HOW TO FORM COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES FROM POSITIVES (Part 3)


HOW TO FORM COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES FROM POSITIVES (Part 3)
In this article, we will be opportune to consider another rule on formation of comparatives and superlatives from positives, and we would also give attention to irregular adjectives.
(4)     The Rule Guiding Formation of Comparatives and Superlatives from Words of Two or More Syllables and without ‘y’, ‘er’, or ‘ow’ at the End:
(i)                Add ‘more’ before such words to form the comparatives.
(ii)             Add ‘most’ before such words to form the superlatives.
Examples:
Positives               Comparatives               Superlatives
zealous                 more zealous                  most zealous
wonderful             more wonderful             most wonderful
unusual                more unusual                 most unusual
thoughtful            more thoughtful             most thoughtful
sensible                more sensible                 most sensible
terrible                  more terrible                  most terrible
prosperous           more prosperous           most prosperous
powerful               more powerful               most powerful
intelligent             more intelligent              most intelligent
interesting            more interesting             most interesting
pleasant                more pleasant                most pleasant
valuable                more valuable                most valuable
important             more important              most important
helpful                  more helpful                  most helpful
handsome             more handsome             most handsome
generous               more generous               most generous
frightening            more frightening            most frightening
ignorant                more ignorant                most ignorant
active                    more active                    most active
attractive              more attractive               most attractive
beautiful               more beautiful                most beautiful
brilliant                more brilliant                 most brilliant
careful                  more careful                   most careful
courageous           more courageous            most courageous
cunning                more cunning                 most cunning
difficult                 more difficult                 most difficult
famous                 more famous                  most famous
faithful                 more faithful                  most faithful
proper                  more proper                   most proper
popular                more popular                 most popular
splendid               more splendid                most splendid
forgetful             more forgetful             most forgetful
foolish                more foolish                most foolish
enjoyable            more enjoyable             most enjoyable
delightful              more delightful               most delightful

dangerous             more dangerous             most dangerous

comfortable          more comfortable           most comfortable


Irregular Adjectives (Modifiers)

Irregular adjectives or modifiers have completely different comparative and superlative forms.   They do not follow any of the rules guiding formation of regular comparatives and superlatives from positives (as previously discussed).  Such irregular adjectives are quite few, though.
Examples:

Positive                          Comparative                 Superlative
bad                                 worse                              worst
far (distance)                  farther                            farthest
far (extent)                     further                            furthest
good                               better                             best
ill                                   worse                             worst
little (amount)                less                                least
many                              more                              most
much                              more                              most
well                                better                             best
Review of Rules Guiding Formation of Comparatives and Superlatives

(from Positives):

Having discussed Positives, Comparatives and Superlatives in three

articles, let us now review what we have learned.
  1. For adjectives (positives) that end in ‘y’, change the y to i, then add ‘er’ (as suffix) to form the comparative, or ‘est’ to form the superlative.
  2. For a one-syllable adjective (positive), add ‘er’ at the end (as suffix) to form the comparative or ‘est’ to form the superlative.
  3. If a one-syllable adjective (positive) ends in a single vowel and a single consonant, double the final consonant before adding ‘er’ (as suffix) to form the comparative, or ‘est’ to form the superlative.
4.     If a one-syllable adjective (positive) ends in ‘e’, simply add ‘r’ (as suffix) to form the comparative or ‘st’ to form the superlative.
5.     For adjectives (positives) with two or more syllables, add ‘more’ before the adjective to form the comparative, or ‘most’ to form the superlative (unless the two-syllable adjective ends in ‘y’, ‘er’, or ‘ow’).
  1. There are some common irregular comparative and superlative adjectives which do not follow the rules of regular comparatives and superlatives.


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