10.

2 Spelling of comparatives and superlatives

Most are regular; they add –er and -est

Adjective Comparative Superlative

clean cleaner cleanest

clever cleverer cleverest

fast faster fastest

high higher highest

long longer longest

low lower lowest

short shorter shortest

tall taller tallest

Words ending in –e add –r and -st

Adjective Comparative Superlative

late later latest

ripe riper ripest

safe safer safest

Words ending in a single vowel and a single consonant,

double the consonant and add –er and –est

Adjective Comparative Superlative

big bigger biggest

hot hotter hottest

Words ending in –y change the -y to -i and add -er and -est

Adjective Comparative Superlative

dirty dirtier dirtiest

heavy heavier heaviest

lucky luckier luckiest

A few are irregular

 Adjective Comparative Superlative

good better best

bad worse worst

ill worse worst

far farther, further farthest, furthest

little1 - -

little1 less least

1 When ‘‘little’’ means pequeño, we normally use ‘‘smaller’’ and ‘‘smallest’’, e.g.:

Our flat is smaller than theirs.

(Nuestro piso es más pequeño que el suyo.)

When ‘‘little’’ means poco, the forms are ‘‘less’’ and ‘‘least’’, e.g.:

We have less money than they have.

(Tenemos menos dinero que ellos.)