Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

What is Comparative?  

Comparative is the form of adjective, or adverb that expresses more in amount, degree or quality. (Oxford Dictionary) We use comparative form of adjectives to make comparison between two.

What is superlative? 

Superlative is the form of adjective or adverb that expresses the highest degree of something. (Oxford Dictionary) We use superlative forms of adjective or adverb to make comparisons among many. 

Rule-1:

We usually add –er and –est to one-syllable words to make comparatives and superlatives:

Rule-2:

If an adjective ends in –e, we add –r or –st:

Rule-3:

If an adjective ends in a consonant and –y, we change –y to –i and add –er or –est:

Rule-4:

If an adjective ends in a vowel and –y, we do not change –y. We simply add –er or –est:

Rule-5:

If an adjective ends in a vowel + a consonant, we double the consonant:

Rule-6:

If an adjective ends in two consonants, we do not double the consonant:

Rule-7:

We use more/less  and most/least to make comparatives and superlatives for most two syllable adjectives and for all adjectives with three or more syllables:

Rule-8:

If a two-syllable adjective ends in a vowel and –le, –er, –y, we add –er and –est to form comparative and superlative:

Rule-9:

The following adjectives have irregular comparatives and superlatives: