Degrees of comparison of adjectives and adverbs in English

Comparative and superlative adjectives

Comparison in English: degrees of comparison

Learning English involves familiarizing oneself with various grammatical structures, and one of the fundamental aspects is understanding comparisons and degrees of comparison. These forms are crucial for expressing degrees of comparison between different objects. Let’s explore the basic rules and usage of degrees of comparison to enhance English language learning skills.

All About the Degrees of Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs

Certainly, to form comparisons in the English language, adjectives and adverbs undergo changes. These words can have three degrees of comparison: positive form, comparative form, and superlative form. However, it is important to note that degrees of comparison are not formed for relative, possessive, interrogative adjectives, and most quantitative adjectives, as well as certain adverbs.

Single-syllable adjectives and adverbs

  • To form the comparative and superlative degrees, we add “-er” and “-est” respectively.
    • Example: Tall → Taller → Tallest
    • Note: If the adjective ends in “-e,” we add only “-r” or “-st.”
    • Example: Large → Larger → Largest.

In cases where single-syllable adjectives and adverbs end in a single consonant letter preceded by a vowel, we double that consonant before the suffixes “-er” and “-est.” It’s important to note that the final “w” is never doubled in this context.

  • Big  → Bigger  → Biggest
  • Slim  → Slimmer  → Slimmest

Two-syllable Adjectives

For two-syllable adjectives ending in suffixes -ow, -le, -er, -y, there is an option to form the comparative and superlative degrees both by using the suffixes -er and -est and by employing the words “more” and “most.” The choice of a specific method depends on the speaker; however, the form created with the suffixes -er and -est is more commonly used for shorter words.

  • Change “-y” to “-ier” for the comparative degree and “-iest” for the superlative..
    • Example: Happy → Happier → Happiest

Let’s consider a few examples to illustrate the formation of the comparative and superlative degrees for two-syllable adjectives:

  1. Happy:
    • Positive: She is happy.
    • Comparative: She is happier today.
    • Superlative: Today is the happiest day of her life.
  2. Narrow:
    • Positive: The street is narrow.
    • Comparative: The alley is narrower than the street.
    • Superlative: The path between the buildings is the narrowest.
  3. Clever:
    • Positive: He is clever.
    • Comparative : She is cleverer than him.
    • Superlative: Jane is the cleverest student in the class.
  4. Busy:
    • Positive: The office is busy.
    • Comparative: The restaurant is busier during lunch hours.
    • Superlative: Friday evenings are the busiest time for the staff.
  5. Easy:
    • Positive: The task is easy.
    • Comparative: The second assignment is easier than the first.
    • Superlative: Multiple-choice questions are the easiest part of the test.

In these examples, you can see how the suffixes -er and -est are applied to form the comparative and superlative degrees of comparison.

Multi-syllable Adjectives and Adverbs

Two-syllable and three-syllable adjectives and adverbs, especially those incorporating the -ly suffix, can exhibit various degrees of comparison through the use of “more” and “the most.” Additionally, the use of “more” and “most” extends to the formation of comparative and superlative degrees for adjectives derived from participles, regardless of the number of syllables in the word.

  • Use “more” before the adjective for the comparative degree and “the most” for the superlative.
    • Example: Beautiful → More beautiful → The most beautiful

Let’s explore several examples for different types of adjectives and adverbs, where “more” and “most” are employed:

Examples with adjectives

  1. Beautiful:
    • Positive: She is beautiful.
    • Comparative: She is more beautiful than her sister.
    • Superlative: She is the most beautiful woman in the room.
  2. Difficult:
    • Positive: The task is difficult.
    • Comparative: The second assignment is more difficult.
    • Superlative: The final exam is the most difficult part of the course.
  3. Exciting:
    • Positive: The movie is exciting.
    • Comparative: The sequel is more exciting than the original.
    • Superlative: The climax is the most exciting moment in the film.

Examples with adverbs

  1. Quickly:
    • Positive: She finished quickly.
    • Comparative: She completed the race more quickly than the others.
    • Superlative: She is the most quickly adapting team member.
  2. Slowly:
    • Positive: He walks slowly.
    • Comparative: The old man walks more slowly than the young one.
    • Superlative: Among all, the turtle moves the most slowly.
  3. Carefully:
    • Positive: Handle the fragile items carefully.
    • Comparative: She handled the antique vase more carefully than expected.
    • Superlative: Of all the workers, he is the most carefully following the safety guidelines.

In these examples, you can see how “more” and “most” are used to form the highest and highest degrees of comparison for various adjectives and adverbs.

Exceptions in Comparison

Exceptions in English grammar, where comparative and superlative degrees are formed not by using “more” and “most” but have their own distinct forms, are quite significant. These words have irregular forms in the comparative and superlative degrees.

Several adjectives have irregular forms:

  • Good → Better → Best
  • Bad → Worse → Worst
  • Far → Further → Furthest

Comparative constructions

  • Using “than” for Comparisons::
    • Example: She is taller than me.
  • For expressing equality, we use “as … as“::
    • Example: She is as tall as me.
  • To convey inequality, we use “not as…as” or “not so…as“:
    • Example: She is not as tall as me.
  • The superlative degree is always accompanied by the article “the“:
    • Example: She is the tallest girl in the class.

Learning comparisons in the English language may pose a challenge, but with the right approach and practice, you can master them. We recommend progressing gradually in studying this topic, finding engaging learning resources, and actively practicing. The more you practice, the more proficient you’ll become in this essential aspect of English grammar.

Practice for learning comparative adjectives and adverbs

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Comparative and superlative adjectives

Practice. Comparatives - Superlatives

-Please, give me this bouquet of flowers. I think it is___ than the rest ones.

- But it’s ___ .
-Never mind. I’ll buy it.

It’s ___ powder I have ever used

John is ___ of all to act.

Your English is much ___ now. You’ve made___ mistakes this time.

This girl is ___ intelligent than the rest of the class.

Two heads are ___ than one.

He is ___ strong ___ his brother.

Do you have ___ or ___ rain this autumn than the last one.

Please, tell me something ___ than this old joke.

It was ___ music I have ever heard

Why didn’t you discuss this question yesterday?  It was ___ important than the others.

Mark Twain, one of ___ and ___ American writers, lived in a small town in his childhood.

We have ___ money than they have.

Alice came late, Philip came later, and Tony ___

This question is ___ than the first one, let’s discuss it tomorrow.

I have ___ time than he does.

The Thames is ___ river in Great Britain.

English grammar is ___ than Ukrainian one.

Of the four girls Marcia is ___ .

Do you have ___ or ___ sunny days this summer?

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