Having saved us from the need to memorize endings, the English adjective over time (namely centuries) ceased to change in numbers, gender and cases. But, as you understand, all the difficulties have not yet disappeared: the Degrees of Comparison have not gone away and continue to “delight” students. Why are they needed? Really, the richest means of speech will not allow us to do without all these additional forms?
Yes, they won't allow it. All our lives we compare people and objects: someone is taller, someone is more beautiful, someone has a more powerful car. And all these thoughts need to be able to express in English. Every day we choose the best, most interesting and exciting. The use of degrees of comparison is relevant in any language, because we are constantly looking for superiority. If you have already started studying this foreign language, then this topic should be mastered 100%.
So, first, remember that there are adjectives quality (Qualitative) And relative (Relative). And only the first group can be used in our rule.
Three degrees of comparison of adjectives in English: positive, comparative, superlative degrees.
Sometimes we use an adjective simply as a characteristic. So, we use a positive degree. If you say that a certain quality is expressed more in one object than in another, then you will need a comparative. And in the superlative we want to show that the object acts as the very-most. Let's look at examples.
Positive or absolute is the usual form in which the adjective appears in the dictionary:
interesting – big – clever
This house is big.
Comparative degree of adjectives in English (comparative) used when it is necessary to compare two or more objects or persons. In Russian it sounds like this: bigger, more beautiful, more interesting, older.
bigger, colder, more difficult.
This house is bigger than that. This house is bigger than that one.
Superlative degree in English (superlative) shows that an object or person has the highest quality characteristics. In Russian it sounds like this: the best - the best; the kindest - the kindest; the smallest is the smallest. In English it is always accompanied by the article “the” and is also formed in two ways:
the biggest, the most interesting.
This house is the biggest. This house is the biggest.
Education
Now is the time to consider the formation of degrees of comparison in English. How to add? When? How to write correctly?
Only two of them are worth considering here. After all, the positive completely coincides with its dictionary form. The comparative and superlative degrees in English are formed taking into account certain features and rules. Divide all adjectives mentally into groups: monosyllabic plus disyllabic, ending with –y, -er, -ow, -ble(this will be the first), disyllabic And polysyllabic(second).
1. Simple (monosyllabic)
For comparison, add the suffix "er" to the base of the word, and to indicate superior quality - article the + adjective + “est”.
short - shorter - the shortest
short - shorter - the shortest
When adding suffixes there are some writing features:
a. If at the end of a word there is "y", and there is a consonant before it, then "y" changes to "i":
Lovely - lovelier - the loveliest
dear - cuter - the cutest
But if "y" preceded by a vowel, then no changes need to be made, just adding a suitable suffix.
b. If at the end of a word there is "e" then when adding suffixes "er" or “est”, only one is saved "e":
Simple - simpler - the simplest
simple - simpler - the simplest/simplest
c. If a word ends with a consonant and is preceded by one short vowel, that is, it has a stressed short syllable, then we double the last letter:
Hot - hotter - the hottest
hot - hotter - the hottest
And everything would be cloudless if not for exceptions to this rule. Therefore, when studying this topic, it is important not only to understand, but also to stretch your brain a little.
Exceptions
Good – better – the best (good – better – the best)
Bad – worse – the worst (bad – worse – the worst)
Little – less – the least (small – less – the smallest)
Many – more – the most (numerous – more – the largest) – by quantity
Near – nearer – the nearest (close – closer – closest) – by distance
Near – nearer – the next (close – closer – next in line, in time, in order)
Far – farther – the farthest (far – more distant – the farthest) – by distance
Far – further – the furthest (far – further – the farthest) – according to information, actions
Old – older – the oldest (old – older – the oldest)
Old – elder – the eldest (old – older – the oldest) – about family members
Late – later – the latest (later – later / later – last – latest in time / newest)
Late – the latter – the last
2. Complex (more than two syllables in a word)
To compare two or more qualitative characteristics, you must use "more", and characterizing the highest qualities – “the most”. In this case, the adjective remains unchanged.
popular - more popular - the most popular
popular - more popular - most popular
The English language is filled with various exceptions. There is more than one thing in this rule. So, you need to remember a few more words that can form degrees of comparison in English two ways, i.e. using “er” and “est”, “more” and “the most”/”the least”:
Angry, common, friendly,cruel, gentle, narrow,handsome, polite,pleasant, serious, quite,simple, clever, sour.
In conclusion, I would like to remind you that the English adjective is very sensitive to what you add to it and from what side. Therefore, in addition to studying theory, engage in thorough practice, because only exercises will help you bring your knowledge to automaticity. Improve your language: use comparative and superlative adjectives and make your speech more literate, richer and more interesting.
In English there are 3 degrees of comparison of adjectives: the positive degree, the comparative degree and the superlative degree.
Please note that the adjective comes before the noun and does not change in gender or number.
Positive degree adjective means that it is in its initial form and simply denotes the quality of an object, without comparing it with others: tall, old, long, big, thin, fat ). Education comparative And excellent degrees comparison depends on how many syllables the adjective contains.
Here are a few rules for forming degrees of comparison of adjectives in English with example sentences.
- Monosyllabic adjectives add a suffix -er comparative degree and suffix -est superlative:
- tall - taller - the tallest (high - higher - the highest)
- old - older - the oldest (old - older, older - the oldest, the oldest)
- long - longer - the longest (long - longer - the longest)
Here are some examples:
- Katie is taller than Rob. - Katie is taller than Rob.
- Katie is the tallest of all my friends. - Katie is the tallest of my friends.
- Rob is older than John. - Rob is older than John.
- Of the three students, Rob is the oldest. - Rob is the oldest of three students.
- My hair is longer than your hair. - My hair is longer than yours.
- Rob's story is the longest story I've ever heard. - Rob's story is the longest I've ever heard.
- If a one-syllable adjective ends in a consonant preceded by a vowel, the consonant is doubled:
- big - bigger - the biggest (big - bigger - the biggest)
- thin - thinner - the thinnest (thin - thinner - the thinnest)
- fat - fatter - the fattest (full - fuller - the most complete)
Examples:
- My house is bigger than your house. - My house is bigger than your house.
- My house is the biggest of all the houses in the neighborhood. - My house is the largest of all in the area.
- Rob is thinner than John. - Rob is thinner than John.
- Of all the students in the class, Rob is the thinnest. - Rob is the skinniest of all the students in the class.
- My dog is fatter than your dog. - My dog is fatter than your dog.
- Two-syllable adjectives form the comparative degree of comparison by adding more before adjectives, and the superlative degree, adding most:
- peaceful - more peaceful - the most peaceful (calm, peaceful - calmer - the calmest)
- pleasant - more pleasant - the most pleasant (pleasant - more pleasant - the most pleasant)
- careful - more careful - the most careful (careful - more careful - the most careful)
Example sentences:
- This morning is more peaceful than yesterday morning. - This morning is more peaceful than yesterday.
- John is more careful than Mike. - John is more careful than Mike.
- This evening is the most pleasant I"ve ever had. - This evening is the most pleasant of all that I have had.
- If a two-syllable adjective ends in -y, then to form a comparative degree you need to change -y on -i and add a suffix -er, and to form a superlative degree - the suffix -est:
- happy - happier - the happiest (happy - happier - the happiest)
- angry - angrier - the angriest (angry - angrier - the angriest)
- busy - busier - the busiest (busy - busier - the busiest)
Example phrases:
- Robert is happier today than he was yesterday. - Today Robert is happier than yesterday.
- He is the happiest boy in the world. - He is the happiest boy in the world.
- John is angrier than Rob. - John is angrier than Rob.
- Katie is busier than John. - Katie is busier than John.
- Katie is the busiest person I've ever met. - Katie is the busiest person I've ever met.
- Two-syllable adjectives ending in -er, -le, -ow form comparative and superlative degrees of comparison by adding suffixes -er And -est respectively.
- narrow - narrower - the narrowest (narrow - already - the narrowest)
- gentle - gentler - the gentlest (noble - nobler - the most noble)
Examples:
- The streets in European countries are narrower than the streets in Russia. - The streets of European cities are narrower than in Russia.
- This street is the narrowest of all the roads in this town. - This street is the narrowest in this city.
- Big dogs are gentler than small dogs. - Big dogs are nobler than small ones.
An interesting English-language video about typical mistakes when using comparative degrees of adjectives (and a bonus - about adverbs!):
- For adjectives of three syllables, the comparative and superlative degrees are formed by adding more And most before an adjective.
- generous - more generous - the most generous (generous - more generous - the most generous)
- important - more important - the most important (important - more important - the most important)
- intelligent - more intelligent - the most intelligent (smart - smarter - the smartest)
Example sentences:
- Katie is more generous than Mary. - Katie is more generous than Mary.
- John is the most generous of all the people I know. - John is the most generous person I know.
- Health is more important than money. - Health is more important than money.
- Katie is the most intelligent person I"ve ever met. - Katie is the smartest person I know.
- Exceptional adjectives that have their own comparative and superlative forms:
- Good - better - the best (good - better - the best)
- Bad - worse - the worst (bad - worse - the worst)
- Far - farther - the farthest (far - further - the farthest)
- Little - less - the least (small - less - the smallest)
- Many - more - the most (many - more - most of all)
Examples of phrases with exceptions:
- Italian food is better than American food. - Italian food is better than American food.
- My dog is the best dog in the world. - My dog is the best in the world.
- My sister"s cooking is worse than your sister"s cooking. - My sister cooks worse than yours.
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Qualitative adjectiveshave degrees of comparison. They express a greater or lesser degree of quality in a given item compared to another item.
For example: (My house is more beautiful than your house). sometimes the comparison is made within the same object (increase or decrease) at different periods of its development, i.e. at the present moment, compared to his past state.
For example: (Demand for the product has become higher than last year).
Adjectives have two degrees of comparison:
comparative;
excellent.
1.Comparative degree of adjective means that some characteristic is manifested to a greater or lesser extent in one object than in another.
For example: I'm happier than you. Your briefcase is heavier than mine. My dog is smarter than yours.
The comparative degree is:
A) simple
B) difficult
A) Simple comparative degree formed using suffixes:
“her”(s): For example: handsome - more beautiful, smart - smarter, cold - colder;
"e" (with or without alternation of the last consonant of the base):
For example: big - larger, short - shorter, sweet - sweeter;
“she”: For example: old – older, young – younger.
Sometimes a different root is used to form the comparative degree of an adjective.
Good is better, bad is worse, small is smaller.
Adjectives in the simple comparative form do not change and have no endings!
B) Complex comparative degree is formed from the full form of the positive degree of the adjective using the particles more and less.
Big – more (less) big, beautiful – more (less) beautiful.
2) Superlative adjectives.
The superlative degree shows that some attribute is manifested in a given object to the greatest extent, compared with the same attribute in other similar objects.
This is my best game; He is the smartest boy in the class.
Superlatives are:
A) simple
B) difficult
The superlative degree of an adjective can change according to gender, number and case.
(We have approached the highest mountains).
A) Simple superlative is formed using the suffixes “eysh”, “aysh”.
For example: The stupidest, the deepest, the rarest, the closest
Sometimes a different root is used to form the superlative degree of an adjective.
For example: Good is the best, bad is the worst.
B) Complex superlative is formed from the full form of the positive degree of the adjective using the particles most, most and least.
For example: Small - the smallest, the smallest, the least small, smart - the most intelligent, the most intelligent, the least intelligent.
Superlative adjectives, like full forms of positive adjectives, change according to gender, number and case.
Publication date: 01/28/2012 17:58 UTC
- Morphological analysis of the adjective in Russian.
- Full and short forms of adjectives. Declension and spelling of case forms of adjectives in Russian.
- The concept of an adjective. Morphological features of adjectives. Classes of adjectives in Russian.
(good, yellow, interesting).
Adjectives in English do not change either by gender, or by number, or by case. Adjectives in English can only be modified by degrees of comparison.
Adjectives can be simple or derived. Simple adjectives have neither prefixes nor suffixes. Derived adjectives contain suffixes or prefixes, or both at the same time.
Adjectives form, as in Russian, two degrees of comparison: comparative and superlative. The basic form of the adjective does not express comparison and is called the positive degree.
Adjective
An adjective is a part of speech that is used to denote a characteristic of an object.
- a clever boy
- an English book (English book)
- good butter (good butter)
- a cold winter
An adjective in English has three forms of degrees of comparison:
- positive degree
- comparative degree
- superlative degree.
Adjective degrees
Formation of degrees of comparison of adjectives
The basic form of an adjective is the positive degree. The comparative and superlative forms are usually formed from the positive degree in one of two ways:
The first way to form degrees of comparison of adjectives. If the form of an adjective in the positive degree consists of one syllable, the form of its comparative degree is formed using the suffix -er, and the superlative form - using the suffix -est, which are added to the base of the form of the positive degree.
The second way to form degrees of comparison of adjectives. From adjectives whose positive form consists of three or more syllables, the comparative degree is formed using the word more, and the superlative degree - using the word most, which are placed before the positive form of the adjective.
From two-syllable adjectives, the comparative and superlative forms are also formed using the words more and most.
Sometimes there are forms of two-syllable adjectives, formed using the suffixes -er and -est. Most often these are adjectives whose positive form ends in -у, -er, -ow.
Some adjectives form special forms of degrees of comparison, and these adjectives must be immediately memorized in all forms.
The adjective old forms degrees of comparison in two ways. In most cases, the suffix -er or -est is added to the base of the positive degree form.
However, in cases where they talk about members of the same family - “elder brother”, “eldest of the brothers”, they use the form elder (senior) or eldest (eldest).
To correctly write forms of degrees of comparison of adjectives, you need to know that when adding the suffixes -er and -est, the final letters of the adjective in the form of a positive degree change as follows:
- y changes to i after a consonant and does not change after a vowel: dry dry (dry) - drier - driest But: gay (cheerful) - gayer - gayest
- e is omitted: nice (good) - nicer - nicest
- the consonant is doubled in one-syllable adjectives after a short vowel: big - bigger - biggest
Using an adjective
The adjective is usually used in a sentence as a definition of a noun and stands before the word being defined. An adjective can also be a nominal member of a compound nominal predicate (predicative) and in this case stand after the linking verb to be.
Not a clever boy. He's a smart boy. (Clever - definition.) .Not is clever. He is smart. (Clever is a nominal member of a compound nominal predicate.)
Not all adjectives are used in these two functions. Adjectives alive (alive), afraid (scared), asleep (sleeping), awake (awake), ill (sick) and some others are used only as a nominal member of a compound nominal predicate.
To denote a lower or lowest degree of quality of one item compared to another, the adjective is usually preceded by the word less (less, less) or least (least of all).
Additional material.
Degrees of comparison of adjectives and adverbs.
In English, just like in Russian, adjectives and adverbs have three degrees of comparison:
- positive
- comparative
- excellent.
In English there are two ways of constructing degrees of comparison.
1. For short (one syllable) words:
Notes:
The definite article is often used with a superlative adjective; When constructing degrees of comparison of adjectives in writing:
- the final consonant with the preceding short vowel is doubled: big (bigger ((the) biggest
- if there is a consonant before the final -y, then -y goes into -i:
easy (easy ((the) easiest; early (earlier ((the) earliest - when adding -er u -est, the final -e is omitted: (see large above). Spelling features do not affect pronunciation.
2. For long (two or more syllables) words:
It doesn't make sense to lengthen the word any further, so in English we add another short word in front:
- beautiful beautiful
- more beautiful
- easily easy
- more easily easier
- most easily
To pass values least and least of all (least) the words less and least are used respectively:
- less beautiful
- least beautiful least beautiful
Note:
Sometimes monosyllabic words form degrees of comparison using more / less or most / least , and conversely, words consisting of more than one syllable have -er / -est at the end; it depends only on the sound - if some form is perceived better by ear than another, it is put into the sentence: crisp - more crisp - (the) most crisp sounds better than crisp - crisper (the) crispest.
The forms of degrees of comparison of some adjectives and adverbs in English are not formed according to the rule:
Note: The word little can be either an adjective or an adverb; in this case it is used only as an adverb little; if you need to construct degrees of comparison from the adjective small, we use the word small (see above).
Note: the forms elder / eldest are used more often when the speaker is talking about members of his family:
- My father is older than my mother. My father is older than my mother.
- This is my eldest son. This is my eldest son.
In most other cases, degrees of comparison of adjectives are formed using method 1:
old old er old est
.The word most with the indefinite article (a most) is not a degree of comparison, but means very: a most beautiful girl is a very beautiful girl.
The word most can appear before a plural noun or pronoun (often with the preposition of) and has the meaning many/most:
Most people like this. Many people like it. Most of them will not be able to come. Most of them won't be able to come.The definite article is preserved before the superlative form even if there is no noun: Not is the best. He is the best.
To denote the comparative degree of an adjective, the word than is used; however, in order to avoid repetition of the same noun, the word one is often used as a substitute for this noun or a possessive pronoun in absolute form:
- My car is bigger than their one / theirs. My car is bigger than theirs.
- These cigars are stronger than those ones. These cigars are stronger than those.
In the second part of comparative constructions, you can use pronouns both in the objective case (colloquial version) and the accusative case (literary version, usually with an auxiliary verb):
- She reads more than him / he does. She reads more than him.
- You are taller than me / I am. You are taller than me.
- Didn't come earlier than them / they did. He arrived earlier than them but
- I know him better than her. I know him better than her.
- I know him better than she does. I know him better than she does.
When comparing the same quality, the combination as ... as (same (same) ... as (s) / as (same) ... as (s) is used: She is as beautiful as my mother(She is as beautiful as my mother.
When comparing quality in a negative form, the combination not so ... as is more often used (not such ... as: I am not so beautiful as her / she is.(I'm not as beautiful as her.
When comparing with a multiple effect, the combination as ... as with numerals is used; the second as may be omitted if another comparison object is not mentioned in the situation:
- My sister is twice as beautiful (as yours).(My sister is twice as beautiful (as yours).
- His car is about three times as big (as my car).(His car is three times larger (mine).
The word half in such cases means half as much:
This liquid is half as strong (as that one).(This liquid is twice as weak (that one). I have half as much money (as you have).(I have half as much money (than you).Sometimes a comparison can be strengthened with the help of additional words; more often than others, much is used for this: much more / less beautiful;
The Russian version of than..., the... is translated into English the + comparative degree of the adjective... the + comparative degree of the adjective:
- The faster you come the more you will get. The faster you arrive, the more you will get.
- The sooner you do it the better. The sooner you do this, the better.
Hello my dear readers.
English grammar rules are quite easy to understand for both adults and children. To prove this to you, today we will look at one of the most popular topics: degrees of comparison of adjectives in English.
Bright and memorable tables will not leave you indifferent, and the practical part, consisting of tasks, exercises, and exercises, will forever consolidate the knowledge gained.
Ready to start the lesson?
Let's start simple
You probably know that in English there is 3 degrees of comparison of adjectives: simple, comparative and superlative.
- Remember, or better yet, write down: If you have an English word with one syllable (hot, big, cool, kind) - just add the ending -er to the end of the adjective and get a comparative degree.
For example:
hot-hotter wide-wider
big-bigger kind-kinder
- But don’t forget that there is also a superlative degree (this is when something is the best/beautiful/fast). So, if we still have a word of one syllable, then the superlative degree is formed by adding the article the at the beginning of the word and the ending -est at the end.
For example:
hot-hotter-the hottest wide-wider-the widest
big-bigger-the biggest kind-kinder-the kindest
This is where the simple part of the rule ends.
And the next thing begins.
Don't forget about the important
- If you haven't noticed, in the examples above we have consonants doubled. This only happens under the following conditions:
- The word consists of one syllable.
- The word ends like this: one vowel + one consonant.
For example,
fat-fatter-the fattest
- I'll say something obvious, but sometimes confusing - words ending with a vowel -e, we simply add -r And -st.(this can also be seen in the examples above)
- Another important point! There is a list of short adjectives consisting of two syllables and ending in - y. When we form degrees of comparison with them, then the letter -y is replaced by -i.
For example,
lucky -lucki er-the lucki est.
- There is an unspoken rule that adjectives consisting of two syllables can form degrees of comparison in the second way, which you can read about below.
Another way to form degrees of comparison
If you have any questions, leave them in the comments and I will answer them immediately. And if you want to receive the most useful newsletter, then subscribe below. You will be constantly improving your knowledge.
For now I say "goodbye."
See you.
Answers:
Exercise 1.
1. Hot-Hotter-The hottest
2. Beautiful-More beautiful-The most beautiful
3. Happy-Happier-The happiest
4. Brave-Braver-The bravest
5. Fast-Faster-The Fastest
6. Calm-Calmer-The calmest
7. Cool-Cooler-The coolest
8. Loud-Louder-The loudest
9. Short-Shorter-The shortest
10. Strong-Stronger-The strongest
11. Dangerous-More dangerous-The most dangerous
12. Handsome-More handsome-The most handsome
13. Nice-Nicer-The nicest
14. Sarcastic-More sarcastic-The most sarcastic
15. Bad-Worse- The worst
Exercise 2.
1. The safest\the fastest.
2. Longer\Shorter
3. Louder
4. Closer
5. Bigger
6. More expensive
7.More beautiful
8. The best
9. The tallest
10. Taller
Exercise 3.
1. The cleverest
2. Worse
3. The kindest
4. The most populated
5.Further
6. (Much) happier
7. The best
8. The most popular
9.Further
10. Worst
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