Formation of the Comparatives and the Superlative

1. Most Adjective of one or more syllables from the Comparative Degree by adding “-er”; and the Superlative Degree, by adding ‘-est” to the Positive Degree, as,

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
black	blacker	blackest
bold	bolder	boldest
clever	cleverer	cleverest
deep	deeper	deepest
great	greater	greatest
hard	harder	hardest
kind	kinder	kindest
long	longer	longest
proud	prouder	proudest
rich	richer	richest
small	smaller	smallest
sweet	sweeter	sweetest
tall	taller	tallest
young	younger

youngest

2. If the Positive Degree ends in “,e” only “-r” and “-st” are added to form Comparative and Superlatives respectively ; as,

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
able	abler	ablest
brave	braver	bravest
fine	finer	finest
large	larger	largest
late	later	latest
nice	nicer	nicest
noble	nobler	noblest
simple	simpler	simplest
true	truer	truest
white	whiter	whitest
wise	wiser

wisest

3. If the Positive Degree ends in “y” preceded by a consonant, the “y” is changed into “I” while adding “-er” or “-est” to form Comparatives or Superlatives; as,

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
busy	busier	busiest
dry	drier	driest
easy	easier	easiest
happy	happier	happiest
heavy	heavier	heaviest
jolly	jollier	jolliest
merry	merrier	merriest
noisy	noisier	noisiest
pretty	prettier	prettiest
wealthy	wealthier

wealthiest

4. If the Positive Degree ends in “y” preceded by a vowel, the “y” is not changed while adding “-er” or “-est” to form Comparative or Superlatives; as,

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
gay	gayer	gayest
grey	greyer

greyest

5. If the Positive Degree ends in one consonant preceded by a short vowel, the final consonant is doubled, while adding “-er” or “-est” to form Comparatives or Superlatives; as,

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
big	bigger	biggest
fat	fatter	fattest
hot	hotter	hottest
mad	madder	maddest
red	redder	reddest
sad	sadder	saddest
thin	thinner	thinnest
wet	wetter

wettest

6. All Adjectives of more than two syllables (and some of two syllables also ) form the Comparative Degree by adding “more” ; and the Superlative, by adding “most” ; as,

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
beautiful	more beautiful	most beautiful
courageous	more courageous	mostcourageous
difficult	more difficult	most difficult
industrious	more industrious	most industrious
learned	more learned	most learned
proper	more proper	most proper
satisfactory	more satisfactory	most satisfactory
useful	more useful

most useful

7. The following Adjectives are compared irregularly

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
bad	worse	worst
evil	worse	worst
far	farther	farthest
fore	former	formost
good	better	best
hind	hinder	hindmost
ill	worse	worst
late	later,latter	latest,last
little	less	least
many	more	most
much	more	most
nigh	nigher	nighest,next
old	older,elder	oldest,eldest
well	better	best