The Comparison of Adjectives

Comparison of monosyllabic adjectives

Monosyllabic adjectives are compared with -er, -est.

positive	comparative	superlative
strong	stronger	strongest
small	smaller	smallest
late	later	latest
nice	nicer	nicest
big	bigger	biggest
thin	thinner	thinnest
fat	fatter	fattest

Example: London is bigger than Vienna.

Disyllabic adjectives ending with y, er, ow, le are compared with -er, -est.

positive	comparative	superlative
easy	easier	easiest
happy	happier	happiest
clever	cleverer	cleverest
narrow	narrower	narrowest

Example: Which is the easiest exercise?

All the other adjectives are compared with more, most.

positive	comparative	superlative
careful	more careful	most careful
expensive	more expensive	most expensive
difficult	more difficult	most difficult
tired	more tired	most tired
terrible	more terrible	most terrible

Which dress is more expensive? Which dress is the most expensive?

Special adjectives can be compared with -er, -est or more, most.

(not) as ... as

Ann is as tall as Mary.

I think tomorrow it will be as hot as today.

This test was not as difficult as the last one.