Gateway to Grammar: English Comparatives and Superlatives

To understand how to turn an adjective (a word that describes a noun) into a comparative (a word that compares things) or a superlative (a word that describes something as having the most of a quality), you need to understand syllables.

Syllables are the number of sounds in a word. Hello has 2 syllables (He – lo), Hippopotamus has 5 syllables (Hip – a – pot - a - mus). English adjectives with 1 syllable are turned into comparatives and superlatives differently to adjectives with 2 or more syllables. Let’s have a look at the different categories!

1 syllable adjectives

• Comparative: adjective +er/r = small -> smaller. Tall –> taller. Cute -> cuter.

• Superlative: adjective +est/st = small -> smallest. Tall -> tallest. Cute -> cutest.

Adjectives ending in y

• Comparative: remove the y and + ier = Shy - > Shier. Funny -> Funnier. Silly -> Sillier.

• Superlative: remove the y and + iest = Shy - > Shiest. Funny -> Funnier. Silly-> Silliest.

1 Syllable adjectives ending with a vowel (aeiou) then a consonant (yptk..etc)

• Comparative: double the ending letter and +er = hot -> hotter. Big -> bigger. Thin -> thinner.

• Superlative: double the ending letter and +est = hot -> hottest. Big -> biggest. Thin -> thinnest.

Adjectives with 2 or more syllables

• Comparative: put “more” before the adjective = intelligent -> more intelligent. Terrible -> more terrible.

• Superlative: put “most” before the adjective = intelligent -> most intelligent. Terrible -> Most terrible.

Confused? If it’s a short word you are going to end the comparative in an “er” sound, and the superlative with a “est” sound. If it ends in a “y” it will be “ier” and “iest”. Longer words sound really silly if you end them this way, so just stick the words “more”, and “most” on the front.

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