1. Most adjectives of one syllable and some of more than one syllable form the comparative by adding “-er” and the superlative by adding “-est.” to the positive.
Positive Comparative Superlative
bold bolder boldest
clever cleverer cleverest
deep deeper deepest
sweet sweeter sweetest
tall taller tallest
2. When the positive ends in “e”, add “-r” for the comparative and “-st” for the superlative.
Positive Comparative Superlative
able abler ablest
brave braver bravest
fine finer finest
simple simpler simplest
wise wiser wisest
3. When the positive ends in “y”, preceded by a consonant, the “y” is changed into “i” before adding “-er” for the comparative and “-est” for the superlative.
Positive Comparative Superlative
busy busier busiest
happy happier happiest
noisy noisier nosiest
pretty prettier prettiest
4. When the positive is a word of one syllable and ends in a single consonant, preceded by a short vowel, the consonant is doubled before adding “–er” for the comparative and “-est” for the superlative.
Positive Comparative Superlative
big bigger biggest
fat fatter fattest
hot hotter hottest
sad sadder saddest
thin thinner thinnest
5. Adjectives of more than two or more syllables form the comparative by using the adverb “more”, and form superlative by using the adverb “most”.
Positive Comparative Superlative
beautiful more beautiful most beautiful
courageous more courageous most courageous
difficult more difficult most difficult
satisfactory more satisfactory most satisfactory
useful more useful most useful
Notes
(a). Be careful, not to use “more” along with a Comparative formed with “er”, and “most” along with a Superlative formed with “est”, i.e. do not write ‘more heavier’ or ‘most heaviest’.
(b). the “as…..as” construction is used to make a comparison expressing equality.
Example
- She is as intelligent as her mother.
6. Irregular Comparison: Some adjectives are compared irregularly, i.e. their comparatives and superlatives are not formed from the positive.
Positive Comparative Superlative
good better best
bad worse worst
little less least
far farther farthest
many more most
Activity”The Picture Game”
Level
All levels
Aims
Writing, grammar (structure, spellings)
Notes:Make photocopies of a picture containing three different animals or objects; e.g. a picture showing a cow, a rhinoceros and an elephant. Give each student a copy of this picture along with a sheet of paper. Ask the students to write their names on the sheet and make two sentences each for the positive, comparative and superlative degree by comparing and contrasting the animals or objects. They are also required to write the degree of adjective in a parenthesis at the end of each sentence. Let the students work individually. Set a time limit. At the end of the time limit, the sheets are collected and marked by the teacher.
Sample Sentences
- A cow is a large animal. (positive degree)
- The elephant has a long trunk. (positive degree)
- A rhinoceroses is larger than a cow. (comparative degree)
- A cow has thinner legs than a rhinoceroses. (comparative degree)
- An elephant is the largest of all these animals. (superlative degree)
Outcomes:This activity helps the teacher to know the students’ understanding of the positive, comparative and superlative degrees, spellings and grammatical structure. Besides, it helps the students to think creatively. Finally, it will ensure that they have understood the topic completely.