ENGLISH GRAMMAR

ADJECTIVES:COMPARATIVES AND

SUPERLATIVES

COMPARATIVES

We can use comparative adjectives when talking about two things (not three or more things).

In the example below, "bigger" is the comparative form of the adjective

"big": A1 is

bigger than A2.

There are two ways to make or form a comparative adjective:

* short adjectives: add "-er" * long adjectives: use "more"

SHORT ADJECTIVES LONG ADJECTIVES

Normal rule: add "-er"old > older

adjective ends in -e: add -r late > later adjective ends in C+V+C: double the last

consonant big > bigger if the adjective ends in -y, change the y to i

happy > happier

Normal rule:add more than for adjectives longer than 2 syllables.

Example:more beautiful thanmore intelligent than

SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVESThere are two ways to make or form a superlative adjective:

* short adjectives: add "-est" * long adjectives: use "the most"

Superlatives are used to compare more than two things. Superlative sentences usually use THE, because there is only one superlative. Examples:

· Masami is the tallest in the class.

· Yukio is tall, and Jiro is taller, but Masami is the tallest.

SHORT ADJECTIVES

Normal rule: add "-est"

old > the oldest

adj. ends in -e: add -rlate > the latest

adj. ends in C+V+C double the last consonant

big > the biggest adj. ends in -y, change the y to i

happy > the happiest

EXEPTIONS - VARIATIONS

GOOD- BETTER – THE BEST

BAD – WORSE - THE WORST

FAR – FURTHER – THE FURTHEST

Exercises

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises_list/adjektiv_adverb.htm