GRAMMAR: COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE FORMS OF ADJECTIVES

Positive Form

Use the positive form of the adjective if the comparison contains one of the following expressions:

as … as

Example: Jane is as tall as John.

not as … as / not so … as

Example: John is not as tall as Arnie.

Comparative Form and Superlative Form (-er/-est)

* one-syllable adjectives (clean, new, cheap)
* two-syllable adjectives ending in -y or -er (easy, happy, pretty, dirty, clever)

Exceptions in spelling when adding -er / -est

* silent ‘e’ is dropped

Example: late-later-latest
* final ‘y’ after a consonant becomes i

Example: easy-easier-easiest
* final consonant after short, stressed vowel is doubled

Example: hot-hotter-hottest

Comparative Form and Superlative Form (more/most)

* adjectives of three or more syllables (and two-syllable adjectives not ending in -y/-er)
positive comparative superlative
intelligent more intelligent most intelligent

Comparative Form and Superlative Form (irregular comparisons):

bad / ill - worse - worst
little (amount) - less - least
little (size) - smaller - smallest
much / many - more - most
far (place + time) - further - furthest
far (place) - farther - farthest
late (time) - later - latest
late (order) - latter - last
near (place) - nearer - nearest
near (order), -, - next
old (people and things) - older - oldest
old (people) - elder - eldest

PRACTICE

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/adjectives-adverbs/adjectives/exercises?02
http://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exercise-english-6657.php
http://esl.about.com/library/grammar/blgr_compsup.htm
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/regcom1.htm
http://www.factmonster.com/quizzes/geosuperlatives/1.html
http://www.better-english.com/grammar/comp2.htm
http://a4esl.org/q/h/vm/compsup.html
http://www.english-zone.com/grammar/compare1.html