7.1 Usage: To compare the description of two or more people/animals/things/places.

e.g. John is young but Mary is younger and Michael is the youngest.

7.2 Structure: Regular Adjectives:

e.g. Adjective Comparative Superlative

young younger youngest

small smaller smallest

There are five rules for the construction of the Comparative and Superlative forms of regular adjectives.

A: Short adjectives of one syllable add -er and -est to the adjective:

e.g. old older oldest

Here are more examples of adjectives of one syllable: young, small, tall, cheap, few.

B: When an adjective ends in -y, change this letter to -i and add -er and -est:

e.g. easy easier easiest

Here are more examples of adjectives that end in -y: heavy, early, busy, healthy, noisy, lucky, silly, happy.

C: When an adjective ends in -e, remove the -e and then add -er and -est:

e.g. large larger largest

Here are some more examples of adjectives that end in -e: brave, wise, safe, pale, simple, late.

D: When an adjective ends with a vowel plus a consonant, double the consonant and then add -er and -est:

e.g. big bigger biggest

Here are some more examples of adjectives of this type: thin, hot, fat, fit.

E: Adjectives of three or more syllables and some adjectives of two syllables do not change but more and most are put in front of these adjectives:

e.g. beautiful more beautiful most beautiful

Here are some more examples of adjectives of this type: delicious, efficient, humorous, expensive, careful, modern, famous, correct, honest.

7.3 Structure: Irregular Adjectives:

There are three adjectives which do not follow any rule: these must be memorised:

Adjective Comparative Superlative

good better best

bad worse worst

far farther/further farthest/furthest