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In the three sentences, the word big; red and expensive are the adjectives. They describe the noun of a cat; a hat and a car.
2.4.2.2 Adjective Comparison
English adjective comparison expression also has regular and irregular form. Below is the explanation.
2.4.2.2.1 Regular Forms
According to Harman 1950:84, most descriptive and a few definite adjectives have degrees of comparison. In comparing objects with each other, the
form of adjectives are changed or modified to show degree of quality, quantity or relation.
There are three kinds of comparison degrees. They are:
a. Positive
In positive degree, two units are compared to an equal degree. For example:
− Robert is as tall as Budi.
− Susans book is as expensive as Ucis.
b. Comparative
Comparative degree compares two units to unequal degree. The rule is by adding –er after the adjectives or more before them and
followed by than. For example: −
Robert is taller than Budi. −
Susans book is more expensive than Ucis.
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c. Superlative
It compares three or more units to an unequal degree. We use it when one thing is compared with all other things of the same class
but the thing possesses a quality or a quantity in the highest or the lowest degree. The rule is by adding –est after the adjectives or most
before them For example: −
Robert is the tallest boy. −
Susans book is the most expensive. Frank, 1972:118. Here are rules mentioned by Marianne and Diane 1999:720:
a. Adjectives of one syllable take the inflectional ending, as do two-
syllable adjectives with a final unstressed –y ending.
Base Form -er
big bigger tall
taller long
longer soon
sooner Etc.
b. Many other two-syllable adjectives that have a stressed first syllable
and an unstressed second syllable ending in -ly, -ow, or -le also take the inflection, although it is certainly possible to use the periphrastic
form in certain contexts.
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Base Form -er
narrow narrower =more
narrow gentle
gentler =more gentle Etc.
c. Some adjectives that seem more suited to the periphrastic
comparative form may also occur with an inflectional ending, especially in informal use. These include two-syllable adjectives
that a end in –er or –ure, such as tender, mature, b end in a weakly stressed vowel followed by nothing more than d or t,
such as stupid, quiet, and c end in a weakly stressed syllable with final m or n, such as handsome, common.
Base Form more
tender more tender
=tenderer stupid more
stupid =stupider
handsomer more handsome =handsomer
Etc.
d. Adjectives with two syllables having any ending other than those
described previously, as well as adjectives of three or more syllables, take only the periphrastic form more:
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Base Form more
curious more
curious beautiful
more beautiful
Etc.
2.4.2.2.2 Irregular Comparative Forms
Besides having regular form, this expression also have form of irregular. The table below provides the information.
Table 1. Irregular Comparative Forms
Positive Comparative Superlative good
bad much
many little
etc. better
worse more
more less
best worst
most most
least
2.5 Teaching Learning English in Junior High School
