This document summarizes the different ways that adjectives are compared in English. It discusses comparison using -er/-est suffixes for one-syllable adjectives and more/most for adjectives with more than two syllables. It also covers irregular adjectives like good/better/best. Special adjectives can use -er/-est or more/most, and some adjectives like far/farther have different meanings in their comparative and superlative forms. The summary concludes with definitions of the comparative (-er) for comparing two things and superlative (-est) for comparing one thing to a whole group.

1. COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES
A) Comparison with -er/-est
Suffixes: -er (comparative) / -est (superlative)
* Adjectives with one syllable
Clean cleaner cleanest
*Adjectives with two syllables and the following endings:
ending in -y (dirty-dirtier-dirtiest)
ending in -er (clever-cleverer-cleverest)
ending in -le (simple-simpler-simplerest)
ending in -ow (narrow-narrower-narrowest)

2. B) Comparison with more – most
Adjectives with more than two syllables:
positive comparative superlative
interesting more interesting (the) most interesting

3. C) Irregular adjectives
good better best
bad worse worst
much more most
many more most
little less least
little smaller smallest
far farther/further Farthest/furthest

4. D) Special adjectives:
Adjectives with two possible forms of comparison
● Polite politer / more polite politest / most polite
● Clever cleverer / more clever cleverest / most clever
● Likely likelier / more likely likeliest / most likely
● Simple simpler / more simple simplest / most simple
● Sure surer / more sure surest / most sure
● Quiet quieter/more quiet quietest/ most quiet

5. E) Different meaning
positive comparative superlative General Meaning
● far farther farthest distance
further furthest distance /time
● late later latest
latter ___
___ last
● old older oldest people and things
elder eldest people (family)
● near nearer nearest distance

6. SENTENCES
● Comparative - we compare TWO things
Mary is taller than Rose
Mary is more intelligent than Rose
● Superlative - we compare ONE thing with the whole
group
Mary is the tallest in the classroom
Mary is the most intelligent in the classroom

7. ● Expresssing equality as..................as
Mary is as friendly as Rose