Form and use comparative and superlative adjectives
Key Notes:
1. Understanding Adjectives
Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns. They provide additional information about a noun’s quality, quantity, or state.
2. Types of Adjectives
Comparative and superlative adjectives are used to compare one noun with another or to compare multiple nouns.
a. Comparative Adjectives
- Definition: Comparative adjectives compare two nouns.
- Formation:
- For one-syllable adjectives, add -er (e.g., tall → taller).
- For adjectives with two syllables ending in -y, change -y to -i and add -er (e.g., happy → happier).
- For adjectives with two or more syllables, use more before the adjective (e.g., beautiful → more beautiful).
- Examples:
- “She is taller than her brother.”
- “This book is more interesting than the other.”
b. Superlative Adjectives
- Definition: Superlative adjectives compare three or more nouns, indicating the highest degree of a quality.
- Formation:
- For one-syllable adjectives, add -est (e.g., tall → tallest).
- For adjectives with two syllables ending in -y, change -y to -i and add -est (e.g., happy → happiest).
- For adjectives with two or more syllables, use most before the adjective (e.g., beautiful → most beautiful).
- Examples:
- “She is the tallest in her class.”
- “This is the most interesting book I have read.”
3. Irregular Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
Some adjectives do not follow the regular rules for comparison. Here are common irregular forms:
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| good | better | best |
| bad | worse | worst |
| far | farther/further | farthest/furthest |
| little | less | least |
- Examples:
- “This test is better than the last one.”
- “He is the best player on the team.”
4. Using Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
a. Using Comparatives
- Comparatives are often used with the conjunction “than”.
- Examples:
- “She is smarter than her peers.”
- “This car is faster than that one.”
b. Using Superlatives
- Superlatives often use the definite article “the” before the adjective.
- Examples:
- “He is the smartest student in the class.”
- “This is the fastest route to the city.”
5. Common Errors to Avoid
a. Incorrect Formation
- Incorrect: “He is the more taller player on the team.”
- Correct: “He is the taller player on the team.”
b. Overusing Comparatives
- Incorrect: “She is more smarter than her sister.”
- Correct: “She is smarter than her sister.”
c. Using Superlatives for Two Nouns
- Incorrect: “He is the tallest of the two.”
- Correct: “He is taller than the other.”
let’s practice!
