Methods of forming degrees of comparison of Adjectives

There are seven methods of forming degrees of comparison of Adjectives. 

Method # 1

Most adjectives of one or more syllable form comparative degree by adding ‘er’ and superlative degree by adding ‘est’ to the positive degree.

 

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
black	blacker	blackest
bold	bolder	boldest
clever	cleverer	cleverest
deep	deeper	deepest
great	greater	greatest
hard	harder	hardest
kind	kinder	kindest
long	longer	longest
proud	prouder	proudest
rich	richer	richest
small	smaller	smallest
short	shorter	shortest
sweet	sweeter	sweetest
tall	taller	tallest
young	younger	youngest
old	older	oldest
cold	colder	coldest
shallow	shallower	shallowest

 

Method # 2

Positive degree adjectives that ends in ‘e’ adds only ‘r’ and ‘st’ for forming comparative and superlative degree respectively.

 

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
able	abler	ablest
brave	braver	bravest
fine	finer	finest
large	larger	largest
late	later	latest
nice	nicer	nicest
noble	nobler	noblest
simple	simpler	simplest
true	truer	truest
white	whiter	whitest
wise	wiser	wisest

 

Method # 3

Positive degree adjectives that ends in ‘y’ preceded by a consonant, the ‘y’ is changed into ‘i’ while adding ‘er’ and ‘est’ for forming comparative and superlative degrees respectively.

 

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
heavy	heavier	heaviest
healthy	healthier	healthiest
happy	happier	happiest
dry	drier	driest
busy	busier	busiest
easy	easier	easiest
jolly	jollier	jolliest
shy	shier	shiest
merry	merrier	merriest
noisy	noisier	noisiest
pretty	prettier	prettiest
wealthy	wealthier	wealthiest
worthy	worthier	worthiest

Method # 4

Positive degree adjectives that ends in ‘y’ preceded by a vowel, the ‘y’ is not changed while adding ‘er’ and ‘est’ for forming comparative and superlative degrees respectively.

 

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
gay	gayer	gayest
grey	greyer	greyest

 

Method # 5

Positive degree adjective that ends in consonant preceded by a short vowel, the final consonant is doubled, while adding ‘er’ and ‘est’ for forming comparative and superlative degrees respectively.

 

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
big	bigger	biggest
fat	fatter	fattest
hot	hotter	hottest
mad	madder	maddest
red	redder	reddest
sad	sadder	saddest
thin	thinner	thinnest
wet	wetter	wettest

Method # 6

Adjectives of two or more than two syllables form the comparative degree by adding ‘more’, and ‘most’ for forming superlative degree.

 

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
beautiful	more beautiful	most beautiful
intelligent	more intelligent	most intelligent
courageous	more courageous	most courageous
difficult	more difficult	most difficult
industrious	more industrious	most industrious
learned	more learned	most learned
proper	more proper	most proper
satisfactory	more satisfactory	most satisfactory
useful	more useful	most useful

Method # 7

The last of the methods of forming degrees of comparison of Adjectives is that some adjectives are compared irregularly.

 

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
bad	worse	worst
evil	worse	worst
ill	worse	worst
far	farther	farthest
fore	former	foremost
good	better	best
well	better	best
hind	hinder	hindmost
late	later, latter	latest, last
little	less	least
many	more	most
much	more	most
nigh	nigher	nighest, next
old	older, elder	oldest, eldest