We often use adjectives and adverbs to compare. There are three degrees of comparison, positive (or negative), comparative, and superlative.
- Definition:
-
If you are talking about only one thing, you can't really compare, but if the word modified possesses that characteristic, it is used in the positive. If it is a negative characteristic, it is in the negative.
I am old.
You are young.
- Definition:
-
If you are comparing two things, you must use the comparative (compare) form or degree.
I am older than my brother.
You are younger than your sister.
- Definition:
-
If you are comparing more than two things, you must use the superlative (super) form or degree.
I am the eldest of three sisters.
You are the youngest person in your family.
- Hint:
- Superman is the strongest. Superlative means the best.
Forming Degrees of Comparison
| Positives | Comparative | Superlative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| One syllable adjectives and adverbs |
add suffix er
bigger, older, newer |
add suffix est
biggest, oldest, newest |
|
|
Two syllable adjectives (Check a dictionary if you aren't sure.) |
some (including ones ending in y, ow, le) |
add suffix er
sillier, quieter, politer |
add suffix est
silliest, quietest, politest |
| some (including ones ending in ful) |
use more
more often, more careful |
use most
most often, most careful |
|
| some |
can either add suffix er or use more
heavier or more heavy |
can either add suffix est or use most
heaviest or most heavy |
|
| Two syllable adverbs |
use more
more quickly |
use most
most quickly |
|
| Three syllable adjectives and adverbs |
use more
more incredible |
use most
most incredible |
|
| Negatives | Comparative | Superlative | |
| all adjectives and adverbs |
use less
less friendly |
use least
least friendly |
|
- Hint:
-
When you are comparing one thing to the group, you can use the words other or else in your writing or in your mind to clarify what you are comparing.
James is taller than any boy in his class. (Is it comparative or superlative?)
James is taller than any other boy in his class. (It is clearly comparative.)Michelle is a better artist than anyone in her art class. (Which is it?)
Michelle is a better artist than anyone else in her art class. (Clearly superlative.)
- Hint:
-
Watch out for adjectives and adverbs that share the same root. They are not the same word.
careful, more careful, most careful
carefully, more carefully, most carefully
Spelling changes
One syllable adjectives with a short vowel before a single consonant usually double the consonant before adding the suffixes.
big - bigger, biggest; mad - madder, maddest
One syllable adjectives that end in silent e or two syllable words that end in le do not double the e.
cute - cuter, cutest; little - littler, littlest
When adding suffixes er and est to words ending in y, you must change the y to an i before adding the suffix.
merry - merrier, merriest; friendly - friendlier, friendliest