1. Formation of the Comparatives and Superlatives of Adjectives

1. FORMATION OF THE COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES OF ADJECTIVES

There are two ways of forming the comparative and superlative in English:

a)  By adding the suffix –er to the absolute form to make the comparative and –est to make the superlative.

b)  By placing the word more in front of the absolute form to make the comparative and –the most to make the superlative.

Let’s examine which adjectives use either or both of these methods.

The following adjective make use of the suffixes –er and –est to form the comparative and superlative respectively:

1.  Monosyllables: tall-taller than-the tallest. However, it is not uncommon to find cases where they are formed by placing more and most in front of the absolute form. Some adjectives like real, right and wrong seem to prefer this method. It is more usual to find: more real than-the mot real. On the other hand, sometimes more and most are used with any adjective for stylistic reasons: more fresh and enjoyable.

2.  Words of two syllables ending in -y,-er, -le and –ow: happy-happier, the happiest / clever, cleverer, cleverest / gentle, gentler, the gentlest / narrow, narrower, the narrowest. Nevertheless, this rule has a number of exceptions: eager, subtle, fragile, etc.

3.  Words of two syllables having the stress on the last syllable: polite-politer-the politest / sincere-sincerer-the sincerest.

4.  Other two-syllable words with the stress on the first syllable: quiet-quieter-the quietest / handsome-handsomer-the handsomest. However, the use is variable and these adjectives tend to form the comparative and the superlative by using more and most. In fact, the use of more and most is becoming more and more common: more common-commoner/ the most common-the commonest.

5.  All two-syllable adjectives which have not been mentioned and all polysyllabic words form the comparative and the superlative by using more and most: stubborn-more stubborn, the most stubborn / intelligent-more intelligent-the most intelligent.

2. CHANGES IN SPELLING

The following spelling changes should be noted:

1.  Adjectives ending in –e add only –r for the comparative and –st for the superlative: nice-nicer-the nicest.

2.  Adjectives ending in –y preceded by a consonant change the y into i: easy-easier-the easiest. Nevertheless, when the y is preceded by a vowel, it does not change: grey-greyer-the greyest.

3.  Adjectives ending in a single consonant , preceded by a single short vowel sound, double the consonant: hot-hotter-the hottest.

3. IRREGULAR COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

The following adjectives form the comparative and the superlative irregularly:

The next three have two comparatives and superlatives:

Let us exemplify what they mean:

a)  His last novel (It may mean the last novel he ever wrote or the latest one of his to come out) / His latest novel (The most recent one).

b)  Older and the oldest are the most usual forms; elder and the eldest are used only to refer to family relationships: my elder brother. When followed by than, only older is used.

c)  Farther means ‘más lejos’, in space or in time; further can mean the same as farther, but it is also used in the sense of ‘adicional’, ‘más’: Have you any further information?. Both superlative forms mean the same ‘el más lejano, lo más lejos’.