Adjectives can change form to show comparisons between two or more nouns or pronouns. The forms are called comparative and superlative.

1. Comparative Adjectives

Comparative adjectives compare two nouns or pronouns and often use the suffix -er or are formed by adding the word more or less before the adjective.

• Forming Comparatives:
  • For most one-syllable adjectives: add -er.
    • Example: tall → taller, fast → faster
  • For two-syllable adjectives ending in -y: change -y to -ier.
    • Example: happy → happier
  • For adjectives with two or more syllables: use more or less before the adjective.
    • Example: beautiful → more beautiful, difficult → less difficult
• In Sentences:
  • My brother is taller than me.
  • This movie is more interesting than the other one.

2. Superlative Adjectives

Superlative adjectives compare three or more nouns or pronouns and often use the suffix -est or are formed by adding the word most or least before the adjective.

• Forming Superlatives:
  • For most one-syllable adjectives: add -est.
    • Example: tall → tallest, fast → fastest
  • For two-syllable adjectives ending in -y: change -y to -iest.
    • Example: happy → happiest
  • For adjectives with two or more syllables: use most or least before the adjective.
    • Example: beautiful → most beautiful, difficult → least difficult
• In Sentences:
  • He is the tallest player on the team.
  • This is the most difficult test I’ve ever taken.

Irregular Comparatives and Superlatives: Some adjectives have irregular forms for comparative and superlative degrees.

• Examples:
  • good → better → best
  • bad → worse → worst
  • far → farther → farthest