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