Grammar Reference

 

6.1 ■ Comparative adjectives

Spelling rules

• For short adjectives, add -er to form the comparative.

small  →  smaller

young  →  younger

• For short adjectives ending in -e, add -r.

large  →  larger

nice  →  nicer

• For short adjectives ending in vowel + consonant (except -w), double the consonant and add -er.

hot  →  hotter

wet  →  wetter

• For adjectives ending in consonant + -y, remove the -y and add -ier.

early  →  earlier

busy  →  busier

• For adjectives of two or more syllables (except adjectives ending in -y), add more before the adjective.

beautiful  →  more beautiful

expensive  →  more expensive

• Some adjectives are irregular, for example:

good  →  better

bad  →  worse

far  →  farther / further

Use

We use comparative adjectives to compare two people or things. Comparative adjectives are often followed by than.

Your trousers are more expensive than mine.

This house is bigger than that house.

6.2 ■ Superlative adjectives

Spelling rules

• For short adjectives, add -est.

small  →  the smallest

young  →  the youngest

• For short adjectives ending in -e, add -st.

large  →  the largest

nice  →  the nicest

• For short adjectives ending in vowel + consonant (except -w), double the consonant and add -est.

hot  →  the hottest

wet  →  the wettest

• For adjectives ending in consonant + -y, remove the -y and add -iest.

early  →  the earliest

busy  →  busiest

• For adjectives of two or more syllables (except adjectives ending in -y), add the most before the adjective.

beautiful  →  the most beautiful

expensive  →  the most expensive

• Some adjectives are irregular, for example:

good  →  the best

bad  →  the worst

far  →  the farthest / the furthest

Use

We use superlative adjectives to compare a person or thing with the whole group. Superlative adjectives are always preceded by the … or the most … .

We do not use than after superlatives.

Sarah is the shortest girl in our class.

This is the most expensive dress in the shop.