According to the norms of modern grammar, in English there are 3 degrees of comparison of adjectives. The first degree is positive. She is the standard form of the adjective. It has no connotation of comparison and expresses only the qualitative state of an object or object. The remaining two degrees are formed from this form: comparative and excellent. If we compare two subjects with each other in terms of quality indicators, then we use a comparative degree. When we want to consciously single out one subject from a group of three or more, we translate the adjective into a superlative degree.
In general, the rules for the formation of this grammatical category in English are not much different from the formation of the degree of comparison of adjectives in German. You need to add the special suffixes -er and -est to the base of the positive form, or put more and most in front of it. So we get comparative and superlatives. Moreover, the latter always requires the use of the article the. The number of syllables in a word directly affects the way the degree of comparison of adjectives is formed. English, among other things, does not always allow the presence of this grammatical category. It is used only in high-quality adjectives. That is, words that perform the function of description.
All monosyllabic adjectives are formed by adding -er and -est to the base of the positive form:
rich - richer - the richest .
Two-syllable words ending in -ow, -le, -y, -er also most often form degrees using special suffixes:
tender - tenderer - the tenderest . Forming the
degree of comparison of adjectives in the above way, one should take into account some nuances of spelling. They are as follows.
1. If the adjective ends with a consonant and the stressed vowel is before it, the consonant doubles: wet - wetter - the wettest .
2. If the adjective ends in unstressed -e, then this vowel before the suffix falls out: close - closer - the closest .
3. If the adjective ends in -y and a consonant in front of it, then -u changes to -i: lucky - luckier - the luckiest . If the vowel is in front of, then the transformation does not occur.
The easiest way to remember is the way the degree of comparison of adjectives is formed, which consist of three or more syllables, as well as those that were formed from the sacrament. The positive form is simply put more and most. Then the adjective acquires the necessary degree of comparison without any changes in the basis:
dangerous - more dangerous - the most dangerous, boring - more boring - the most boring . In the same way, degrees and bilingual adjectives ending in -al, -ish, -ant, -ive, -ent, -ent, -less, -ic, -ful, -ous:
tragic - more tragic - the most tragic are formed.In English, there is also a separate group of incorrect adjectives, which during the formation of the degree of comparison do not obey generally accepted grammatical norms and completely change the basis of the positive form.
Degrees of Comparison of Adjectives-ExceptionsPosition | good (well) | little | bad (ill) | far | many / much | old |
Compares. | better | less | worse | farther (further) | more | older (elder) |
Superior | the best | the least | the worst | farthest (furthest) | most | oldest (eldest) |
As mentioned above, in English, not all adjectives have the ability to form degrees of comparison. These include:
- all relative adjectives ( wooden, European, daily, preparatory );
- adjectives that were borrowed at one time from the Latin language and carry a shade of comparison or superiority ( former, inner, upper, optimal, proximal );
- qualitative absolute adjectives, the meaning of which simply does not allow comparison ( dead, middle, principle, previous );
- high-quality adjectives formed using negative in- and un- prefixes at the beginning of a word ( incurable, inconvenient, unsuitable );
- high-quality adjectives, the meaning of which has a hue of comparison. Most often they end in the suffix –ish ( redish, blueish ).