This document discusses the formation of comparative and superlative adjectives in English. It separates adjectives into three categories based on their syllable length: short one-syllable adjectives, long two-syllable adjectives, and adjectives with two or more syllables. For each category, it provides the rules for forming the comparative (-er or more) and superlative (-est or most) forms of adjectives. It also notes a few irregular adjectives like bad, good, far, and many that have unique comparative and superlative forms.

1. COMPARATIVES AND
SUPERLATIVES
English in Mind:
Unit 7

3. COMPARATIVES

5. COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES
SHORT ADJECTIVES = 1 SYLLABLE:
Examples: big, good, smart, quick, nice, old, slow, etc.
Smart = rule
 +er: smart - smarter
Big = adjective formed as:
consonant-vowel-consonant
B i G
Double the consonant when forming its comparative: big – bigger
Nice = adjective ending in –e
 +r: nice - nicer

6. COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES
LONG ADJECTIVES = 2 SYLLABLES:
Examples: funny, pretty, clever, quiet, easy, etc.
Funny = 2 syllable adjective ending in -y
 y changes into –ier ; he is funny, I’m funnier.
Clever = 2 syllable adjective ending in –er (quiet = similar)
 add –er; He’s clever, I’m cleverer

7. COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES
LONG ADJECTIVES = 2 OR MORE SYLLABLES:
Examples: beautiful, handsome, convenient, interesting,
relaxed, etc.
Handsome = 2 syllable adjective with an other ending than -y/-
er/-et
 more: He’s handsome, but he’s more handsome
Beautiful = 3 syllable adjective
 more: I’m beautiful, she’s even more beautiful

8. SUPERLATIVES

10. SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES
SHORT ADJECTIVES = 1 SYLLABLE:
Examples: big, good, smart, quick, nice, old, slow, etc.
Smart = rule
 +est: smart – smarter - smartest
Big = adjective formed as:
consonant-vowel-consonant
B i G
Double the consonant when forming its superlative: big – bigger - biggest
Nice = adjective ending in –e
 +st: nice – nicer – nicest
NOTE: In a sentence you use ‘the’ in front of the superlative. She is the
smartest.

11. SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES
LONG ADJECTIVES = 2 SYLLABLES:
Examples: funny, pretty, clever, quiet, easy, etc.
Funny = 2 syllable adjective ending in -y
 y changes into –iest ; funny – funnier - funniest
Clever = 2 syllable adjective ending in –er (quiet = similar)
 add –est; clever – cleverer – cleverest
quiet – quieter - quietest

12. SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES
LONG ADJECTIVES = 2 OR MORE SYLLABLES:
Examples: beautiful, handsome, convenient, interesting,
relaxed, etc.
Handsome = 2 syllable adjective with an other ending than -y/-
er/-et
 most: handsome, more handsome, most handsome
Beautiful = 3 syllable adjective
 most: beautiful, more beautiful, most beautiful

13. IRREGULAR
ADJECTIVES
comparative & superlative
form

14. IRREGULAR ADJECTIVES
Adjective Comparative form Superlative form
Bad Worse Worst
Good Better Best
Far Further Furthest
Many More Most