Comparison
The degrees of comparison are
1. Positive
large , happy , small , careful , clever.
2. Comparative :
larger , happier , smaller , most careful , cleverer .
3. Superlative :
largest , happiest , smallest , most careful , cleverest .
The comparative and the superlative are formed as follows :
a. by adding "er/r" and "est/st" respectively to the positive .
This is done in the following situations .
1. When the adjective consists of one syllable only .
e.g.
small smaller smallest
big bigger biggest
high higher highest
dry drier driest
2. When a di syllabic adjective ends in "y" "er" "le" and "ow" .
(Notice that the final "y" is changed into "I" when the "y"
is preceded by a consonant .
Lovely lovelier loveliest
Clever cleverer cleverest
Noble nobler noblest
Shallow shallower shallowest
b. by using "more" and "most" before the adjective .
this is done with multi-syllabic adjectives as well as the di- syllabic adjectives other than those mentioned in "a2" above .
positive comparative superlative
careless more careless most careless
natural more natural most natural
harmful more harmful most harmful
dangerous more dangerous most dangerous
comfortable more comfortable most comfortable
Irregular Comparisons
Positive comparative superlative
Good better best
Bad worse worst
Many more most
Much more most
Little less least
Up upper uppermost
Far farther farthest (distance only)
further furthest (distance and time)
Old older oldest (people and things)
elder eldest (people only)
"elder" is never used before "than".
Best Regards
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