syllable adjectives spelled with a final e preceded by a consonant, remove the e and then add the -er or -est suffix. For example: cute – cuter – cutest fine – finer – finest nice – nicer – nicest wide – wider – widest

-y, -le, and -er Adjectives

For two-syllable adjectives spelled with a final y preceded by a consonant, change the y to an i and then add the -er or -est suffix. For example: burly – burlier – burliest dirty – dirtier – dirtiest sassy – sassier – sassiest ugly – uglier – ugliest

For two-syllable adjectives spelled with a final le, remove the e and then add the -er or -est suffix. For example: gentle – gentler – gentlest humble – humbler – humblest little – littler – littlest simple – simpler – simplest For two-syllable adjectives spelled with a final er, simply add the -er or -est suffix. For example: bitter – bitterer – bitterest eager – eagerer - eagerest somber – somberer – somberest tender – tenderer – tenderest

Note, however, that the comparative and superlative forms of -le and -er adjectives are in the process of linguistic change with the addition of both -er/-est suffixes and more/most adverbs producing grammatically acceptable forms. For example, native English speakers use both humbler and more humble and both tenderest and most tender.

Irregular Adjectives

Some English adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms. For example: bad – worse – worst far – further – furthest good – better – best many – more – most old – elder – eldest well – better – best

Note that the superlative form of irregular adjectives in English almost always appears with the determiner the as in She is my elder sister but He is the eldest sibling.

Other Adjectives

All other adjectives in English require the adverbs more and most in the comparative and superlative forms. For example: comfortable – more comfortable – most comfortable kindhearted – more kindhearted – most kindhearted romantic – more romantic – most romantic zealous – more zealous – most zealous

The adverbs more and most function as adjective phrase modifiers within the adjective phrases of comparative and superlative adjectives.

Pronunciation Changes

The pronunciation of the positive form of English adjectives does not change in the comparative and superlative forms. For example: bright [braiyt] – brighter [braiytər] – brightest [braiytɛst] damp [dӕmp] – damper [dӕmpər] – dampest [dӕmpɛst] jolly [ĵali] – jollier [ĵaliər] – jolliest [ĵaliɛst]

However, for adjectives pronounced with a final ng [ŋ], insert a g [g] sound between the positive form of the adjective and the comparative or superlative suffix. For example: long [laŋ] – longer [laŋgər] – longest [laŋgɛst] strong [straŋ] – stronger [straŋgər] – strongest [straŋgɛst] young [yəŋ] – youngest – [yəŋgər] – youngest [yəŋgɛst]