I’m going to start this by asking you to stick with me for a moment. The big words in the heading might make this post look like it covers some deeply technical and complicated grammar rules; I assure you they are not complicated.
Positive only means that the adjective represents a characteristic of something. Perhaps somewhat misleadingly, this use of the word does not automatically mean that the characteristic is good, only that it is present. Some of my clients have difficulty with this, so this explanation is for them. For the rest of you, it will be a review.
Comparative also means that the adjective represents a characteristic of something, but to a more significant degree. That is to say, comparative terms can only be used to establish a hierarchical relationship between two or more parties.
Superlative means that the adjective represents a characteristic of something to the highest possible degree. At least in the US, this term is most widely associated with the practice of assigning various traits to graduating students in their yearbook (e.g., ‘most likely to succeed’, which reminds me of a joke.)
One-Syllable Adjectives
For nearly all one-syllable (or monosyllabic) adjectives, forming the positive, comparative, and superlative forms is relatively easy. With some conditions, the basic format is as follows:
The positive form is simply the adjective itself.
The comparative form is the positive form plus -er.
The superlative form is the positive form plus -est.
Example:
‘Atoms are small, but electrons are even smaller, and quarks are the smallest.’
It is important to note that you typically need to precede it with ‘the’ when using the superlative. In this way, the superlative adjective acts somewhat like a noun. To learn more about this, see my previous post.
If the adjective ends in an ‘e’, the same rules apply. Just add -r and -st instead of -er and -est.
Example:
‘The Yangtze River is wide, but the Congo River is wider, and the Amazon River is the widest.’
Another thing to watch out for is if the adjective ends in a short-stressed vowel followed by a consonant. Here, the original rules still apply, but the consonant is doubled.
Example:
‘My house is big, but yours is bigger, and theirs is the biggest.’
Two-Syllable Adjectives
Two-syllable (otherwise called disyllabic) adjectives that end in -er, -y, -ow, or -le also use the same rules as above. In most cases, these adjectives will follow the rules established above, but there are some additional quirks.
Examples:
‘I am clever, but you are cleverer, and they are the cleverest.’
‘Many cheap shampoos are not very gentle. Some low-cost options can be gentler, but high-end salon brands tend to be the gentlest.’
For adjectives that end in -y, you do something a little different. Instead of simply appending -er and -est to the end for the comparative and superlative variations, you replace the ‘y’ with and ‘i’.
‘This is funny, but that is funnier. It may even be the funniest.’
Longer Adjectives and Rule-Breakers
So, now we have mastered converting adjectives into their various types… or have we? It turns out there’s still more to learn. Some disyllabic adjectives and trisyllabic (three-syllable), and polysyllabic (technically anything more than one syllable, but here meaning more than three) adjectives follow some slightly different rules. Luckily, these are very easy to understand and use.
Adjectives that do not fit into the and one and two-syllable categories we discussed above follow this basic format:
The positive remains the same as before, simply referring to the root adjective.
The comparative is where things start to change. Instead of adding the suffix ‘-er’ to the end of the root adjective, the word more is placed ahead of it.
Examples:
‘Chess is more difficult than checkers.’
‘Candidate A is more experienced than candidate B.’
The superlative follows this new pattern, replacing the ‘root + -est’ arrangement for just the root and substituting more for most.
Examples:
‘We believe this to be the most prudent course of action.’
‘Of all the holidays, she was most excited for Christmas.’
Irregular Adjectives
Just like with verbs, there are also a few irregular adjectives. These do not follow the typical rules laid out above when going from the root to the comparative and superlative forms. Instead, they are often totally different. The only thing you can do for these is memorize them. Luckily, there are far fewer common irregular adjectives than irregular verbs.
Below are the ones you are most likely to encounter:
Good → Better → Best
Well → Better → Best
Though subtly different in meaning, well and good both conjugate the same way in the positive/comparative/superlative series. Good means having generally desirable qualities. Well can occasionally mean the same but is commonly typically used with regards to health or performance.
Bad → Worse → Worst
Old → Elder → Eldest
Old is typically a regular adjective but becomes irregular when referring to the relative ages of family members (i.e., ‘He is the eldest child’).
Far → Further → Furthest
In a particularly tricky quirk of American English, far is conjugated regularly when referring to physical distances, but uses this irregular conjugation when referring to figurative distances (i.e., ‘Nothing could be further from the truth.’)
To learn more about using English grammar to craft clear, comprehensible work, contact me.