Comparatives and superlatives
Adjectives can e used to compare nouns or pronouns.
Comparatives and superlatives are special types of adjectives that are used to compare two or more things. Most comparatives are formed using the ending -er and most superlatives are formed using the ending -est.
Comparatives
A comparative adjective is used to compare two people pr things. It is formed by adding the ending -er to all one-syllable adjectives and some two-syllable adjectives. When two nouns are being compared in a sentence, they are usually linked using the preposition than.
The Ferris wheel is bigger than the carousel.
Superlatives
Superlative adjectives can be used to compare two or more people or things. They are formed by adding the ending -est to one-syllable adjectives, and using the word the in front of them: "the biggest ride".
The roller coaster is the biggest ride of all.
big small thin
bigger smaller thinner
biggest smallest thinnest
Awkward adjectives
If adding the ending -er or -est results in an odd-sounding adjective, the comparative and superlative are formed using the words more or most before the adjective. This applies to most two-syllable adjectives and all adjectives with three or more syllables.
The ghost train is the most frightening.
(the superlative frighteningest is hard to say, so because frightening has three syllables - the superlative is formed using most.)
Identifying irregular adjective spellings
Some adjectives do not follow the rules when it comes to forming their comparatives or superlatives. If an adjective already ends in -e(rude), only if -r needs to be added to make it comparative(ruder), and -st, to make it superlative (rudest). Words ending in -y or a vowel and single consonant have to change their endings.
bossy This adjective ends in-y.
bossier Delete -y and add -ier to form the comparative.
bossiest Delete -y and add -est to form the superlative.
wet This adjective ends in a vowel followed by a single consonant.
wetter Double the consonant and add-er to form the comparative.
wettest Double the consonant and add-est form the superlative.
Exceptions
Some two-syllable adjectives, such as lovely, can take either form of the comparative or superlative (see awkward adjectives). Other adjectives change completely when they are used to compare things. These comparative and superlative forms have to be learnt.
Adjective Comparative Superlative
good better best
bad worse worst
much more most
many more most
little less least
quiet quieter or more quiet quietest or most quiet
simple simpler or more simple simplest or most simple
clever cleverer or more clever cleverest or most clever
lovely lovelier or more lovely loveliest or most lovely
- Never used double comparatives or double superlatives - "more prettier" and " most prettiest" are wrong.
- Not every adjective has a comparative or superlative form. Unique, square, round, excellent, and perfect are all words that can't be graded.
Biggest and best
Multiple superlatives are often used in advertisements to sell things, whether they're books, holidays, or circus attractions. Words like greatest, best and cheapest enable a seller to exaggerate the quality or value of the product being sold, making it more appealing to potential customers. Superlatives should be used in moderation in formal text, however.