Mario Quirós Technical High-School English Department Level: 8th graders Professor: Ariel Martínez S.

Comparative form of adjectives

1. One-syllable adjectives.

Form the comparative of a one-syllable adjective by adding -ER

One-Syllable Adjective Comparative Form

tall taller

old older

long longer

Mary is taller than Max.

Max is older than John.

My hair is longer than your hair.

If the one-syllable adjective ends with an E… just add –r for the comparative

form

Examples: RudE RUDer

LargE LARGer

WisE WISer

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.

One-Syllable Adjective Ending with a Single Consonant with a Single Vowel before It

Comparative Form

big bigger

thin thinner

fat fatter

My dog is bigger than your dog.

Max is thinner than John.

My mother is fatter than your mother.

2. Two-syllable adjectives.

With most two-syllable adjectives, you form the comparative with more and the

superlative with most.

Two-Syllable

Adjective Comparative Form

peaceful more peaceful

pleasant more pleasant

careful more careful

This morning is more peaceful than yesterday morning.

Max is more careful than Mike.

If the two-syllable adjective ends with a –Y, add –er for the comparative form.

Two-Syllable

Adjective Ending

with -y

Comparative Form

happy happier

angry angrier

busy busier

John is happier today than he was yesterday.

Max is angrier than Mary.

Mary is busier than Max.

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.

3. Two or more syllable adjectives.

For adjectives with three syllables or more, you form the comparative with more.

Adjective with Three

or More Syllables Comparative Form

generous more generous

important more important

intelligent more intelligent

John is more generous than Jack.

Health is more important than money.

Women are more intelligent than men.

Be careful with exceptions

Irregular adjectives.

Irregular Adjective Comparative Form

good better

bad worse

far farther

little less

Italian food is better than American food.

My mother's cooking is worse than your mother's cooking.

Two-syllable adjectives that follow two rules. These adjectives can be used with

–er.

Two-Syllable Adjective

Comparative Form

clever cleverer

clever more clever

gentle gentler

gentle more gentle

friendly friendlier

friendly more friendly

quiet quieter

quiet more quiet

simple simpler

simple more 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.

Adapted from: http://www.eflnet.com/tutorials/adjcompsup.php