In English, the adjective does not change by gender, case, or number. But it is not without degrees of comparison. He has three of them: positive, comparative and superlative.
Part of speech
Before moving on to the question of “Degrees of Comparison of Adjectives in English,” you need to understand what an adjective is. This is the part of the speech that answers the questions “Which?”, “Which?”, “Whose?” And denotes a sign, property of an object, phenomenon or person. English adjectives, unlike their Russian counterparts, are not inclined, that is, they do not change in cases, childbirth and numbers. If we need to describe or evaluate the subject, then we simply “take” the adjective and put it before the noun:
A wonderful day.
3 degrees of comparison of adjectives
All adjectives in English are divided into two types: quality and relative . There is one significant difference between them - we can compare words of one kind, but not another. For example, the lexical unit “glass - glass” is a relative adjective, and in relation to it one cannot say “glasser - more glass”. As for the quality ones, they can be represented in three degrees of comparison: positive (cold) - comparative (colder) - excellent (coldest).
Degree rules and examples
Positive and comparative
Positive degree - this is the initial form of a high-quality adjective, which is fixed in the dictionary: big - big, sad - sad, tender - gentle. It describes a feature or property of an item.
When the need arises to compare the characteristics of two or more objects, a comparative degree enters the scene. How is it formed? The comparative degree of adjectives in English can be formed in two ways:
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- If the word consists of one or two syllables, then the ending is added to it -er :
clean - cleaner (clean - cleaner), great - greater (great - greater), sharp - sharper (sharp - sharper).
- more (more) or less (less) :
delicate - more delicate (gentle - more tender), terrible - more terrible (terrible - more terrible), difficult - less difficult (difficult - less difficult).
Superlative
Superlative does not tolerate any comparison. She surpasses all and does not hide it, because she is the most, most of the many. Both in a comparative and in an excellent degree, before embarking on the formation of new forms of adjectives, one must ask how many syllables a word has. Depending on the subsequent answer, two methods of education are distinguished:
- If a word consists of one or two syllables, then a definite article is added to it the and ending -est :
clean - the cleanest (clean - the cleanest), great - the greatest (great - the greatest), sharp - the sharpest (sharp - the sharpest).
- If a word consists of three or more syllables, then an additional word appears in front of it most or least with the definite article the:
delicate - the most delicate (terrible - the most tender), terrible - the most terrible (terrible - the most terrible), difficult - the least difficult (difficult - the least difficult).
If an adjective consisting of one or two syllables ends in a dumb vowel -e, then when adding the endings -er or -est it drops: cute - cuter - cutest (lovely - lovely - lovely). If the short adjective ends with -y, then with the addition of -er or -est this letter changes to -i: hungry - hungrier - hungriest (hungry - hungrier - the most hungry). If the short adjective ends in a vowel and consonant, then when adding the ending -er or -est, the final consonant doubles: fat - fatter - fattest (thick - thicker - thickest).
Exceptions
In English, there is a list of adjectives that are exceptions to the general rule of formation of degrees of comparison. There are not many of them, so memorizing will not be difficult:
good - better - (the) best (good - better - best);
bad - worse - (the) worst (bad - worse - worse);
little - less - (the) least (small - less - least);
many (much) - more - (the) most (many - more - greatest);
far - farther / further - (the) farthest / furthest (farther - farther / farthest - farthest / farthest);
old - older / elder - (the) oldest / eldest (old - older / older - oldest / oldest).
In the list of exceptions, you need to pay attention to the meaning of the following words: farther - farthest (used to describe the distance), further - furthest (used in a broader sense, additional, further in order,) older - oldest (used to describe the age), elder - eldest (used to describe seniority in the family).
What did we learn?
In the 6th grade, the lesson studies the topic “Comparative and excellent adjectives in English,” which we examined in this article. In English, there is no declension of adjectives. They change only with the formation of degrees of comparison. There are three of them in the language: positive, comparative and excellent.
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In any language there are words that wonderfully color the speech, make it more vivid, imaginative and expressive. Without them, any story would be dry and boring. In everyday life, without noticing it, people continually compare surrounding objects, phenomena and ... each other.
And to a large extent, adjectives help them in this.
Adjective
The adjective is a part of speech that in a certain way describes the attribute of an object, characterizing its properties. Compared with Russian adjectives, English behave more “democratically”: they have one single form, which is used to characterize a noun, regardless of its gender, number or case.
For example:
- beautiful ththe flower is beautiful s flowers - in beautiful om flower
- beautiful flower - beautiful flowers - in a beautiful bloom
The rule of using comparative degrees
In their semantic meaning, adjectives are relative and qualitative.
Relative adjectives
Relative adjectives characterize an object in a naming order, that is, designate such properties of an object that it is impossible to further strengthen or imagine them in a larger or smaller volume.
These adjectives may mean:
- time (annual plan, September leaf fall);
- a place (urban architecture, sea cruise);
- destination (sewing machine, food processor);
- material (glassware, log house);
- measure weight (liter thermos, five-ton dump truck).
Try to strengthen any of these adjectives:very sewing machine, an incredibly liter thermos. Or give them a touch of comparison:more September leaf fall, less urban architecture. It turns out complete nonsense.
Note: it is impossible to choose antonyms for these adjectives - words that are opposite in meaning.
Quality adjectives
The second group of adjectives, in fact, is more plastic. It is made up of high-quality adjectives, which give more opportunities to give additional shades in the description of the qualitative features of an object. They denote the properties of the subject, which can be subjected to comparison and amplification.
For example: 
- value (large, small);
- the weight (light heavy);
- outlines (smooth, curve);
- tint (white, light);
- sounding (quiet, loud);
- temperature (hot Cold);
- taste (sweet, sour).
The meaning of any of these adjectives can be easily enhanced.: very cold, too loud, too sweet.
No discomfort arises when comparing these qualities: colder (colder), louder (louder), sweeter (sweeter).
Everything is in order and with antonyms: light - dark (light - dark); sad - joyful (sad - joyful); high - low (high - low).
Degrees of comparison
Qualitative adjectives have 3 degrees:
- Positive (basic, absolute, initial).In old textbooks, it is often called the dictionary form. This form of the adjective has nothing to do with comparison.
For example:Volga is a long river. The Volga is a long river. Flu is a very dangerous disease. Flu is very dangerous disease. - Comparative (more / less).It is used when comparing two objects according to one of their inherent qualities.
For example:The Amazon River is longer than the Volga. The amazon river is long er than the Volga. Pneumonia is more dangerous than flu. Pneumonia is more dangerous than flu. - Excellent (largest / smallest). It is used when comparing three or more items. With its help, the object that has the most outstanding properties is distinguished from all.
For example:The Volga is a long river, the Nile is longer than the Volga, but the amazon is the longest river, the Nile is longer than the Volga thelong est river in the world Flu is a very dangerous disease, pneumonia is more dangerous than flu, but AIDS is the most dangerous disease of all.
From these examples, the most general rule of shaping in English of comparative and superlative degrees of adjectives can be derived:
- To short adjectives (1-2 syllables) is added: the suffix -er is comparative and the suffix -est is superlative;
- To long adjectives (3 or more syllables) are added: the word more in comparative degree and the most in excellent.
Positive degree
This is an adjective form that neutrally describes the attribute (property) of an object; that is, it simply indicates its presence.
For example:
My cousin is a very nice girl. My cousin is a very pretty girl.
She has a smart fashionable dress on. She is wearing a beautiful fashionable dress.
In a positive form, an adjective can also be used to compare objects, but only if we are talking about identical, identical qualities.
If both compared objects have the same quality, then the union “the same ... as ...” is used. In English, it corresponds to the union "as ..., as ...".
For example:
This magazine is as interesting as that one. This journal is as interesting as that one. His apartment is as big as yours. His flat is as big as yours.
If one of the compared items does not have this feature, then use the union "not the same ... as ...". In English, he sounds like this: "not so ... as ...".
For example:
This magazine is not as interesting as that one. This journal is not so interesting as that one. His apartment is not as big as yours. His flat is not so big as yours.
In fact, more often the comparison occurs according to the principle: more or less of one or another attribute in two (or more) objects.
Two options for the formation of a comparative degree of adjective:
- by adding the suffix -er,
- using the words more / less (more / less) immediately before the adjective.
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Comparative Degree of Monosyllabic Adjectives
Comparative formula for a single syllable adjective: positive degree + er
For example:
dark - darker (dark - darker);
light - lighter (light - lighter).
If the adjective, consisting of one syllable, ends with a consonant, and before it is a short vowel, then the last letter in the word is doubled.
for example:
big - bi gger (large - more);
hot - ho tter (hot - hot).
When the letter “e” is already present at the end of the monosyllabic adjective, then adding the –er suffix does not duplicate this letter.
For example:
pale - pal er (pale - paler);
cute - cuter.
Superlative Monosyllabic Adjectives
The superlative degree of the adjective demonstrates the highest / lowest degree of possession of any quality. Words with a similar meaning in the Russian language begin with the prefix "nai ..." or with the word "best": the best, the best.
Spelling for the adjective is superlative - similar to the previous one, only the suffix -est is used instead of the -er suffix.
The superlative formula is: positive + est
For example:
pale - the pal est (pale - the palest);
cute - the cut est (sweetheart - sweetest).
If the monosyllabic adjective ends with a consonant, and before it there is a short vowel, then the last letter in the word is doubled.
For example:
big - the bi ggest (large - largest);
hot - the ho ttest (hot is the hottest).
When the letter “e” is already present at the end of a monosyllabic adjective, then adding the suffix -est does not duplicate this letter.
For example:
larg e - the larg est (large - largest);
nice - the nic est (beautiful - the most beautiful).
In order to emphasize the uniqueness and unsurpassed nature of the object, the adjective always uses the definite article “the” in superlative degree.
For example:
Tokyo is the city with the highest density of population in the world.
Tokyo is the city with the largest population density in the world.
In fact, there are many large cities, but Tokyo outnumbers them all. In this way it is unique, which emphasizes the article “the”.
Comparative degree of polysyllabic adjectives
If an adjective consists of two or more syllables, then it is called polysyllabic. The comparative degree of most of these adjectives helps to form additional words: "more" (more) or "less" (less).
Comparative degree formula: more / less + positive degree
For example:
fabulous - more fabulous (incredible - even more incredible)
or less fabulous (less incredible).
Superlative polysyllabic adjectives
Helper words for superlative polysyllabic adjectives: the most or the least.
Superlative Formula: the most / the least + positive degree
For example:
fabulous (unbelievable) - the most / the least fabulous (most unbelievable / least unbelievable);
important - the most /the least important (the most important or least important).
Comparative and superlative spelling of adjectives
In English, there are a number of two-syllable adjectives that form their comparative and superlative degrees in two ways:
- and with the suffix "er", "est",
- and by adding the words “more / less”, “the most / the least”.
For example:
angry - angrier (or more angry)
angry - more angry;
polite - politer (or more polite)
polite - more polite, more polite.
The choice depends on the prevailing cultural and speech tradition in a particular area.
The predominant part of two-syllable adjectives in the formation of their forms of degrees of comparison obey the following rule:
If in the positive form of the adjective is the ending -ow, -er, -le or -y, then in comparative and superlative degree you will find the same suffixes (-er or -est) as in monosyllables; the ending -y first changes to -i, and then the suffix -er or -est is added.
For example:
Narrow (narrow) - narrower (already) - the narrowest (narrowest);
Slender (slim) –slenderer (slimmer) - the slenderest (slimmer);
Subtle (thin) - subtler (thinner) - the subtlest (the thinnest);
Tiny (tiny) - tinier (even more tiny) - tiniest (most tiny).
Exceptions
In English, there are several adjectives that do not obey the general rule of morphogenesis, since their degrees of comparison have been formed historically and require memorization.
Here is a list of them:
- good (good) - better (better) - the best (the best);
- bad (bad) - worse (worse) - the worst (worst);
- old (old) - older (older) - oldest (oldest) - by age;
- old (old) - elder (older) - eldest (oldest) - among other relatives in the family;
- far (distant) - farther (further) - the farthest (farthest) - about the distance;
- far (distant) - further (further) - the furthest (most distant) - about time;
- many, much (many) - more (more) - the most (largest, largest);
- little (small, small) - less (less) - the least (smallest, smallest).
To facilitate the assimilation of the rules for the formation of adjectives in a comparative and superlative degree, it is best to place them in a tabular form.
| The number of syllables in the adjective | Positive degree | Comparative
power |
Superlative |
| One
General rule Short vowel before consonant Ending Ending -y |
Fa tter Cut er Dr ier |
The cool est The fa ttest The cut est The dr iest |
|
| Two
General rule Ending -y The ending Ending -le Ending -er |
Tin ier Narrow er Subtl er Slender er |
The proud est The tin iest Narrow est Subtl est Slender est |
|
| Three or more
General rule |
Morefantastic Less fantastic |
The most fantastic The leastfantastic |
Degrees of comparison is a great invention. They make our speech more accurate and expressive, allow us to accurately formulate the features of objects and phenomena. The degrees of comparison in English, as in Russian, are in those parts of speech that describe characteristics - that is, in adjectives (Adjective) and adverbs (Adverb).
Degrees of comparison in English are three forms of an adjective or adverb expressing different degrees of quality inherent in a subject. These degrees are positive, comparative, and excellent.
We use the degrees of comparison all the time: when we listen to the brightest rock hits of the 20th century, we take a hot bath with water or just pick the best apples on the counter. These are natural desires for which there are special “tools” of expression in the English language: degrees of comparison. Let's make the rules for the formation of degrees of comparison understandable and simple so that they are easy to remember and not make mistakes.
Comparison of adjectives in English: faster, higher, more accurate.
Adjectives are much more interesting than they seem at first glance. For example, they can express the quality of an item to a greater or lesser extent. But only qualitative adjectives - adjectives of the other two categories (relative and possessive) do not have degrees of comparison. Because you can not say “more iron” (more iron) or “less feline” (less feline). But you can and should say “good, better, best friend” (good, better, best friend).
There are three degrees of comparison of adjectives in English - positive ( positive), comparative ( comparative) and excellent ( superlative):
Positive a degree is the simplest form of an adjective that describes its property (cheerful, silver, warm, soft, etc.). Example: This cat is fluffy. By the way, this form of adjectives is indicated in.
A positive degree follows comparative degree is a kind of analysis expressed in one word when the characteristics of two or more objects, persons, and phenomena are compared. For example: one fun - and the second more fun (funny - more funny), one warm - but the second warmer (warm - warmer). Example: This cat is more fluffy.
And if you need to say that someone or something has the strongest characteristics among the rest, then it goes excellent degree of comparison in English: the most fun (the most funny), the warmest (the warmest, the warmest). Example: This cat is the most fluffy.
Comparison of adjectives in English takes place according to the rules, which depend not only on the desired degree of comparison, but also on the source word.
Comparative education in English
It sounds like a tautology, but we know that a comparative degree is really important. The rule of her education takes into account the length of the original adjective:
- The comparative degree of short adjectives, that is, consisting of only one or two syllables, is formed using the -er ending: warm (warm) - warmer (warmer), narrow (narrow) - narrower (narrower), long (long) - longer ( longer).
- If the adjective ends with -e, then we simply add -r: strange (weird) - stranger (weirder, or “weirder”, as Alice used to say in Carroll).
- If the adjective ends in -y, then the ending changes to -i: lucky (lucky) - luckier (more lucky), easy (simple) - easier (easier).
- If the adjective ends in a consonant, before which a vowel is placed, then in a comparative degree the final consonant doubles: hot (hot) - hotter (hot).
If the original adjective is a long word with more than two syllables, then a comparative degree is formed using the words more (more) and less (less): expensive (expensive) - more expensive (more expensive), serious (serious) - less serious ( less serious).
Superlative Education in English
note: adjectives are superlatively used with the definite article “the” - this emphasizes their exclusivity and originality, “superiority” over others in a number of similar ones.
Many English adjectives in which two or more syllables are easy to remember in degrees of comparison. Comparative is formed using the words “more” and “less”, and excellent is formed using the words “most” and “least”. All that remains is to substitute these auxiliary words of comparison in order to obtain the desired degree:
This cake is delicious, but it "s more delicious, but my mother makes the most delicious cakes.
This story is interesting, and yesterday was less interesting, but the least interesting story we heard last week.
This is the so-called analytical method education degrees of comparison. Synthetic way comparison in English is to use endings:
- The superlative degree of adjectives is formed using the suffix -est: long (long) - the longest (the longest).
- If the adjective ends with the letter y preceded by a consonant, then in an excellent degree the ending changes to -i: pretty (cute) - the prettiest (cute).
- If the ending y has a vowel, then the ending remains unchanged: gray (gray) - the greyest (the grayest).
- If an adjective ends in a consonant letter before a vowel, then in an excellent degree of comparison in English, the final consonant doubles: big (large) - the biggest (largest).
Degrees of comparison in English: exceptions
Besides synthetic and analytical, exist suppletive comparison method in English. And it is an exception to the rules described above. We have compiled a separate suppletive exception table so that you can clearly see these special comparison words in English:
Positive |
Comparative |
Superlative |
farthest / furthest |
||
Pay attention to the difference in suppletive forms:
- farther and farthestregarding physical distance, position: I live farther from park than Liam (I live farther from the park than Liam).
- further and furthest for more general categories: You will receive further instructions from the teacher.
- elder and eldest Regarding seniority in the family: My older brother married last year (My older brother got married last year).
- older and oldest Regarding age in general: The oldest person in the world lived to 146 years old, he was an Indonesian (The oldest person in the world lived to be 146 years old, he was Indonesian).
Comparison of adverbs in English
Comparing adverbs in English is very similar to comparing adjectives. This is shown in the table with the rules for the formation of degrees of comparison:
We tried to make the presentation of the English degrees of comparison as clear as possible. But finally you will understand and learn the rules for the formation of English comparisons only in practice. To do this, do the exercises online and. Take the tests and complete assignments to change adjectives in degrees of comparison: 1) Every year the Guineas Book of Records announces ... person in the world.- more higher
- the highest
- highest
- highestest
- tallest
- more taller
- tallier
- taller
- much comfortable
- many more comfortable
- very comfortable
- more comfortable
- the smartest
- smatier
- the most smartest
- smarter
The rules for changing English adjectives are not very difficult to understand, but they have many features that cause some difficulties. The fact is that individual words do not obey the general rules, as they are an exception. Let's discuss all possible constructions of a comparative degree of an adjective in English.
What is the comparative degree of an adjective?
Any adjective has three degrees: positive, comparative and excellent. The first degree is the word itself in its original form, and the other two are its modified versions. They are formed using two principles: analytical and synthetic. In the first case, additional words are used, in the second, all changes occur due to the addition of special suffixes. There are also words that can be compared using both of these methods.
Synthetic form
A simple comparative degree of adjectives is mainly used for monosyllables and usually does not cause learning difficulties. Changes occur with the help of two types of suffixes: “er” for comparative degree and “est” for superlative. Example:
- fast (thin) - faster (thinner) - fastest (the thinnest).
Using comparative turns, it is necessary to pay attention to some points of spelling. If a monosyllabic word ends in a consonant that is preceded by a short vowel, then in the process of comparison on a letter, the last consonant is doubled:
- thin (thin) - thinner (thinner) - thinnest (the thinnest).
The simple comparative degree of adjectives has another nuance regarding words ending in the dumb letter “e”. When special suffixes are added, this letter disappears, since both of these suffixes begin with the letter “e”, and there is no sense in doubling it:
- huge (huge) - huger (more huge) - hugest (most huge).
Words ending with "y"
Although the synthetic comparative degree is used to a greater extent for monosyllabic words, it can also work with some kinds of two-syllable words, in particular, ending in the vowel sound “y”.
If the word is preceded by a consonant in the word, then in the process of comparison the letter “y” changes to “i”, but the rule for its pronunciation remains the same:
- busy (busier) - busier (busier) - busiest (busiest).
In those cases when there is any vowel before the “y”, the letter “y” does not change.
Analytical form
A composite comparative degree of adjectives is used for most two-syllable and polysyllabic words, since they are difficult to pronounce, and adding some suffixes to them is not at all convenient, moreover, English is very capacious and always strives for compactness and abbreviations. In such cases, four additional words are used for comparison: more, most, less and least. They are put before the adjective:
- aromatic (aromatic) - more aromatic (more aromatic) - most aromatic (the most aromatic);
- expensive (expensive) - less expensive (less expensive) - least expensive (the most inexpensive).
Suggestions for an example:
- It was the most difficult day this week - it was the most difficult day this week.
- This trip is less expensive - this trip is less expensive.
The article before adjectives
Comparative degree has one more important rule: any adjective in superlative degree, whether it was created by means of an analytical construction, or synthetic, always has before it the definite article “the”. This rule is valid because any defining word in most cases denotes a noun that comes immediately after it. If there is no noun, then the use of a certain article is still an integral action, since the adjective in any case implies a person or object:
- My grandfather is the oldest man in his village - my grandfather is the oldest in his village.
- It was a very expensive restaurant, the most expensive which I saw - it was a very expensive restaurant, the most expensive I saw.
As can be seen from the second part of the second example, the superlative comparative degree of the adjective must have a definite article even without the presence of the noun that follows. In the example, the noun is not written, but it is understood: the most expensive (restaurant), which I saw.
The word "most" in other meanings
The word "most" is used not only in cases where a comparative degree of adjectives in English is used, but also for other tasks. In particular, it is used in the meaning of “extremely”, “very”, “very”. In such cases, when using the singular, the indefinite article "a" is used, and when using the plural, the article is not put at all:
- they are most polite people - they are pretty / very polite people.
Also, the word "most" is often used in combination with the preposition "of", creating a combination that translates into Russian as "most of ..." or "most of ...". Such a phrase is used in front of a certain group of people, objects and other things. In such a design, articles before “most” are not used, but are put directly before nouns or not at all:
- Most of people in Russia don`t know English - most people in Russia do not know English.
- Most of the students know this rule - most students know this rule.
Some nuances
It is worth noting that the English language is developing dynamically, and spelling rules and the compilation of certain verbal constructions also suffer some changes. Certain metamorphoses did not bypass the rule of using adjectives. The fact is that, by comparing some words, it is possible to change them, using a synthetic or analytical form, independence of how many syllables a given word has. That is, some dictionary units do not obey the general rules. Let's try to figure it out more specifically.
There are monosyllabic adjectives that can be compared using two possible methods:
- true (true) - truer or more true (truthful) - truest or most true (the most truthful);
- hot (hot) - hotter or more hot (hot) - hottest or most hot (the hottest).
There are also monosyllabic words that in most cases are used precisely in analytical forms. Here are examples of such words:
- right (true, correct) - righter (rarely used) / more right (or rather) - most right (most correct / true);
- real (real) - more real (real) - realest / most real (most real).
In English there are those who are equally compared using the two above-mentioned methods, for example, clever, sincere and stupid. The words remote and polite, although they occur in two forms of comparison, are still more often changed by the analytical method.
If you are not sure which of the two is more correct to apply to a particular word, then use the analytical one: in this case, you run the risk of doing only a grammatical one.
Exception words
The comparative degree of the adjective works in a slightly different way for a group of fairly common words that use their unique ways of changing. There are few such words, so memorizing their forms will not take much time, however, you need to know them. Conventionally, such words can be called "wrong adjectives." These include such words as “bad” - bad (worse - worst), “little” - little (less - least), “much” - much \\ many (more - most), “good” good (better - best ) An interesting fact is that such definitions are “incorrect” in a number of other languages, where their comparative degree of adjective also does not obey the general rules.
Do not get confused when working with the words little and small. In both cases, the comparative degree translates to “less,” but in the variant with little it is less, and in the variant with small it is smaller:
- I have less powers than you - I have less authority than you.
- I`m smaller than my brother - I am less than my brother.
The comparative degree of the adjective, which translates into Russian as “more”, also deserves special attention:
- You have more money than he - you have more money than him.
- My brother is bigger than you - my brother is bigger than you.
As you can see, these words are quite common, and everyone came across them in certain cases.
Afterword
In this article, we figured out how the comparative degree of adjectives works. English is rich in various nuances and exceptions, which cannot be placed in one article, but all the most basic rules were discussed above. It is worth recalling once again: if you are not sure of the correct use of one or another comparative turn for adjectives, then use the analytical option. In this case, you will always remain understood, except that the stylistic side of the phrase, in which the adjective is used in the form of a comparative degree, will suffer.
Qualitative adjectives in English have three degrees of comparison: positive, comparative, and excellent.
- A positive degree (The Positive Degree) denotes the quality of an item beyond comparison with any other item with the same quality.
- A comparative degree (The Comparative Degree) indicates a higher degree of quality in one subject compared to another subject with the same quality. When comparing, the union than is often used - than.
- An excellent degree (The Superlative Degree) indicates the highest degree of quality of an object among all other homogeneous objects that have the same quality.
A positive degree indicates a quality. She is the adjective itself:
- full (full), polite (polite), profound (thorough), noble (noble), beautiful (beautiful).
comparative
First, briefly talk about the positive degree. A positive degree is a simple form of an adjective: smart, funny, soft. You find this form in dictionaries. For example: brave (brave), new (new), cold (cold).
A comparative degree is used when comparing the characteristics of two or more objects, persons. Words such as “faster”, “higher”, “stronger” are comparative adjectives. How to form it?
To short adjectives (consisting of one or two syllables) you need to add the ending -er:
- cheap (cheaper) - cheaper (cheaper)
- narrow (narrow) - narrower (already)
- long (longer) - longer (longer).
If the adjective ends with -e, then we simply add -r:
- close (close) -closer (closer).
If the adjective ends with -y, then -y changes to -i:
- lucky (lucky) - luckier (more lucky)
- easy - easier.
If the adjective ends in a consonant, then the final consonant is doubled:
- big (big) - bigger (more)
- hot (hot) - hotter (hot).
The comparative degree of long adjectives (more than 2 syllables) is formed using the words more (more) and less (less):
- expensive (expensive) - more expensive (more expensive)
- serious (serious) -less serious (less serious)
- comfortable - more comfortable.
Superlative
The superlative degree of adjective comparison indicates the greatest manifestation of quality. This degree also has a simple and compound form similar to a comparative degree. In the majority of cases, adjectives are superlatively marked with the article the.
A simple form is formed by adding the ending - est:
- full - the fullest
- deep - the deepest
- polite - politest (polite - the most polite)
- happy - the happiest
- silly -the silliest (stupid - most stupid)
- big -the biggest
- The complex form of the superlative degree of comparison is formed by adding the word most:
- beautiful - the most beautiful
- curious - the most curious (curious - most curious)
Here are usage examples superlatives in the sentences.
- Bob is the cleverest man I’ve ever met.
- Molly is the most attentive girl in her class.
- Lack of money is our biggest problem.
- Yours is the silliest joke I’ve ever heard.
The article before adjectives
Comparative degree has one more important rule: any adjective in superlative degree, whether it was created by means of an analytical construction, or synthetic, always has before it the definite article “the”. This rule is valid because any defining word in most cases denotes a noun that comes immediately after it. If there is no noun, then the use of a certain article is still an integral action, since the adjective in any case implies a person or object:
- My grandfather is the oldest man in his village - my grandfather is the oldest in his village.
- It was a very expensive restaurant, the most expensive which I saw - it was a very expensive restaurant, the most expensive I saw.
As can be seen from the second part of the second example, the superlative comparative degree of the adjective must have a definite article even without the presence of the noun that follows. In the example, the noun is not written, but it is understood: the most expensive (restaurant), which I saw.
Exception words
The comparative degree of the adjective works in a slightly different way for a group of fairly common words that use their unique ways of changing. There are few such words, so memorizing their forms will not take much time, however, you need to know them. Conventionally, such words can be called "wrong adjectives." These include such words as “bad” - bad (worse - worst), “little” - little (less - least), “much” - much \\ many (more - most), “good” good (better - best ) An interesting fact is that such definitions are “incorrect” in a number of other languages, where their comparative degree of adjective also does not obey the general rules.
Do not get confused when working with the words little and small. In both cases, the comparative degree translates to “less,” but in the variant with little it is less, and in the variant with small it is smaller:
- I have less powers than you - I have less authority than you.
- I`m smaller than my brother - I am less than my brother.
The comparative degree of the adjective, which translates into Russian as “more”, also deserves special attention:
- You have more money than he - you have more money than him.
- My brother is bigger than you - my brother is bigger than you.
As you can see, these words are quite common, and everyone came across them in certain cases.
Education Features
The comparative degree of monosyllabic (as a rule) and some two-syllable adjectives is formed by adding the suffix to the positive form - er. and the superlative - suffix - est.
- large - larg er - larg est
big bigger Biggest
Two-syllable adjectives that form degrees of comparison according to this general rule include adjectives ending in - le, -er, -ow. and some others.
- simple - simpler - simplest
simple - simple - the simplest - clever - cleverer - cleverest
smart - smarter - the smartest - narrow - narrower - narrowest
narrow - already - narrowest
In monosyllabic adjectives ending in one consonant with the previous short vowel, this final consonant is doubled.
- big - bigg er - bigg est
- hot - hotter - hottest
hot - hot - hottest
Adjectives ending in a consonant y (or - ly), to a comparative and superlative degree, the letter y changes to i and the ending is added accordingly - er and - est.
- dry - drier - driest
dry - drier - driest - happy— happier - happiest
happy - happier - happiest
For adjectives ending in a mute vowel e, this final vowel (dumb e) is omitted and the ending is appended accordingly - er and - est.
- large - larger - largest
big - big - biggest - white - whiter - whitest white - whiter - whiter
In most two-syllable and all polysyllabic adjectives, a comparative degree is formed by adding an adverb to a positive form more. and to the superior - adverbs most.
- interesting - more interesting - most interesting
interesting - more interesting (more interesting) - the most interesting (interesting) - difficult - more difficult - most difficult
difficult - harder (more difficult) - the most difficult
Special adjectives
And in English there is a list of adjectives that can be used with suffixes, and with words more/most, less/least.
| Word | Transfer |
|---|---|
| Abble | Capable |
| Angry | Evil |
| Clever | Clever |
| Common | General |
| Cruel | Cruel |
| Friendly | Friendly |
| Gentle | Gentle |
| Handsome | Nice |
| Narrow | Narrow |
| Pleasant | Pleasant |
| Polite | Polite |
| Quiet | Quiet |
| Serious | Serious |
| Simple | Plain |
| Sour | Sour |