Comparison of adjectives

The adjectives in English

The comparison of adjectives

Sentences with comparisons

Exercises: Adjectives and adverbs

There are three forms of comparison:

- positive- comparative- superlative

A - Comparison with -er/-est

clean - cleaner - (the) cleanest

We use -er/-est with the following adjectives:

1) Adjectives with one syllable

positivecomparative

superlative

clean cleaner cleanest

new newer newest

cheap cheaper cheapest

2) Adjectives with two syllables and the following endings:

2 - 1) Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -y

positivecomparative

superlative

dirty dirtier dirtiest

easy easier easiest

happy happier happiest

pretty prettier prettiest

2 - 2) Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -er

positivecomparative

superlative

clever cleverer cleverest

2 - 3) Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -le

positivecomparative

superlative

simple simpler simplest

2 - 4) Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -ow

positivecomparative

superlative

narrow narrower narrowest

3) Spelling of the adjectives using the endings -er/-est

positive

comparative

superlative

comment

large larger largest leave out the silent -e

big bigger biggest Double the consonant after short vowelsad sadder saddest

dirty dirtier dirtiestChange -y to -i (consonant before -y)

shy shyer shyestHere -y is not changed to -i.(although consonant before -y)

B - Comparison with more - most

positi comparati superlative

ve ve

difficultmore difficult

(the) most difficult

all adjectives with more than one syllable (except some adjectives with two syllables - see 2 - 1 to 2 - 4)

C - Irregular adjectives

positive

comparative

superlative

comment

good better best  

bad worse worst  

much more most uncountable nouns

many more most countable nouns

little less least  

little smaller smallest  

D - Special adjectives

Some adjectives have two possible forms of comparison (-er/est and more/most).

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positive comparative superlative

clever cleverer / more clever cleverest / most clever

common commoner / more common commonest / most common

likely likelier / more likely likeliest / most likely

pleasant pleasanter / more pleasant pleasantest / most pleasant

polite politer / more polite politest / most polite

quiet quieter / more quiet quietest / most quiet

simple simpler / more simple simplest / most simple

stupid stupider / more stupid stupidest / most stupid

subtle subtler / more subtle subtlest / most subtle

sure surer / more sure surest / most sure

E - Difference in meaning with adjectives:

positive

comparative

superlative

comment

far

farther farthest distance

further furthestdistance ortime

late

later latest  

latter x  

x last  

oldolder oldest people and things

elder eldest people (family)

nearnearer nearest distance

x next order

Sentences with comparisons

The adjectives in EnglishThe comparison of adjectivesSentences with comparisonsExercises: Adjectives and adverbsthen or than - Exercise

1. something is similar A=B

Our car is as fast as Peter's car.

2. something is not similar A><B

a) Use not as ... as (to say that something is not similar)

John's car is not as fast as our car. (A><B)

b) Use than (to say that something is bigger or smaller)

Our car is faster than John's car. (A>B)John's car is slower than our car. (A<B)

NOTE!

Peter is taller than me. (informal)Peter is taller than I am. (formal)

Max is as tall as me. (informal)Max is as tall as I am. (formal)

Do not mix up than with then.see: then or than - Confusing words

Comparison of adverbs

Adverbs - Summary

The comparison of adverbs

The position of adverbs in sentences

Adverbs of frequency

Adverbs and adjectives have the same form

Adverbs, where the basis is not the adjective

Adverbs - two forms

Exercises: Adjectives and adverbs

The comparison of adverbs in English

There are three forms:

- positive - comparative- superlative

A - Comparison with -er/-est

hard - harder - (the) hardest

We use -er/-est with the following adverbs:

1) all adverbs with one syllable

positivecomparative

superlative

fast faster fastest

high higher highest

1) the adverb early

positivecomparative

superlative

early earlier earliest

B - Comparison with more - most

adverbs ending on -ly (except: early)

positive

comparative

superlative

carefully

more carefully

(the) most carefully

C - Irregular adverbs

positivecomparative

superlative

well better best

badly worse worst

much more most

little less least

farfartherfurther

farthestfurthest

ATTENTION!In informal English some adverbs are used without -ly (e.g. cheap, loud, quick). There are two forms of comparison possible, depending on the form of the adverb:

cheaply - more cheaply - most cheaplycheap - cheaper - cheapest

Adverbs with two forms

Adverbs - SummaryThe comparison of adverbsThe position of adverbs in sentencesAdverbs of frequencyAdverbs and adjectives have the same formAdverbs, where the basis is not the adjectiveAdverbs - two formsExercises: Adjectives and adverbs

These adverbs have two forms:

without -ly with -ly

fair fairlyfree freelyhigh highlylate latelymost mostlynear nearlypretty prettilyright rightlywrong wrongly

The following adjectives and adverbs have the same form:

Adjective Adverb

close closedaily dailyearly earlyfair fairfar farfast fastfree freehard hardhigh highlate latelike like

lilkely likelylive livelong longlow lowright rightwide widewrong wrong

Adverbs, where the basis is not the adjective

The following adverbs are not derived from adjectives:

Adverbs Comment

hereadverb of place

theretoday

adverb of time

nowthenstillsoonyetoften

adverb of frequencysometimesneverhard  hardly

The position of adverbs in sentences

We can put adverbs in different positions in sentences. There are three main positions but also a lot of exceptions.

In English we never put an adverb between the verb and the object.

We often play handball. - CORRECT WRONG: We play often handball.

The three main positions of adverbs in English sentences

1) Adverb at the beginning of a sentence

Unfortunately, we could not see Mount Snowdon.

2) Adverb in the middle of a sentence

The children often ride their bikes.

3) Adverb at the end of a sentence

Andy reads a comic every afternoon.

More than one adverb at the end of a sentence

If there are more adverbs at the end of a sentence, the word order is normally:

Manner - Place - Time

Peter sang the song happily in the bathroom yesterday evening.