Main points
*You add ‘-er’ for the comparative and ‘-est’ for the superlative of one-syllable adjectives and adverbs.
*You use ‘-er’ and ‘-est’ with some two-syllable adjectives.
*You use ‘more’ for the comparative and ‘most’ for the superlative of most two-syllable adjectives, all longer adjectives, and adverbs ending in ‘-ly’.
*Some common adjectives and adverbs have irregular forms.
a) You add ‘-er’ for the comparative form and ‘-est’ for the superlative form of one-syllable adjectives and adverbs. If they end in ‘-e’, you add ‘-r’ and ‘-st’.
| cheap | --> | cheaper | --> | cheapest |
| safe | --> | safer | --> | safest |
close large quick wide cold light rough young fast nice small hard poor weak
- They worked harder.
- I’ve found a nicer hotel.
If they end in a single vowel and consonant (except ‘-w’), double the consonant.
| big | --> | bigger | --> | biggest |
fat hot sad thin wet
- The day grew hotter.
- Henry was the biggest of them.
b) With two-syllable adjectives and adverbs ending in a consonant and ‘-y’, you change the ‘-y’ to ‘-i’ and add ‘-er’ and ‘-est’.
| happy | --> | happier | --> | happiest |
angry easy heavy tiny busy friendly lucky dirty funny silly
- It couldn’t be easier.
- That is the funniest bit of the film.
c) You use ‘more’ for the comparative and ‘most’ for the superlative of mot two-syllable adjectives, all longer adjectives, and adverbs ending in ‘-ly’
| careful | --> | more careful | --> | most careful |
| beautiful | --> | more beautiful | --> | most beautiful |
| seriously | --> | more seriously | --> | most seriously |
- Be more careful next time.
- They are the most beautiful garden in the world.
- It affected Clive most seriously.
Note that for ‘early’ as an adjective or adverb, you use ‘earlier’ and ‘earliest’, not ‘more’ and ‘most’.
d) With some common two-syllable adjectives and adverbs you can either add ‘-er’ and ‘-est’, or use ‘more’ and ‘most’.
common handsome pleasant stupid cruel likely polite gentle narrow simple
Note that ‘clever’ and ‘quiet’ only add ‘-er’ and ‘-est’.
- It was quieter outside.
- He was the cleverest man I ever know.
e) You normally use ‘the’ with the superlative adjectives in front of a noun, but you can omit ‘the’ after a link verb.
- It was the happiest day of my life.
- I was happiest when I was on my own.
Remember when ‘most’ is used without ‘the’ in front of adjectives and adverbs, it often means almost the same as ‘very’.
- This book was most interesting.
- I object most strongly.
f) A few common adjectives and adverbs have irregular comparative and superlative forms.
| good/well | --> | better | --> | best |
| bad/badly | --> | worse | --> | worst |
| far | --> | farther/further | --> | farthest/furthest |
| old | --> | older/elder | --> | oldest/eldest |
- She would ask him when she knew him better.
- She sat near the furthest window.
Note that you use ‘elder’ or ‘eldest’ to say which brother, sister, or child in a family you mean.
- Our eldest daughter couldn’t come.
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Top Tips Abz Ingles: Part A - Part B
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See also:
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