Comparative & Superlative -
    Adjectives of two or more syllables 1

Adjectives can have two additional forms to express degrees of modification: comparative and superlative.

Use the comparative form of an adjective when comparing one thing with another; and
the superlative form when comparing one thing with the rest (more than one) in the whole group.

Adjectives of two syllables

Adjective
Comparative
Superlative


replace -y with -ier replace -y with -iest
ends in -y busy
easy
lucky
heavy
pretty
sunny
happy
busier
easier
luckier
heavier
prettier
sunnier
happier
busiest
easiest
luckiest
heaviest
prettiest
sunniest
happiest


add - er add - est
ends with
unstressed vowel
narrow
simple
narrower
simpler
narrowest
simplest


use "more" use "most"
most adjectives useful
famous
modern
more useful
more famous
more modern
most useful
most famous
most modern
Adjectives of three or more syllables
most adjectives beautiful
practical
expensive
comfortable
more beautiful
more practical
more expensive
more comfortable
most beautiful
most practical
most expensive
most comfortable
Adjectives of one syllable | Irregular comparatives & superlatives


The word "the" precedes the superlative e.g., Jos is the fastest swimmer in her school.

Do not use "more" with a comparative adjective formed with -er (e.g., more fatter)
nor "most" with a superlative adjective formed with -est (e.g., most fattest).



1 Syllables are chunks of sound. All words have at least one syllable.
Examples: hot (1 syllable), happy (2 syllables) and beautiful (3 syllables).