Comparison of Adjectives

Adjectives serve the dual purpose of being used as modifying words and indicating the position on a scale of comparison. The lowest point is known as the absolute form, the middle point is known as the comparative form, and the highest point is known as the superlative form.

Forming comparative and superlative from the base form is easy.

The form depends on the number of syllables in the original form.

One syllabled adjective

Add ‘er for comparative and ‘est’ for superlative.

If the adjective has a consonant and a single vowel and a final consonant then the final consonant must be doubled before adding the ‘er’.

Two syllabled Adjectives

I.  Adjectives with two syllables can form the comparative for either by adding the suffix ‘er’ or preceding the adjective with ‘more’.

Superlative can be formed taking the suffix ‘est’ or by preceding it with ‘most’.

Though in most cases both can be interchangeably used , in cases of uncertainty, it is always best to opt for ‘more’ and ‘most’ to form Comparative and Superlative, respectively.

II. For adjectives, ending in ‘y’ change the ‘y’ to and ‘I’ before adding the ‘er’ or ‘est’.

Three or more syllables

Adjectives with three or more syllables form Comparative by using ‘more’ and ‘most’ for Superlative.

However, there is a long list of irregular comparatives and superlatives where a totally different word is used.

We can also look at Comparison of Adjectives from another viewpoint:

1. Comparison of Similarity

2. Comparison of Difference

1.  Comparison of Similarity

·   X(be) + as +adjective +as+Y

Here, the positive form is itself used for comparisons as in the following sentences.

e.g.: A is as tall as B.

Which shows that both share similarity of characteristic, the difference lies in the degree of similarity.

·  To show a passage of time , we may make use of different forms of the verb (be)

e.g.: The weather in Patna was as hot as in Jaipur, that day.

I have been as busy as him lately.

2.   Comparison of Difference

·         X (be) + (single syllable adjective +er)/ (more+two syllable or more adjective)/ ( two syllable adjective –y* ending + ier) / (more + three syllable adjective) + than Y.

e.g.:         The north is drier than the South.

                The village is more peaceful than the city.

                The next recital will be easier than the last one.

                The Mountains are more beautiful than the plains.

• ‘Less’ is also used to make comparisons of difference, where the difference is in degree / intensity.

e.g.: She is less friendly than her sister.

Manali is less cold than Shimla.

·  ‘Far’ and ‘Much’ are also used to emphasize a wide difference.

e.g.: The Punjabi weddings are far louder than Bengali marriages.

The backwaters of Kerala are far more beautiful than many a foreign locales.

English Grammar and Composition

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