<p> Forming Comparative and Superlative Adjectives Reference Sheet</p><p>Single Syllable Adjectives</p><p>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</p><p>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</p><p>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</p><p>-y, -le, and -er Adjectives</p><p>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</p><p>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</p><p>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.</p><p>Irregular Adjectives</p><p>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</p><p>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.</p><p>Other Adjectives</p><p>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</p><p>The adverbs more and most function as adjective phrase modifiers within the adjective phrases of comparative and superlative adjectives.</p><p>Pronunciation Changes</p><p>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]</p><p>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]</p>