Inflection of adjectives

ComparisonKuiper and Allan Chapter 2.1.3

Comparison

• Adjectives may take two different endings, giving three forms, e.g.– positive form comparative form superlative

form– big bigger biggest– tall taller tallest– Not all adjectives take the -er and -est endings,

but use more and most, e.g.• evil more evil most evil• incredible more incredible most incredible

Exercise

• Divide the adjectives below into three groups: those which take the -er and -est endings, those which take more and most, and those which take neither of the above.– high, wide, dead, red, medical, ugly,

narrow, absolute, painful, final

Answers

– -er, -est more, most neither• high √ x x• wide √ x x• dead x x √• red √ x x• medical x x √• ugly √ √ x• narrow √ x x• absolute x x √• painful x √ x• final x x √

Gradability

• Note that not all adjectives take comparison.

• Some are gradable, e.g. you can be more or less tall.

• However a procedure can not be more or less medical. It’s either medical or it isn’t.

Comparison as a test for adjectives

• So comparison is a positive test for adjectives. If a word can take a comparative and superlative form then its an adjective.

Exercise Find the adjectives in the following poem:

The Lily

The modest Rose puts forth a thorn,The humble Sheep a threat’ning horn;While the Lily white shall in love delight,Nor a thorn nor a threat stain her beauty bright.

William Blake