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Comparative and Superlative Degrees

This document discusses the formation and use of comparative and superlative degrees of adjectives in English. There are three main ways to form the comparative degree: by adding -er, -est; using more, most; or using a different root. The superlative is usually preceded by the definite article "the". Common adjectives like good, bad, much/many form their comparative and superlative irregularly. Spelling rules are provided for adding suffixes. The comparative degree is used to compare two people/objects, and the superlative expresses the highest degree of the adjective's quality.

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Kirisaki Neko
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265 views14 pages

Comparative and Superlative Degrees

This document discusses the formation and use of comparative and superlative degrees of adjectives in English. There are three main ways to form the comparative degree: by adding -er, -est; using more, most; or using a different root. The superlative is usually preceded by the definite article "the". Common adjectives like good, bad, much/many form their comparative and superlative irregularly. Spelling rules are provided for adding suffixes. The comparative degree is used to compare two people/objects, and the superlative expresses the highest degree of the adjective's quality.

Uploaded by

Kirisaki Neko
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

C O M PA R AT I V E A N D

S U P E R L AT I V E D E G R E E

Rule
positive comparative superlative
degree degree degree

Tall Taller The tallest


ADJECTIVES CAN BE
F O R M E D I N T H R E E WAY S :

• by adding the endings -er, -est;


• by adding the words more, most to
the main form;
• by the formation of comparative
degrees from different roots;
• Single-syllable adjectives form the
comparative degree by adding the
positive comparative superlative
suffix -er to the positive degree and degree degree degree
the superlative degree by adding the
suffix -est. Old Older The oldest

• A superlative noun is always


preceded by the definite article the.
• Most two-syllable adjectives and
adjectives with three or more
syllables form the comparative
degree with the word more, and positive comparati superlati
the superlative degree with the degree ve degree ve degree
word most. More and most are
Interesting More The most
always placed before adjectives interesting interesting
in the positive degree (i.e. the
main form).
N O T E T H AT T W O - S Y L L A B L E A D J E C T I V E S E N D I N G
I N - E R , - Y, - O W, - L E O F T E N F O R M C O M PA R AT I V E
DEGREES USING SUFFIXES - ER, -EST.

comparative
positive degree superlative degree
degree
clever cleverer The cleverest

clever More clever The most clever


S O M E A D J E C T I V E S D O N O T F O R M C O M PA R AT I V E
DEGREES ACCORDING TO THE GENERAL RULES,
I . E . , T H E Y A R E F O R M E D F R O M A D I F F E R E N T R O O T.

comparative superlative
positive degree
degree degree
good better The best
bad worse The worst

much/many more The most

little less The least

far farther The farthest

further The furthest


S P E L L I N G R U L E S F O R C O M P A R AT I V E
A N D S U P E R L AT I V E A D J E C T I V E S
• 1. The mute -e at the end of the word is omitted.

• Examples:
• large - larger - largest;
• pale - paler - palest;
2. In monosyllabic adjectives, the consonant letter after the
single vowel is doubled
Examples:
• big - bigger - biggest;
• hot - hotter - hottest;
3. The final -y after a consonant
changes to -i.
Examples:
• busy - busier - busiest;
• happy - happier - happiest;
T H E U S E O F T H E C O M P A R AT I V E D E G R E E
OF ADJECTIVES
• The comparative degree of adjectives is used when one
person/object is compared to another person/object. The
comparative degree is often followed by - than, for
example: younger than, wider than, etc.
Examples:
• She is younger than his sister.
• The English Channel is wider than the Straits of Gibraltar.
The construction comparative degree + and + comparative degree can
also be used to express an increase or decrease in something, for
example: hotter and hotter, more and more expensive, etc.
Examples:
• The weather is getting hotter and hotter. - The weather is getting hotter
and hotter.
• Cars are becoming more and more expensive. - Cars are becoming more
and more expensive.
Before the comparative degree you can use: (very) much, a lot,
a little, a (little) bit, rather or far.
Examples:
• This house is a little cheaper.
• This book is far more interesting than that one.
THE USE OF THE
S U P E R L AT I V E O F
ADJECTIVES

The superlative is often preceded by by


far - without a doubt - or easily -
unconditionally, e.g.: by far the youngest,
easily the best, etc.
Examples:
• Who is by far the best footballer in
Europe?

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