Form the comparative and superlative forms of a one-syllable adjective by adding –er for the comparative form and –est for the superlative.
| One-Syllable Adjective | Comparative Form | Superlative Form |
|---|---|---|
| tall | taller | tallest |
| old | older | oldest |
| long | longer | longest |
- Mary is taller than Max.
- Mary is the tallest of all the students.
- Max is older than John.
- Of the three students, Max is the oldest.
- My hair is longer than your hair.
- Max's story is the longest story I've ever heard.
If the one-syllable adjective ends with an e, just add –r for the comparative form and –st for the superlative form.
| One-Syllable Adjective with Final -e | Comparative Form | Superlative Form |
|---|---|---|
| large | larger | largest |
| wise | wiser | wisest |
- Mary's car is larger than Max's car.
- Mary's house is the tallest of all the houses on the block.
- Max is wiser than his brother.
- Max is the wisest person I know.
If the one-syllable adjective ends with a single consonant with a vowel before it, double the consonant and add –er for the comparative form; and double the consonant and add –est for the superlative form.
| One-Syllable Adjective Ending with a Single Consonant with a Single Vowel before It | Comparative Form | Superlative Form |
|---|---|---|
| big | bigger | biggest |
| thin | thinner | thinnest |
| fat | fatter | fattest |
- My dog is bigger than your dog.
- My dog is the biggest of all the dogs in the neighborhood.
- Max is thinner than John.
- Of all the students in the class, Max is the thinnest.
- My mother is fatter than your mother.
- Mary is the fattest person I've ever seen.
If the two-syllable adjectives ends with –y, change the y to i and add –er for the comparative form. For the superlative form change the y to i and add –est.
| Two-Syllable Adjective Ending with -y | Comparative Form | Superlative Form |
|---|---|---|
| happy | happier | happiest |
| angry | angrier | angriest |
| busy | busier | busiest |
- John is happier today than he was yesterday.
- John is the happiest boy in the world.
- Max is angrier than Mary.
- Of all of John's victims, Max is the angriest.
- Mary is busier than Max.
- Mary is the busiest person I've ever met.
Two-syllable adjectives ending in –er, -le, or –ow take –er and –est to form the comparative and superlative forms.
| Two-Syllable Adjective Ending with -er, -le, or -ow | Comparative Form | Superlative Form |
|---|---|---|
| narrow | narrower | narrowest |
| gentle | gentler | gentlest |
- The roads in this town are narrower than the roads in the city.
- This road is the narrowest of all the roads in California.
- Big dogs are gentler than small dogs.
- Of all the dogs in the world, English Mastiffs are the gentlest.
Irregular adjectives.
| Irregular Adjective | Comparative Form | Superlative Form |
|---|---|---|
| good | better | best |
| bad | worse | worst |
| far | farther | farthest |
| little | less | least |
| many | more | most |
- Italian food is better than American food.
- My dog is the best dog in the world.
- My mother's cooking is worse than your mother's cooking.
- Of all the students in the class, Max is the worst.
Two-syllable adjectives that follow two rules. These adjectives can be used with -er and -est and with more and most.
| Two-Syllable Adjective | Comparative Form | Superlative Form |
|---|---|---|
| clever | cleverer | cleverest |
| clever | more clever | most clever |
| gentle | gentler | gentlest |
| gentle | more gentle | most gentle |
| friendly | friendlier | friendliest |
| friendly | more friendly | most friendly |
| quiet | quieter | quietest |
| quiet | more quiet | most quiet |
| simple | simpler | simplest |
| simple | more simple | most simple |
- Big dogs are gentler than small dogs.
- Of all the dogs in the world, English Mastiffs are the gentlest.
- Big dogs are more gentle than small dogs.
- Of all the dogs in the world, English Mastiffs are the most gentle.