Comparison of Adjectives

Positive Form

Use the positive form of the adjective if the comparison contains one of the following expressions:
as … as

Example: Jane is as tall as John.

not as … as / not so … as

Example: John is not as tall as Arnie.

Comparative Form and Superlative Form (-er/-est)

• one-syllable adjectives (clean, new, cheap)
• two-syllable adjectives ending in -y or -er (easy, happy, pretty, dirty, clever)

positive form	comparative form	superlative form
clean	cleaner	(the) cleanest

Exceptions in spelling when adding -er / -est

• silent ‘e’ is dropped
  Example: late-later-latest
• final ‘y’ after a consonant becomes i
  Example: easy-easier-easiest
• final consonant after short, stressed vowel is doubled
  Example: hot-hotter-hottest

Comparative Form and Superlative Form (more/most)

• adjectives of three or more syllables (and two-syllable adjectives not ending in -y/-er)

positive form	comparative form	superlative form
difficult	more difficult	most difficult

Comparative Form and Superlative Form (irregular comparisons)

positive form	comparative form	superlative form
good	better	best
bad / ill	worse	worst
little (amount)	less	least
little (size)	smaller	smallest
much / many	more	most
far (place + time)	further	furthest
far (place)	farther	farthest
late (time)	later	latest
late (order)	latter	last
near (place)	nearer	nearest
near (order)	-	next
old (people and things)	older	oldest
old (people)	elder	eldest