2. adjectives have inflections. That is, adjectives change in spelling according to how they are used
in a sentence.
Adjectives have three forms: positive, comparative, and superlative.
The simplest form of the adjective is its positive form. When two objects or persons are being
compared, the comparative form of the adjective is used. When three or more things are being
compared, we use the adjective’s superlative form.
A few adjectives, like good and bad form their comparatives with different words:
That is a good book. This is a better book. Which of the three is the best book?
He made a bad choice. She made a worse choice. They made the worst choice of all.
The comparative forms of most adjectives, however, are formed by adding the suffixes
–er and –est, or by placing the words more and most in front of the positive form.
RULES FOR FORMING COMPARATIVES:
1. One syllable words form the comparative by adding -er and -est:
brave, braver, bravest
small, smaller, smallest
dark, darker, darkest.
2. Two-syllable words that end in -y, -le, and -er form the comparative by adding -er and
-est:
pretty, prettier, prettiest
happy, happier, happiest
noble, nobler, noblest
clever, cleverer, cleverest
3. Words of more than two syllables form the comparative with more and most:
beautiful, more beautiful, most beautiful.
resonant, more resonant, most resonant
3. RULES FOR FORMING COMPARATIVES:
4. Past participles used as adjectives form the comparative with more and most:
crooked, broken, damaged, defeated, etc.
5. Predicate adjectives (adjectives used to describe the subject of a sentence) form the
comparative with more and most:
afraid, mute, certain, alone, silent, etc.
Ex. She is afraid. He is more afraid. They are the most afraid of them all.
So far, so good, but when it comes to two-syllable words other than the ones covered by Rule 2,
the writer must consider custom and ease of pronunciation.
Usually, two syllable words that have the accent on the first syllable form the comparative by
adding –er and –est.
Ex. common, cruel, pleasant, quiet.
BUT tasteless, more tasteless, most tasteless.
Some two-syllable words that have the accent on the second syllable form the comparative by
adding –er and –est: polite, profound,
BUT: bizarre, more bizarre, most bizarre.
The rules given above should prevent abominations like “more pretty” or “beautifuler.” When in
doubt, look up the preferred inflected forms in the dictionary.
4. The superlative is the form of an adjective or adverb that shows which thing has that quality above or
below the level of the others. It denotes the greatest degree regarding the quality of the adjective used
IRREGULAR FORMS
good – (the) best
bad – (the) worst
far -(the)furthest /farthest
Examples of Superlative Adjectives
When an adjective compares three or more things, the superlative form of the adjective is used.
This usually means an "est" is added to the word. The superlative form can also include the
words "most" or "least."
Superlative Adjective Examples with "Est"
•Big - biggest
•Black - blackest
•Bold - boldest
•Brave - bravest
•Bright - brightest
•Cheap - cheapest
•Clean - cleanest
•Clever - cleverest
•Cold - coldest
•Dull - dullest
•Faint - faintest
5. Superlative Adjectives that Change a "Y" to an "Iest"
Angry - angriest
Bloody - bloodiest
Bossy - bossiest
Busy - busiest
Chewy - chewiest
Chubby - chubbiest
Classy - classiest
Cloudy - cloudiest
Clumsy - clumsiest
Creamy - creamiest
Creepy – creepiest
Superlative Adjectives that Add "Most" or "Least"
•Auspicious - most auspicious
•Beautiful - most beautiful
•Famous - most famous
•Gullible - most gullible
•Immense - most immense
•Perfect - least perfect
•Powerful - least powerful
•Wonderful - most wonderful
•Upset - least upset
6. Adjectives that Are Irregular
Irregular adjectives use a different word instead of adding an "er," "est" or "more" for their
comparative and superlative forms: (The adjective is shown, followed by the comparative and
the superlative forms)
•Bad - worse - worst
•Far - farther - farthest (physical distance)
•Far - further - furthest (meaning additional)
•Good - better - best
•Little - less - least
•Many - more - most
•Old - elder - eldest (for people in a family or group)
