THE COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES

Monosyllabic adjectives are compared with -er, -est.

(Einsilbige Adjektive werden auf -er, -est gesteigert.)

positive strong small late nice big thin fat

comparative stronger smaller later nicer bigger thinner fatter

superlative strongest smallest latest nicest biggest thinnest fattest

London is bigger than Vienna. (London ist grer als Wien.)

Disyllabic adjectives ending with y, er, ow, le are compared with -er, -est.
(Zweisilbige Adjektive auf y, er, ow, le werden auf -er, -est gesteigert.)

positive easy happy clever narrow

comparative easier happier cleverer narrower

superlative easiest happiest cleverest narrowest

What is the easiest exercise? (Was ist die leichteste bung?)

All the other adjectives are compared with more, most.

(Alle anderen Adjektive werden mit more, most gesteigert.)

positive careful expensive difficult tired terrible

comparative more careful more expensive more difficult more tired more terrible

superlative most careful most expensive most difficult most tired most terrible

Which dress is more expensive?

(Welches Kleid ist teurer?)

Which dress is the most expensive?

(Welches Kleid ist am teuersten?)

Irregular forms
positive good bad much many little comparative better worse more more less superlative best worst most most least

A - Comparison with -er/-est

clean - cleaner - (the) cleanest We use -er/-est with the following adjectives:

1) adjectives with one syllable

clean new cheap cleaner cleanest newer newest cheaper cheapest

2) adjectives with two syllables and the following endings:

2 - 1) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -y dirty easy happy pretty dirtier easier happier prettier dirtiest easiest happiest prettiest

2 - 2) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -er clever cleverer cleverest

2 - 3) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -le simple simpler simplest 2 - 4) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -ow narrow narrower narrowest

Spelling of the adjectives using the endings -er/-est

large big sad larger bigger sadder largest biggest saddest leave out the silent -e Double the consonant after short vowel

dirty shy

dirtier shyer

dirtiest shyest

Change -y to -i (consonant before -y) Here -y is not changed to -i. (although consonant before -y)

B - Comparison with more - most

difficult - more difficult - (the) most difficult all adjectives with more than one syllable (except some adjectives with two syllables - see 2 - 1 to 2 - 4)

C - Irregular adjectives
good bad much many little little better worse more more less smaller best worst most uncountable nouns most countable nouns least smallest

D - Special adjectives
Some ajdectives have two possible forms of comparison. common likely pleasant polite simple stupid subtle sure commoner / more common likelier / more likely pleasanter / more pleasant politer / more polite simpler / more simple stupider / more stupid subtler / more subtle surer / more sure commonest / most common likeliest / most likely pleasantest / most pleasant politest / most polite simplest / most simple stupidest / most stupid subtlest / most subtle surest / most sure