Grammatical constructions used for comparing adjectives

There are three forms of comparison:

positive

comparative

superlative
1. Comparison with -er/-est
clean cleaner (the) cleanest
We use -er/-est with the following adjectives:
1.1. Adjectives with one syllable
positive

comparative

superlative

clean

cleaner

cleanest

new

newer

newest

cheap

cheaper

cheapest

1.2. Adjectives with two syllables and the following endings:

1.2.1. Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -y

positive

comparative

superlative

dirty

dirtier

dirtiest

easy

easier

easiest

happy

happier

happiest

pretty

prettier

prettiest

1.2.2. Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -er

positive

comparative

superlative

clever

cleverer

cleverest

1.2.3. Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -le

positive

comparative

superlative

simple

simpler

simplest

1.2.4. Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -ow

positive

comparative

superlative

narrow

narrower

narrowest

1.3. Spelling of the adjectives using the endings -er/-est

positive

comparative

superlative

comment

large

larger

largest

leave out the silent -e

big

bigger

biggest
Double the consonant after short vowel

sad

sadder

saddest

dirty

dirtier

dirtiest

Change -y to -i (consonant before -y)

shy

shyer

shyest

Here -y is not changed to -i.

(although consonant before -y)

2. Comparison with more most

all adjectives with more than one syllable (except some adjectives with two syllables see 2.1.
to 2.4.)

positive

comparative

superlative

difficult

more difficult

(the) most difficult

3. Irregular adjectives
positive

comparative

superlative

comment

good

better

best

bad

worse

worst

much

more

most

uncountable nouns

many

more

most

countable nouns

little

less

least

little

smaller

smallest

4. Special adjectives
Some adjectives have two possible forms of comparison (-er/est and more/most).

positive

comparative

superlative

clever

cleverer / more clever

cleverest / most clever

common

commoner / more common

commonest / most common

likely

likelier / more likely

likeliest / most likely

pleasant

pleasanter / more pleasant

pleasantest / most pleasant

polite

politer / more polite

politest / most polite

quiet

quieter / more quiet

quietest / most quiet

simple

simpler / more simple

simplest / most simple

stupid

stupider / more stupid

stupidest / most stupid

subtle

subtler / more subtle

subtlest / most subtle

sure

surer / more sure

surest / most sure

5. Difference in meaning with adjectives

positive

comparative

superlative

comment

farther

farthest

distance

furthest

distance or
time

far
further

later

late

latest

latter

last

older

oldest

people and things

eldest

people (family)

nearest

distance

next

order

old
elder

nearer
near
x

Comparative/superlative
Comparative is the name for the grammar used when comparing two things. The two basic ways
to compare are using as .. as or than. Examples of each are shown below:

She's twice as old as her sister.

He's not as stupid as he looks!

I'm almost as good in maths as in science.

This book is not as exciting as the last one.

The cafeteria is not as crowded as usual.

Russian is not quite as difficult as Chinese.

This computer is better than that one.

She's stronger at chess than I am.

It's much colder today than it was yesterday.

Our car is bigger than your car.

This grammar topic is easier than most others.

I find science more difficult than mathematics.

Today's ESL lesson was more interesting than usual.

Note: In each of the example sentences above, the comparative form of the adjective is shown.
See the foot of this page for information about the comparison of adverbs.
When comparing with as .. as, the adjective does not change. When comparing with than,
however, some changes are necessary, depending on the number of syllables the adjective has:
1-syllable adjectives: add -er to the adjective

My sister is much taller than me.

It's colder today than it was yesterday.

Note: If the word ends: consonant-vowel-consonant, then the last consonant is usually doubled in
the comparative. Examples: big-bigger, fat-fatter, hot-hotter.
2-syllable adjectives ending in -y: change the -y to -ier

She's looking happier today.

This grammar topic is easier than the last one.

Why is everyone else luckier than me?

Beware: Do not confuse adjectives and adverbs. 2-syllable adverbs ending in -y must be
compared with the word more. Example: I drive more quickly (quicklier) than my brother.
Other 2-syllable adjectives: use more with the unchanged adjective

The shops are always more crowded just before Christmas.

Is there anything more boring than reading about grammar?

My sister is more careful with her writing than I am with mine.

Note: The comparative of some shorter 2-syllable adjectives can be formed with -er.
Examples:simple-simpler, clever-cleverer, narrow-narrower. To be sure which comparative
method to use, you will need to consult a good dictionary.
Adjectives with 3 or more syllables: use more with the unchanged adjective

Russian grammar is more difficult than English grammar.

My sister is much more intelligent than me.

I find maths lessons more enjoyable than science lessons.

The older you get, the more irritating you become.

In the superlative you talk about one thing only and how it is the best, worst, etc. You do not
compare two things. The following guidelines apply to the superlative:
1-syllable adjectives: add -est to the adjective (plus the)

My sister is the tallest in our family.

Yesterday was the coldest day of the year so far.

Note: If the word ends: consonant-vowel-consonant, then the last consonant is usually doubled in
the superlative. Examples: big-biggest, fat-fattest, hot-hottest.
2-syllable adjectives ending in -y: change the -y to -iest (plus the)

The richest people are not always the happiest.

Which do you think is the easiest language to learn?

She's the luckiest person I know.

Beware: Do not confuse adjectives and adverbs. 2-syllable adverbs ending in -y form their
superlative with the words the most. Example: Of all the people I know my father drives the most
quickly (quickliest).
Other 2-syllable adjectives: use the most with the unchanged adjective

The most boring thing about ESL class is doing grammar exercises.
My sister is the most careful person I know.

Note: The superlative of some shorter 2-syllable adjectives can be formed with -er.
Examples:simple-simplest, clever-cleverest, narrow-narrowest. To be sure which superlative
method to use, you will need to consult a good dictionary.
Adjectives with 3 or more syllables: use the most with the unchanged adjective

Some people think that Russian is the most difficult language.

Albert Einstein was the most intelligent person in history.

My most enjoyable class is English.

You are the most irritating person I have ever met!

Following are two common irregular comaparative/superlative forms:

good-better-the best
bad-worse-the worst

The following guidelines apply to the comparative/superlative of most adverbs:

1-syllable adverbs: add -er/-est

I can run faster than you. / I can run the fastest in my class.
She works harder than me. / She works the hardest of all students.

Other adverbs: use more / the most*

She ran more quickly than me. / Of all the students she ran the most quickly.

* In informal English it is common to hear the adjectival comparative/superlative form of twosyllable adverbs. For example: She ran quicker than me. | She ran the quickest.

 Many educated English speakers prefer to use the nominative plus a verb rather than the
accusative in such comparative sentences, especially in formal situations. They say, for
example,My sister is taller than I am. or She ran more quickly than I did.
The alternative, omitting the verb as in the following examples, is considered to be even more
formal and is avoided by most British English speakers: My sister is taller than I. or She ran
more quickly than I.

Postoje tri stepena poreenja:

1.- positive
2.- comparative
3.- superlative
1. Positive
Pozitiv koristimo kada se poredimo sa nekim ko je isti kao i mi (ta god da je mera za
poreenje). Isto vai i za stvari, mesta, dogaaje.
Pametna sam kao i ti.
Znai odnos je 1:1
To to mi izrazimo kao i ., u engleskom koristimo sledeu konstukciju:
AS + ADJECTIVE (pridev) + AS
Tesla is as famous as Einstein.
John is as happy as Mary.
Ali, moe poreenje istog stepena da bude i negativno.
Nisam pametna kao i ti (koliko i ti).
U tom sluaju ispred pomenute konstrukcije dodajemo not
Avala is not as high as Kopaonik.

Sada idemo na komplikovanija pravila, koja se uz malo vebe vrlo brzo pretvore u rutinu, dakle
bez panike, koliko god da ovo to sledi, zvui suvoparno.
Za poreenje prideva u engleskom, bitno nam je koliko slogova- syllable ima dotini pridev.
Komparativ i superalativ (-er/-est)
1.- Jednosloni pridevi, one-syllable adjectives
clean cleaner cleanest
deep deeper deepest

2.- Dvosloni pridevi, koji se zavravaju na y, le, ow ili er

two-syllable adjectives ending in -y, -le, ow or -er
pretty prettier prettiest
simple simpler simplest
narrow narrower narrowest
clever cleverer cleverest
Kod ovih prideva, kako ste ve samo skontali, poreenje se vri dodavanjem nastavaka
er za komparativ
est za superlativ
Komparacija sa more/the most
Svi ostali pridevi, dvosloni sa drugim nastavcima, kao i viesloni ne menjaju svoj oblik, nego
se ispred njih u komparativu dodaje more u superlativu the most.
interesting more interesting most interesting
useful more useful most useful
wonderful more wonderful most wonderful

Malo pravopisa spelling, kod dodavanja prefiksa er/ -est

e na kraju, ako je silent ili to bi mi rekli nemo otpada
late-later-latest
ako se pridev zavava sa y ispred koga je suglasnik, menja se u ie
easy-easier-easiest
krajnji suglasnik, nakon naglaenog samoglasnika se udvostruava
hot-hotter-hottest
Naravno za kraj, tu su i pridevi koji se nepravilno porede, npr:
bad worse worst
far farther farthest
far further furthest
good better best
little less least
many more most

much more most