Forming regular comparatives and superlatives

How these forms are created depends on how many syllables there are in the adjective.
Syllables are like "sound beats". For instance, "sing" contains one syllable, but "singing"
contains two -- sing and ing. Here are the rules:

Adjective form Comparative Superlative

Only one syllable, ending in E.
Add -R: Add -ST:
Examples:
wider, finer, cuter widest, finest, cutest
wide, fine, cute

Only one syllable, with one

Double the consonant, Double the consonant,
vowel and one consonant at the
and add -ER: and add -EST:
end. Examples:
hotter, bigger, fatter hottest, biggest, fattest
hot, big, fat

Only one syllable, with more

than one vowel or more than
Add -ER: Add -EST:
one consonant at the end.
lighter, neater, faster lightest, neatest, fastest
Examples:
light, neat, fast

Change Y to I, then add

Two syllables, ending in Y. Change Y to I, then add
-EST:
Examples: -ER:
happiest, silliest,
happy, silly, lonely happier, sillier, lonelier
loneliest

Use MORE before the Use MOST before the

Two syllables or more, not adjective: adjective:
ending in Y. Examples: more modern, more most modern, most
modern, interesting, beautiful interesting, more interesting, most
beautiful beautiful

How to use comparatives and superlatives

 Comparatives are used to compare two things. You can use
sentences with THAN, or you can use a conjunction like BUT.
Examples:
Comparatives
• Jiro is taller than Yukio.

• Yukio is tall, but Jiro is taller.

Superlatives are used to compare more than two things.

Superlative sentences usually use THE, because there is only
one superlative. Examples:
Superlatives
• Masami is the tallest in the class.

• Yukio is tall, and Jiro is taller, but Masami is the tallest.

Exercise on Comparison of Adjectives

Fill in the correct form of the words in brackets (comparative or superlative).

1. My house is (big) than yours.

2. This flower is (beautiful) than that one.
3. This is the (interesting) book I have ever read.
4. Non-smokers usually live (long) than smokers.
5. Which is the (dangerous) animal in the world?
6. A holiday by the sea is (good) than a holiday in the mountains.
7. It is strange but often a coke is (expensive) than a beer.
8. Who is the (rich) woman on earth?
9. The weather this summer is even (bad) than last summer.
10. He was the (clever) thief of all.

Suggested by Youssef LAAMIMI

To Atmanis.