Comparison of the adjective
In the English language, adjectives form the comparison degrees in three different ways:
| positive | comparative | superlative |
| 1. degree of comparison | 2. degree of comparison | |
| strong | stronger | (the) strongest |
| difficult | more difficult | (the) most difficult |
| good | better | (the) best |
The comparison of adjectives with the suffix -(e)r and -(e)st:
(1)Spelling:
(1)
- monosyllabic adjectives
- strong - stronger - (the) strongest
- deep - deeper - (the) deepest
- slow - slower - (the) slowest
- disyllabic adjectives with the suffix -le, -er, -y and -ow
- noble - nobler - (the) noblest
- clever - cleverer - (the) cleverest
- pretty - prettier - (the) prettiest
- shallow - shallower - (the) shallowest
- disyllabic adjectives with stress on second syllable
- polite - politer - (the) politest
The comparison with more and most:
- all trisyllabic and multisyllabic adjectives
- dangerous - more dangerous - (the) most dangerous
- extraordinary - more extraordinary - (the) most extraordinary
- all other disyllabic adjectives
- useful - more useful - (the) most useful
- famous - more famous - (the) most famous
The irregular comparison of adjectives:
positive - comparative - superlative
good - better - best
bad - worse - worst
evil - worse - worst
well - better - best
ill - worse - worst
many - more - most
much - more - most
little - less - least
little - smaller - smallest
late - later - latest
- (the) latter - (the) last
near - nearer - nearest [(the) next] – to compare distances) [e.g. the next one; beside (location) ]
far - farther [further] - farthest –to compare distances [e.g. further questions]
old - older - older
old - elder - eldest (only in front of nouns and when comparing family members)
Comparisons
Comparisons can be expressed in very several different ways. Let’s have a look at the following example:
- Mary, Sarah and Peter are all very rich. Mary has €20 million, Sarah has €15 million and Peter has €10 million. So:
- Sarah is rich.
- She is richer than Peter.
- But she isn’t as rich as Mary.
- (= Mary is richer than she is.)
| positive | comparative | superlative |
|---|---|---|
| as (nice, good ...) as | ||
| not so (nice, good ...) as | (nicer, better...) than | the (nicest, best...) |
| not as (nice, good ...) as | (more ..., less ...) than | the (most..., least...) |
| (nice, good...) as |
Increasing Comparison
- The rain is getting heavier and heavier.
- Anna is getting more and more exciting.
|
Repetition of comparative |
|
Repetition of more |
Relation of two comparatives in one clause
Definite article the + comparative
- The bigger, the better.
- The longer you wait, the worse everything gets.
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