Positive degree – the simplest form.
Comparative degree – comparing two things or persons.
Superlative degree – comparing three or more things or persons.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| large | larger | largest |
| horrible | more horrible | most horrible |
How to compare adjectives
1. Add
er and
est to short adjectives of one syllable (sometimes two syllables)
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| short | shorter | shortest |
| great | greater | greatest |
| small | smaller | smallest |
| old | older | oldest |
2. If a short adjective ends with consonant and
y, change the
y to
i and add
er and
est.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| lucky | luckier | luckiest |
| heavy | heavier | heaviest |
| happy | happier | happiest |
| silly | sillier | silliest |
| ugly | uglier | ugliest |
3. If a short adjective ends with
e, add
er and
st.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| little | littler | littlest |
| fine | finer | finest |
4. Put
more(less) and
most(least) in front of longer adjectives (with two or more syllables) to show comparison.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| appealing | less appealing | least appealing |
| remarkable | more remarkable | most remarkable |
| beautiful | more beautiful | most beautiful |
| alert | more alert | most alert |
If you are uncertain whether to add er and est or to use more and most,
then check dictionary. In most cases, you can trust your ears.
Some adjectives are
irregular adjectives and don't follow thee rules.
They change form considerably from one degree to the next.
You need to study these changes carefully in order to recognize them easily.
List of irregular adjectives.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| bad | worse | worst |
| far | further | furthest |
| far | farther | farthest |
| good | better | best |
| many | more | most |
| little | less | least |
| old | elder | eldest |
| well (healthy) | better | best |
Never use er or
est at the same time you use
more or
most.
These are incorrect:
more shorter, most alertest
Incomparable adjectives.
Some adjectives cannot be compared because the positive (simplest) form expresses the only degree possible.
List of incomparable adjectives:
perfect, unique, fatal, universal, dead, wrong, straight, blind, final, vertical, right, left