The formation of comparative and superlative.

useful-more useful-the most useful

obscure –more obscure-the most obscure

d) the following adjectives take more and the most only: careless, certain, complex, fertile, foolish, frequent, normal, private

e) Both ways of forming the comparative and superlative degrees are used with two-syllable adjectives stressed on the first syllable: common, pleasant, polite, solid, handsome, quiet, cruel, tired, and word ending in –er and –le.

f) little is not usually compared

little/small - smaller – the smallest.

Spelling and pronunciation rules.

sad – sadder – the saddest

2.If the adjective ends in –y preceded by the consonant –y is changed into i before –er, -est

busy – busier – the busiest

but: gay – gayer – the gayest.

3.If the adjective ends in -e, this e is dropped before –er, est

fine – finer – the finest.

4.In such adjectives as long, strong, [g] sound is added to the [n] of the base

long [ l n ] –longer [l ng]

while in dear and near the final [r] is not pronounced, but it is pronounced in dearer, dearest

Irregular Comparison

Good – better – the best

Bad/Ill worse – the worst

Much / many – more – most

Little – smaller- the smallest

Old – older – the oldest (for age)

-elder – the eldest (speaking about members of the family (with nouns son, daughter, brother, sister) or a social group.

My elder brother is older than me.

This building is the oldest in the city.

Who is the eldest in your family?

far – farther – the farthest ( with reference to distance only)

further – the furthest (with reference to distance, abstract notions, to denote “another” “additional”

I found him in the furthest /furthest part of the park

This is a further example of his good will

 near – nearer – the nearest (reference to distance )

 near-nearer – the next (reference to order)

What is the nearest station?

We are getting off at the next stop

late-later-the latest (reference to time , “a new one, the most recent one”)

late -the latter-the last (reference to order, “final”)

When does the last train leave?

Given a choice of travelling by ship or by plane most people choose the latter.

A lower degree.

Comparison to a lower degree is expressed by the following constructions:

1.the last +adj

2. less + adj + than

3.not as/so + adj + as

There is a slight difference in meaning between:

Barbara’s car was not so/ as expensive as Tom’s

Barbara’s car was less expensive than Tom’s

Barbara’s car is cheaper than Tom’s.

a) means that both cars are expensive but that Barbara’s car is less expensive than Tom’s, whereas 

b) gives the impression that Barbara’s and Tom’s cars are cheap.

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