Comparative and superlative pretty. Comparative degree of adjectives and adverbs in English. Adjectives with three or more syllables

Adjectives describe nouns. When we want to compare several objects, then it is this part of speech that implies the comparison of objects. He is kind - she is kinder - this one is generally the kindest of all.

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The history of the formation of degrees of comparison of English adjectives

The adjectives in do not change their grammatical form in the singular and plural. Their grammatically changing form are Comparisons.

Comparison of adjectives and adverbs

• Positive (Positive D.) - the original form of the word. Colin is sensitive. - Colin is sensitive.
• Comparative (Comparative D.) - comparison of several objects, which is characterized by the presence in the sentence than - than. Colin is stronger than Martin. - Colin is stronger than Martin.
• Superlative (Superlative D.) - an indication that the subject is the best of its group. It is characterized by the prepositions of or in. Colin is the strongest boy in his class / of the school. - Colin is the strongest boy in his class / school.

Important! Comparative Degree always compares two items. Sentences can indicate only one subject, but the speaker always implies the second for comparison.

English word forms conditionally are divided into simple and complex. Simple ones are based on one or two syllables, complex ones - three or more.

comparative simple words are formed with the suffix -er, which we add to the positive form. Comparative Degree of compound words is formed using the word more.

Superlative degree simple word forms are formed using the -est suffix. Superlative Degree of polysyllabic words is formed using the most.

In some cases, Superlative Degree may be generated without the specified the. This applies to the predicate expressed by the adjective: She is happiest at home. - She is happy at home; or if the superlative is preceded by a possessive pronoun: My best math test result was 98%. - My best math test score was 98%.

Attention! Real - real, right - right, wrong - incorrect, as well as monosyllabic words with an abstract meaning, for example: clear - clean, safe - safe, true - true, free - free, wise - wise, etc. form Comparisons as compound words.

Attention! The dumb -e at the end of monosyllabic words indicates the openness of the syllable. Name, tale, fate, cave, etc.

Comparisons Formation of Qualitative Adjectives

We use Comparisons with the following words and phrases:

Spelling features

• Monosyllabic words with -y at the end comparatively change -y to -i- + -er. and -i- + -est in excellent. Lucky - luckier - the luckiest.
• Doubling a consonant at the end of a monosyllabic word. Hot - hotter - the hottest.
• Certain forms of the word can form their own comparison categories, both simple and complex. These are mostly two-syllable words. Healthy - healthier - the healthiest or healthy - more healthy - the most healthy.
• -Ing adjectives form Comparisons like polysyllabic words. Amazing - more amazing - the most amazing.
• In complex words with hyphenated spelling, the first word forms the Comparisons forms, the second remains unchanged.

Comparison of adverbs

The following table listed exceptions which do not form comparison categories according to general rules.

Attention! In English, adverbial forms can sound the same as adjective forms. There are low prices in grocery shops today. - Today, grocery stores have low prices. Swallows flew very low yesterday. - The swallows flew very low yesterday.

In english do not form a degree of comparison the following adjectives:

1. Relative and qualitative with a restrictive meaning: golden - golden, childish - for children, wolfish - wolf, sea - sea, evening - evening, building - construction, triple - triple; previous - previous, middle - middle, left - left, childless - childless, medical - medical, dead - dead, etc.
2. Words with a comparative or excellent meaning of Latin origin: former - former, inner - inner, upper - upper, junior - junior, senior - senior, superior - superior; minimal - minimal, optimal - optimal, etc.
3. Words that already have some degree of quality: lightish - lightish, coldish - coldish, reddish - reddish.

Formation of the Comparisons form in adverbs

Adverbs characterize the action of an object. Comparative and Superlative Degrees of Adverbs are formed as follows:

• Adverbs that have a similar form to adjectives form a compare. Art. with the -er suffix, the excellent one with the -est suffix. Deep - deeper - the deepest, loud - louder - the louder.
• Adverbs ending in -ly are comparative with more, superior with the most. Extremely - more extremely - the most extremely.

Comparisons types

• As + adj. + as. Jane's voice is as good as Mariah Carey's. - Jane's voice is as good as the voice of Meraia Carrie.
• Twice / three times / half as + adj. + as. Her car is twice as expensive as mine. “Her car is twice as expensive as mine.
• The same… as. This dress costs the same as that one. - This dress costs the same as that.
• Less + (adj.)… Than. Hotels in Manchester are less expensive than in London. - Hotels in Manchester are cheaper than in London.
• The least + (adj.)… Of / in. Lana is the least lazy of all girls. “Lana is the least lazy of all the girls.
• The + compare. Art., the + compare. Art. The earlier we set off, the earlier we arrive. - The sooner we leave, the sooner we get to the place.
• Compare Art. and compare. Art. She becomes older and wiser. “She's getting older and wiser.

In addition to Comparisons, comparison in English can be expressed using prepositions like and as.

Attention! Do not confuse like with like. How she can be cruel like that! - How can she be so angry! A puppy likes to play. - The puppy likes to play.

Like preposition expresses similarity... It is usually placed after perception (taste, look, smell, sound, feel, etc.). My girl-friend looks like Cindy Crowford. - My girlfriend looks like Cindy Crawford. But she doesn't like her. Tom works like a slave. - Tom works like a slave. But he is not a slave.

The preposition as indicates what someone or something is. He regarded as the hardest-working employee in the company. - He was recognized as the most hardworking employee of the company. She found a job as a clerk at a seaside hotel. “She found a job as a clerk in a seaside hotel. As can be replaced with the expression in the way that.

Adjectives | English for beginners

Comparison of adjectives in English is one of the simplest grammatical topics. The reason is that the existing degrees of comparison and methods of their formation largely coincide with those in the Russian language. As in Russian, there are two degrees of comparison in English: comparative and excellent... According to another classification, there is also a positive one - this is the usual form of adjectives. Comparative forms in English

How the degrees of comparison are formed

There are two ways to form the degrees of comparison: analytical(adding words) and synthetic(adding suffixes). The choice of the desired formation method depends on the adjectives themselves:

• for monosyllabic (simple) - we use the synthetic method of education
• for the polysyllabic - the analytical method.

Let's consider all this in detail, giving examples.

Monosyllabic adjectives and the synthetic method for comparing them

Almost all simple adjectives in English form comparative degrees using suffixes:
table of adjectives degrees There are several cases where the addition of suffixes requires minor changes in the word itself:

1. If in a monosyllabic adjective there is a short vowel before the final consonant, then we double it:
   • Big - bigger - the biggest
     
2. The final dumb -e goes off before -er, -est:
   • Nice - nicer - the nicest
3. The ending letter -y is replaced with -i, provided that there is a consonant before -y:
   • Dry - drier - the dries

If there is a vowel before -y in a word, there will be no substitutions:

• Gray - greyer - the greyest

Let's summarize.
In the following picture, you will see an extremely simple diagram of the formation of the degrees of comparison of simple adjectives in English. the degree of comparison of simple adjectives in English

There are no rules that have no exceptions

There is a small list of exceptions to the general rule: these words completely change their roots:
list of exclusions There is another type of exclusion, which is a small list of words that have two possible options for the formation of degrees, each of which has its own semantic characteristics. You need to know them in order to use them correctly in the context:
Adjectives with two possible options for the formation of degrees As for two-syllable adjectives, some of them form their comparative forms, like monosyllables - by adding - er and - est... These include those that

1. Ends in:
   • -ow:

   narrow - narrower - the narrowest

   • -le:

   simple - simpler - the simplest

   • -er:

   tender - tenderer - the tenderest

   happy - happier - the happiest

2. They have two syllables, and the stress falls on the second:
   severe - severer - the severest
3. Three-syllable adjectives with a prefix -un
   untidy - untidier - the untidiest

Polysyllabic adjectives and the analytical method for comparing them

So the time has come to deal with the analytical method of forming comparative degrees in English. This method involves changing the meaning of a word without any changes in it, but by adding another word to it, which will change its semantic and grammatical characteristics.

1. Adverb is added more(more), if we compare the qualities of two objects, one of which is superior to the other:
   Anya is more obedient than Katya
2. Adverb most(most) is used when indicating the highest level of quality characteristics of an item:
   Anya is the most obedient

You may be wondering why not all adjectives in English follow the same way of forming degrees. The fact is that adding suffixes to already long words is completely inconvenient, since they will lengthen them even more.
Polysyllabic adjectives To consolidate the material, watch the following videos:

There are three comparative degrees of adjectives in English: positive, comparative and excellent... Adverbs also form degrees of comparison according to the same rules as adjectives.

The positive is the adjective in its usual "calm" state:

I have a big dog.
I have big dog.

The comparative degree of adjectives is used to compare the quality level of a property of an object. The comparison is both positive and negative. The negative side does not mean so much the semantic load of the adjective, for example: Apples on the market cheaper than in stores. This refers to the presence of the adverb "less" before the adjective.

In Russian examples of the comparative degree, two ways of expressing it were specially given:

1. synthetic (using the ending "road e/ cheap e");
2. analytical with the adverbs "more / less".

But, if in Russian the adverbs "more" can be translated into a synthetic ending: more beautiful is more beautiful her, then in English, endings are added to one adjective, and adverbs to others.

The choice of the method of forming the degree depends on the number of syllables in the adjective. In both cases, the Than particle is used in comparative sentences.

If the adjective has one syllable, then the suffix is ​​added to it -er.

The Moscow river is shorter than the Volga.
The Moscow river is shorter than the Volga.

Notes (edit)

1. if the adjective ends in dumb -e, then only one is added to it comparatively -r.

   Volvo is saf er than Lada.
   Volvo is safer than Lada.

   if the adjective ends in a consonant preceded by one vowel (closed syllable), then the final consonant is doubled to maintain the brevity of the syllable.

   Today it is ho tter than yesterday.
   It's hotter today than yesterday.

1. at dissyllabic adjectives that end in -y(busy, pretty, healthy, hungry ...), the comparative degree is also formed by adding an ending -er but the letter -y"breaks up" into ie... Accordingly to -ie only added -r.

   His girlfriend is prett ier than mine. “His girlfriend is prettier than mine.

   for disyllabic adjectives that end in -er(clever) comparative degree, as a rule, is formed by adding an ending -er.

   My dog ​​is clever er than your children.

Some adjectives, due to historical reasons, have special forms of degrees of comparison: good-better; bad-worse; little-less; far-farther.

The situation is getting worse every day.
The situation is getting worse every day.

Bisyllabic adjectives not ending on -y or -er and polysyllabic adjectives form degrees of comparison analytically by adding an adverb more(more) and less(less). Respectively, no no endings are added to these adjectives.

His lectures are more interesting than her lectures.

note, what more- this is a comparative degree from adverbs much / many; a less is a comparative degree from little.

Adjective [ˈadʒɪktɪv] or an adjective in English is a part of speech that denotes a sign of an object / person / phenomenon. Perhaps, after the verb and the noun, it is the most used of all tenses. According to their meaning, adjectives are divided into relative and qualitative. The latter differ in that they can vary in the degree of comparison. The degrees of comparison of adjectives in English are formed by obeying certain rules, which will be discussed today.

There are three degrees of comparison of adjectives in English. All of them are similar to Russian degrees, and therefore this topic should not be taken hard. Let's consider each degree separately, having studied the characteristics, education and methods of use.

Positive degree [ˈpɒzɪtɪv dɪˈɡriː] or positive degree is the easiest. The English language has made it easier for you, so there is no need to complete this degree. You just need to take an English adjective in its simple dictionary form and use the word in the sentence. Since when we use an adjective in this form, we do not compare it to anything, the positive degree is often considered separately, outside the topic of comparison. In any case, you need to know about it. Examples of a positive degree:

But for comparison, comparative and superlative degrees are used. These degrees have more nuances that need to be analyzed in more detail.

Comparative degree of adjectives in English

Comparative degree is used to compare characteristics / attributes of two or more objects and persons. Perhaps such an explanation did not clarify anything for you, however, this topic is characteristic of both English and Russian, so if you compare this form with the Russian comparative degree, everything will become much clearer:

We are sure that you no longer have questions about what constitutes a comparative degree. But how do you get this degree in English? For this, two comparative forms are used:

1. If a word consists of one or two syllables, it appears comparatively with -er endings:

However, when adding -er, certain nuances must be taken into account:

• If the adjective ends in -e, this letter is omitted:

• But the ending -y changes to -i:

Exceptions are words that have a vowel before -y:

1. If the adjective consists of three or more syllables, the degree is formed by adding the words more (more) and less (less):

Comparison of adjectives in English - adjective superlative

Superlative degree or superlative form in English is used to show that an object or person in comparison with others is "the best", that is, superior to all others. The excellent form is also compared with Russian adjectives to the same degree. For example:

There are also two options for forming this adjective form. Before each of them a certain is put, since adjectives in the superlative degree imply a specific, special object or person:

1. The ending -est is added to an adjective with one or two syllables:

Note that the end append rules work with this form as well.

1. If the adjective has 3 or more syllables, then the words (the) most (most / most) and (the) least (least) are attached to it:

Despite the rules, some two-syllable adjectives in comparative and excellent forms, however, can be formed with both –er / –est and more - less / most - least. For example, these include words such as:

The more / less and most / least forms are now increasingly preferred.

There are also three-syllable exception adjectives that form degrees with –er and –est. These include words that, with the help of prefixes, change the original meaning of a short adjective to the opposite. For example, adjectives: happy (happy) - unhappy (unhappy), tidy (neat) - untidy (untidy), kind (kind) - unkind (unkind), lucky (lucky) - unlucky (unlucky), safe (reliable) - unsafe (unreliable):

In addition, there are exception words, all 3 forms of which are significantly different from each other and do not obey the standard education, just like English irregular verbs. Such words of the English language just need to be remembered. Study them according to the table:

Compound adjectives in English that contain the aforementioned exceptions can be constructed in both ways:

The first option, however, is more preferable.

In other cases, compound adjectives use the second way of forming comparative and superlative degrees:

Using the degree of comparison of adjectives in English

We talked about the rules for the formation of degrees, it remains only to understand how to use these adjectives in sentences.

• When using English comparative adjectives, the sentence uses than to introduce a comparison. Examples:

The adverb rather can be added to the sentence, or rather to the word more. Rather more is commonly used for comparisons meaning "better ... rather than ..." or "better ... than ...":

Sometimes the subject being compared may be omitted if the context implies it, or if the speaker knows that the other person will understand it. Suggestions as examples:

If you want to emphasize that the first person / subject is much (much) better, more beautiful, and so on, the sentence should contain the word much, which is placed before the degree:

Examine the following table for examples:

The comparative degree is also used in three constructs:

1. The comparative degree, the comparative degree. In simple terms, this construction is similar to the sentences "what ..., so ...". Table with examples for clarity:

1. More positive degree than positive degree. The phrases "rather ... than" are analogous. Such a construction is possible when we compare the characteristics of the same object / person.

1. You can also use "more than" in a row without adding words between them. This construction has the meaning "more than". These two words can be followed by an adjective and / or a noun, both of these names are valid:

• For superlatives, no additional conjunctions are required. Such adjectives in a sentence are used in a standard way instead of a positive degree:

As in the Russian language, in such sentences the option is not "the most", but "one of the most":

Two degrees of comparison may fit in one sentence at once:

Today we looked at the features of the degrees of comparison of adjectives in English. Having memorized the rules of their formation, you will be able to use these degrees in speech without any difficulty. In order to consolidate the material, return to the article, revise the tables with examples and make your own sentences. And most importantly, learn English with pleasure, because if you are interested in the process, English grammar will be given to you much faster and easier.

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Adjective- a word that describes the signs, properties or qualities of a noun.

Adjectives can describe any signs (properties or qualities) of a noun, such as:

• Colour: red (red), green (green), blue (blue, cyan), yellow (yellow);
• age: old (old), new (new), young (young), ancient (ancient);
• the quality or value of the item: expensive (expensive), refined (reworked), cheap (cheap), nice (cute);
• human qualities: smart (smart), beautiful (beautiful), friendly (friendly), short (low);
• emotional state of a person: happy, sad, ecstatic, tired etc

Comparative adjectives(or comparative adjectives)

Adjectives are often used for comparison purposes. Such adjectives are called comparative adjectives. To get a comparative adjective, you need to either add the suffix “-er” to the main form of the adjective, or put the service word “more” in front of the adjective.

Excellent adjectives(or superlative adjectives)

The adjective superlatively describes the most extreme case and is used to characterize an item that is "the most ..." among a number of items. To form an adjective in superlative degree, you need to either add the suffix “-est” to the main form of the adjective, or put the service word “most” before the adjective.

One-syllable adjectives

Usually the comparative form of adjectives consisting of one syllable is formed by adding the suffix “-er” to the basic form, and the superlative form using the suffix “-est”.

For example:

Two-syllable adjectives

The comparative degree of adjectives consisting of two syllables is formed by adding the suffix “-er” to the basic form or by using the word “more” in front of this adjective. To form a superlative, the suffix “-est” or the word “most” is added.

For example:

Usually, if an adjective ends with the letter “-y”, then the letter “-y” is removed, and instead the suffix “-ier” is added to the base of the word for a comparative degree, or the suffix “-iest” for a superlative degree.

Here are some examples of the formation of the comparative and superlative degree for adjectives consisting of one syllable, using the service words "more" and "most".

When forming the comparative or superlative degree of adjectives, it is important to use only one of the possible suffixes / service words:

"More" or

Adjectives with three or more syllables

The comparative degree of adjectives consisting of three syllables is formed using the word "more", which is placed before this adjective. To form a superlative degree, the word “most” is added in the same way.

For example:

Exceptions to the general rule

Some adjectives are incorrect, that is, the comparative and superlative degrees for them are not formed according to general rules. Such adjectives must be remembered.

For example:

Use of adjectives

Typically, adjectives are placed directly before the noun they describe.

For example:

They bought a new (adjective) computer (noun).

He has a nice (adjective) bicycle (noun).

I like green (adjective) apples (noun) more than red (adjective) apples (noun).

Sometimes adjectives can be placed after the noun being defined.

For example:

Let’s try something (noun) new (adjective).

He likes his coffee (noun) black (adjective).

In addition, adjectives can be placed after the verb “to be”.

For example:

I am (verb “be”) friendly (adjective).

Angelina (noun) is (verb “be”) beautiful (adjective).

The girls (noun) are (verb “be”) diligent (adjective).

Vacation (noun) will be (verb “be”) fun (adjective).

English Joke

Four Jewish ladies are playing Bridge.
Betty sighs and says, "Oy ..."
Freda nods, sighs, and says, "Oy vey!"
Kitty says, "Oy veys meer!"
Charlotte chimes in: “Enough talk about the children already. Let's get back to the game. "