English Grammar, Third edition (2011)
Reference Section
Forming comparative and superlative adjectives
R20 Information on how to use the comparatives and superlatives of adjectives is given in Chapter 2 (2.103 to 2.122).
R21 The comparative of an adjective is formed either by adding er to the end of the normal form of the adjective, or by putting more in front of it. The superlative is formed by adding est to the end of the adjective, or by putting most in front of it.
The choice between adding er and est or using more and most usually depends on the number of syllables in the adjective.
Superlatives are usually preceded by the.
R22 With one-syllable adjectives, you usually add er and est to the end of the normal form of the adjective.
tall |
taller |
the tallest |
||
quick |
quicker |
the quickest |
Here is a list of common one-syllable adjectives that form their comparatives and superlatives usually, or always, by adding er and est:
big
bright
broad
cheap
clean
clear
close
cold
cool
cross
dark
deep
dry
dull
fair
fast
fat
fine
firm
flat
fresh
full
great
hard
high
hot
large
late
light
long
loose
loud
low
new
nice
old
pale
plain
poor
proud
quick
rare
rich
rough
sad
safe
sharp
short
sick
slow
small
soft
strong
sweet
tall
thick
thin
tight
tough
warm
weak
wet
wide
wild
young
Note that when er and est are added to some adjectives, a spelling change needs to be made.
The patterns of spelling change in forming comparatives and superlatives from adjectives are explained in paragraph R27.
R23 You usually add er and est to two-syllable adjectives ending in y, such as funny, dirty, and silly.
happy |
happier |
the happiest |
||
easy |
easier |
the easiest |
Note that there is a spelling change here, which is explained in paragraph R27.
Some other two-syllable adjectives, not ending in y, also have comparatives and superlatives that are usually formed with er and est.
Here is a list of common two-syllable adjectives whose comparatives and superlatives are usually formed like this:
busy
dirty
clever
easy
funny
happy
heavy
lovely
lucky
pretty
quiet
silly
simple
steady
tiny
R24 Some other two-syllable adjectives usually have comparatives and superlatives formed with more and most.
careful |
more careful |
the most careful |
||
famous |
more famous |
the most famous |
Here is a list of common adjectives whose comparative and superlative forms are usually formed with more and most:
careful
common
famous
handsome
likely
mature
obscure
pleasant
polite
sudden
R25 Many two-syllable adjectives can have comparatives and superlatives with either the endings er and est, or more and most. In many cases, the er and est forms are more commonly found directly before the noun (in attributive position), and the more and most forms more commonly follow a linking verb such as be or become (in predicative position). For more information about attributive and predicative adjectives, see paragraphs 2.42 to 2.52.
…major hurricanes such as Katrina, the costliest disaster in U.S. history.
Energy is becoming more costly and supplies are drying up.
Less space seemed to make for a friendlier neighborhood feeling.
We are encouraging employers to be more friendly to the local environment.
Here is a list of common adjectives that can have either type of comparative and superlative:
angry
costly
cruel
friendly
gentle
narrow
remote
risky
shallow
stupid
subtle
R26 Adjectives that have three or more syllables usually have comparatives and superlatives with more and most.
dangerous |
more dangerous |
the most dangerous |
||
ridiculous |
more ridiculous |
the most ridiculous |
However, some three-syllable adjectives are formed by adding un to the beginning of other adjectives. For example, unhappy is related to happy and unlucky to lucky. These three-syllable adjectives have comparatives and superlatives formed either by adding er and est or by using more and most.
He felt crosser and unhappier than ever.
R27 When you add er or est to an adjective, you sometimes need to make another change to the end of the adjective as well.
If a one-syllable adjective ends in a single vowel letter followed by a single consonant letter, you double the consonant letter when adding er or est.
big |
bigger |
the biggest |
||
hot |
hotter |
the hottest |
However, you do not do this with two-syllable adjectives.
clever |
cleverer |
the cleverest |
||
stupid |
stupider |
the stupidest |
If an adjective ends in e, you remove the e when adding er or est.
wide |
wider |
the widest |
||
simple |
simpler |
the simplest |
Note that with adjectives ending in le, the comparative and superlative have two syllables, not three. For example, simpler (from simple /′SImpǝl/) is pronounced /′SImpǝl/.
If an adjective ends in a consonant letter followed by y, you replace the y with i when adding er or est.
dry |
drier |
the driest |
||
angry |
angrier |
the angriest |
||
unhappy |
unhappier |
the unhappiest |
Note that with shy, sly, and spry, you add er and est in the ordinary way.
R28 Good and bad have special comparatives and superlatives, which are not formed by adding er and est or by using more and most.
Good has the comparative better and the superlative the best.
There might be better ways of doing it.
This is the best museum we’ve visited yet.
Bad has the comparative worse and the superlative the worst.
Things are worse than they used to be.
The airport there was the worst place in the world.
Note that ill does not have a comparative form and so worse is used instead.
Each day Kunta felt a little worse.
R29 The adjective old has regular comparative and superlative forms but, in addition, it has the forms elder and the eldest. These forms are used only to talk about people, usually relatives.
…the death of his two elder brothers in the First World War.
Bill’s eldest daughter is a doctor.
Note that unlike older, elder never has than after it.
R30 There is no comparative or superlative of little in Standard English, although children sometimes say littler and the littlest. When you want to make a comparison, you use smaller and the smallest.
R31 The comparatives and superlatives of compound adjectives are usually formed by putting more and most in front of the adjective.
self-effacing |
more self-effacing |
the most self-effacing |
||
nerve-racking |
more nerve-racking |
the most nerve-racking |
Some compound adjectives have adjectives as their first part. Comparatives and superlatives of these compounds are sometimes formed using the comparative and superlative of the adjective.
good-looking |
better-looking |
the best-looking |
Similarly, some compound adjectives have adverbs as their first part. Their comparatives and superlatives are sometimes formed using the comparative and superlative of the adverb.
well-paid |
better-paid |
the best-paid |
||
badly-planned |
worse-planned |
the worst-planned |
The comparatives and superlatives of adverbs are explained in paragraphs R150 to R154.