The degree of comparison of adjectives in English is one of the most comprehensible grammar topics. Most students of this discipline quickly master the forms of adjectives and their areas of use. This is due to the fact that it is in this topic that we can draw a clear analogy with the Russian language.
So, there are three degrees of comparison of adjectives in the English language, of which it is worth paying attention to only two.
1. Positive: "this orange is large." In essence, this is a neutral form of the adjective. There is no question of comparison.
2. Comparative: "This orange is larger than ordinary oranges."
3. Excellent: "This is the largest dog in the world."
Thus, we have three forms of the adjective: large, larger, the largest.
Very many adjectives in the Russian language can have two lexical forms for expressing the same degree of comparison. For example, “beautiful” and “most beautiful”. Their meaning does not differ. It is about the same thing: some object is so beautiful that it has no competitors.
However, in the English language, such duality is almost not observed. Each adjective has only one form to express one degree of comparison. Although there are several words that have two forms, however, the meaning of the words in such cases is quite clearly different: far, near, old, late.
For example: far (distant) - farer (more distant) - farest (most distant) - are used when it comes to distance.
But: far - further (further) - furthest (most distant) - these forms are used if we say "further", implying some kind of sequence, not distance.
Let us consider in more detail the degree of comparison of adjectives in English. The exercises that help you master them are very simple: try to decline any words first, then make sentences with them yourself.
So, for the formation of a power comparison in English, two options are used:
1. The endings -er, -est receive:
- monosyllables, that is, short, adjectives, consisting of one syllable: high tower (high tower) - higher tower (higher tower) - highest tower (highest tower);
- two-syllable adjectives with the ending -y (this ending transforms into -i). Examples: busy woman (busier woman) - busier woman (busier woman) - busiest woman (busiest woman):
- two-syllable adjectives with the ending -ow. Examples: narrow river (narrow river) - narrower river (narrower river) - narrowest river (narrowest river);
- two-syllable adjectives with the ending -le. Examples: gentle reader (understanding reader) - gentler reader (more understanding reader) - gentlest reader (most understanding reader);
- two-syllable adjectives with the ending -er. Examples: tender heart (tender heart) - tenderer heart (more tender heart) - tenderest heart (the most tender heart);
- adjectives of two syllables with emphasis on the second. Examples: polite boy (polite boy) - politer boy (more polite boy) - politest boy (the most polite boy);
- three-syllable adjectives with the prefix un-. Examples: unclear question (unclear question) - unclearer question (more obscure question) - unclearest question (most obscure question).
2. Degrees of comparison of adjectives in the English language are formed using the additional words more (more), most (most) and opposite in meaning less (less) and least (least). According to this scheme, forms are formed:
- all two-syllable adjectives, except those included in the rule above. For example: boring - boring. It has two syllables, but the first syllable is stressed. Therefore: boring lecture (boring lecture) - more boring lecture (more boring lecture) - most boring lecture (the most boring or boring lecture);
- all polysyllabic adjectives. For example: independent people (independent people) - more independent people (more independent people) - most independent people (most independent people).
There are exceptions. These are the following words: good (good), bad (bad), many (much, many), small (little). With the formation of degrees of comparison, they change the root.
Examples:
Comparative degree of comparison of adjectives in English:
This cheese is better than that. - This cheese is better than that.
A red dress is worse than a blue one. - The red dress is worse than the blue one.
The mouse is smaller than a cat. - A mouse is smaller than a cat.
He was even less attractive than a monkey. - He was less attractive than a monkey.
Superlative adjective comparison:
The best day. - The best day.
The most terribly dressed celebrities are Worst dressed celebrities.
This is the smallest kitten in the world. - This is the smallest kitten in the world.
She was the least attractive girl in the school.
This is the basic information you need to know about the comparative forms of adjectives in English. Having learned the principles of declension, pay attention to such nuances as doubling the last consonant in adjectives, the disappearance of a vowel, and also strengthening the comparison using the word "much".