Comparison of ADJECTIVES & ADVERBS

REVIEW-Adjectives modify nouns and pronouns

Adverbs modify adjectives, verbs, and other adverbs

I. Levels of comparison

A. Most adjectives and adverbs have three degrees of comparison

1. Positive- used when no comparison is being made

Example: fast, tall, narrow, sunny

2. Comparative- used when two things are being

compared

- use –er or more to form the comparative

degree

- use –er for most one- and two-syllable adjectives

- use more for longer adjectives and most adverbs

Example: faster, taller, narrower, sunnier

3. Superlative- used when three or more things are compared

to show the modified word is the most extreme

- use –est or most to form the superlative degree

- used for most one- and two-syllable modifiers

Example: fastest, tallest, narrowest, sunniest

B. More and Most

1. Always use more or most to form the comparative and superlative degree of all modifiers that have three or more syllables

2. Never use –er or –est with modifiers of more than three syllables

*Incorrect: She is the beautifuliest girl in the room.

3. Use more and most with most adverbs ending in –ly

4. Do not use more or most with an –er or –est ending

*Incorrect: Helen is more smarter than I am.

Examples: more popular, most popular

more capable, most capable

more necessary, most necessary

more affectionate, most affectionate

more quickly, most quickly

C. Irregular Modifiers

1. These modifiers must be memorized

2. The positive form is different from the comparative and superlative

POSITIVE / COMPARATIVE / SUPERLATIVE
BAD, BADLY / WORSE / WORST
FAR (DISTANCE) / FARTHER / FARTHEST
FAR (EXTENT) / FURTHER / FURTHEST
GOOD / BETTER / BEST
WELL / BETTER / BEST
MANY / MORE / MOST
MUCH / MORE / MOST
LITTLE (QUANTITY) / LESS / LEAST
LITTLE (SIZE) / LITTLER / LITTLEST
SOME / MORE / MOST

Rule of degree:

To describe 1 thing, use the positive degree.

To compare 2 things, use the comparative degree.

To compare 3 or more things, use the superlative degree

Exercise- Fill in the missing columns with the appropriate degree

Positive / Comparative / Superlative
High
Smarter
Slowly
Most beautiful
More natural
Long
Youngest