Comparative and Superlative

FORMING THE COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE

Using the comparative of adjectives in English is quite easy once you have understood the few simple rules that govern them. Below you will find the rules with examples for each condition. If you are not sure what a syllable or a consonant is - have a look here.

Rules

Number of syllables	Comparative	Superlative (see rule)
one syllable	+ -er	+ -est
tall	taller	tallest
one syllable with the spelling consonant + single vowel + consonant: double the final consonant:
fat	fatter	fattest
big	bigger	biggest
sad	sadder	saddest
Number of syllables	Comparative	Superlative
two syllables	+ -er OR more + adj	+ -est OR most + adj
ending in: -y, -ly, -ow ending in: -le, -er or -ure these common adjectives - handsome, polite, pleasant, common, quiet
happy	happier/ more happy	happiest/ most happy
yellow	yellower/ more yellow	yellowest/ most yellow
simple	simpler/ more simple	simplest/ most simple
tender	tenderer/ more tender	tenderest/ most tender
If you are not sure, use MORE + OR MOST + Note: Adjectives ending in '-y' like happy, pretty, busy, sunny, lucky etc:. replace the -y with -ier or -iest in the comparative and superlative form
busy	busier	busiest
Number of syllables	Comparative	Superlative
three syllables or more	more + adj	most + adj
important	more important	most important
expensive	more expensive	most expensive

Examples

• A cat is fast, a tiger is faster but a cheetah is the fastest
• A car is heavy, a truck is heavier, but a train is the heaviest
• A park bench is comfortable, a restaurant chair is more comfortable, but a sofa is the most comfortable
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• IRREGULAR COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

  These adjectives have completely irregular comparative and superlative forms:
  

  Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
  good	better	best
  bad	worse	worst
  little	less	least
  much	more	most
  far	further / farther	furthest / farthest

   
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• NOT AS + ADJECTIVE + AS

  Difference can also be shown by using not so/as ...as:
  

  Examples

  • Mont Blanc is not as high as Mount Everest
  • Norway is not as sunny as Thailand
  • A bicycle is not as expensive as a car
  • Arthur is not as intelligent as Albert

  
  
  

  COMPARISONS OF QUANTITY

  To show difference: more, less, fewer + than
  To show no difference: as much as , as many as, as few as, as little as
  
  
  

  COMPARISONS OF QUANTITY

  To show difference: more, less, fewer + than
  

  Examples:

  With countable nouns: more / fewer
  

  • Eloise has more children than Chantal.
  • Chantal has fewer children than Eloise.
  • There are fewer dogs in Cardiff than in Bristol
  • I have visited fewer countries than my friend has.
  • He has read fewer books than she has.

  With uncountable nouns: more / less
  

  • Eloise has more money than Chantal.
  • Chantal has less money than Eloise.
  • I spend less time on homework than you do.
  • Cats drink less water than dogs.
  • This new dictionary gives more information than the old one.

  So, the rule is:

  MORE + nouns that are countable or uncountable
  FEWER + countable nouns
  LESS + uncountable nouns
  
  
  

  COMPARISONS OF QUANTITY

  Rules

  To show no difference: as much as , as many as, as few as, as little as
  

  • as many as / as few as + countable nouns
  • as much as / as little as + uncountable nouns

  Examples:

  With countable nouns:
  

  • They have as many children as us.
  • We have as many customers as them.
  • Tom has as few books as Jane.
  • There are as few houses in his village as in mine.
  • You know as many people as I do.
  • I have visited the States as many times as he has.

  With uncountable nouns:
  

  • John eats as much food as Peter.
  • Jim has as little food as Sam.
  • You've heard as much news as I have.
  • He's had as much success as his brother has.
  • They've got as little water as we have.

  
  

  
  
  
  
   

Adjective

Rules

1. Adjectives are invariable:
They do not change their form depending on the gender or number of the noun.

A hot potato

Some hot potatoes

2. To emphasise or strengthen the meaning of an adjective use 'very' or 'really':

A very hot potato

Some really hot potatoes. Position of adjectives a) Usually in front of a noun: A beautiful girl. b) After verbs like "to be", "to seem" , "to look", "to taste": Examples The girl is beautiful You look tired This meat tastes funny. c) After the noun: in some fixed expressions: Examples The Princess Royal The President elect a court martial d) After the noun with the adjectives involved, present, concerned: Examples I want to see the people involved/concerned (= the people who have something to do with the matter) Here is a list of the people present (= the people who were in the building or at the meeting) Be careful! When these adjectives are used before the noun they have a different meaning: An involved discussion = detailed, complex A concerned father = worried, anxious The present situation = current, happening now Function of Adjectives Adjectives can: Describe feelings or qualities: Examples He is a lonely man They are honest people Give nationality or origin: Examples Pierre is French This clock is German Our house is Victorian Tell more about a thing's characteristics: Examples A wooden table. The knife is sharp. Tell us about age: Examples He's young man My coat is very old Tell us about size and measurement: Examples John tall man. This is a very long film. Tell us about colour: Examples Paul wore a red shirt. The sunset was crimson and gold. Tell us about material/what something is made of: Examples It was a wooden table She wore a cotton dress Tell us about shape: Examples A rectangular box A square envelope Express a judgement or a value: Examples A fantastic film Grammar is boring.     Order of Adjectives Rules Where a number of adjectives are used together, the order depends on the function of the adjective. The usual order is: Value/opinion, Size, Age/Temperature, Shape, Colour, Origin, Material Value/opinion delicious, lovely, charming Size small, huge, tiny Age/Temperature old, hot, young Shape round, square, rectangular Colour red, blonde, black Origin Swedish, Victorian, Chinese Material plastic, wooden, silver Examples: a lovely old red post-box some small round plastic tables some charming small silver ornaments   for more info adjective

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Noun : A Wrap Up

This is not the wrap up of everything but as for now, we should move on to another Grammar parts.
However, remember, never quit learning and comprehending about nouns.

Good Luck!

Printable Worksheet #Nouns

Here are some printable worksheet on nouns. You can print them, and read it wherever you want.

                                                            #  common & proper nouns

                                                        # worksheet common & proper nouns


                                                     

Links of Nouns

Here are some useful links of Nouns that you can browse through.

# Collective Noun

# Collective Nouns 2

# Common and Proper Nouns

# Proper Nouns

# Proper Nouns 2

Exercises

Dear viewers/ readers,

These exercises are not meant to drill or torture you mentally and physically but to help you to test your understandings on Nouns.

Therefore, take your time to answer the questions, think carefully.
Good luck!


# Common Nouns

# Proper/ Common Nouns

# Special Nouns

#  Collective Nouns

# Collective Noun 2