Regular Comparison Forms of Degrees of Comparison

member. 7 We can use affixes the + –est + noun to denote that it is the highest degree of quality. For example: 1 Farras is the tallest boy in the class. 2 Kalimantan is the biggest island in Indonesia. 3 Justin Bieber is the most handsome singer from Canada. 4 Harry Potter is the most interesting book I’ve ever read.

3. Forms of Degrees of Comparison

Degrees of comparison are compared regularly in two different ways. 8

a. Regular Comparison

1 Comparison by adding –er and –est Words that have one or two syllables are formed in comparative adjective by adding –er taller and in superlative adjective by adding –est tallest. For instance, Positive Comparative Superlative Small Smaller Smallest Thick Thicker Thickest Cool Cooler Coolest Low Lower Lowest High Higher Highest a When the positive adjective has one syllable and ends with e, it is added by –r for the comparative adjective and –st for the superlative one. For instance, 7 Michael Swan, Practical English Usage, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1980, p. 144. 8 James C. Fernald, English Grammar Simplified, New York: Harper Row Publisher, 1979 p. 66 – 67. Positive Comparative Superlative Brave Braver Bravest Large Largest Largest Wise Wiser Wisest Wide Wider Widest Simple Simpler Simplest b When the positive adjective is monosyllable ends with a single consonant preceded by a single vowel, the final consonant is double before –er for the comparative adjective and –est for the superlative one. For instance, Positive Comparative Superlative Big Bigger Biggest Thin Thinner Thinnest Red Redder Reddest Slim Slimmer Slimmest c When the positive adjective has one syllable and ends with y preceded by a consonant, the y is changed to i before –er. For instance, Positive Comparative Superlative Happy Happier Happiest Dry Drier Driest Pretty Prettier Prettiest 2 Comparison by adding determiner more and most a We use more and most before adjectives if they have more than one or two syllables. For instance, Positive Comparative Superlative Charming More Charming Most Charming Handsome More Handsome Most Handsome Beautiful More Beautiful Most Beautiful Mesmerizing More Mesmerizing Most Mesmerizing Intelligent More Intelligent Most Intelligent Marvelous More Marvelous Most Marvelous b We use more and most before past participle adjective that has only one syllable. 9 For instance, Positive Comparative Superlative Bored More Bored Most Bored Creased More Creased Most Creased Pleased More Pleased Most Pleased Worn More Worn Most Worn

b. Irregular Comparison