The comparative and superlative forms of adjectives

THE COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE FORMS OF ADJECTIVES

1.   To make the Comparative and Superlative forms of Adjectives, add er and est to the Positive form in the case of short words. Use more and most in the case of long words.

e.g.

• Short: shorter: shortest. Hot: hotter: hottest.
• Beautiful: more beautiful: most beautiful.

2 .  Use the Comparative form for two and the Superlative form for more than two.

e.g.

• He is the cleverer of the two boys.
• He is the cleverest of the three boys.

3.   Use the with the Superlative form. Do not use a.e.g.

• This is the best book I have ever read.
• He is the cleverest boy in the class.

4.   Use the with the Comparative form when than is not used.

• Which of the two boys is the cleverer?
• He is cleverer than his brother.

5.   Never use a double Comparative or Superlative, e.g. more better or most cleverest.

• It is perfectly correct to say much better.

6.   Than is normally used with the Comparative form.

e.g.

• He is older than I am. I am younger than he is.

But the comparative words superior, inferior, senior and junior are followed by to and not than.

e.g.

• I am senior (junior) to him.
• This cloth is superior (inferior) to that.

7.   Never use the Positive form with than. Use the Comparative form.

e.g. Not: He is clever than his brother.

       But: He is cleverer than his brother.

      Not: He is cleverer than any boy in his class.

      But: He is cleverer than any other boy in his class.