Adjectives help us describe people, places, and things, and comparison of adjectives lets us show how much of a quality something has. We use three forms: absolute (or positive), comparative , and superlative . The absolute form is the basic adjective, like tall or happy . The comparative form compares two things, such as taller or happier . The superlative form compares more than two things, showing the highest degree, like tallest or happiest . In the tables below, you will see how common adjectives change in each form, including regular patterns and important spelling changes.
Absolute Comparative Superlative small smaller smallest tall taller tallest long longer longest short shorter shortest great greater greatest fast faster fastest slow slower slowest high higher highest low lower lowest young younger youngest old older oldest rich richer richest poor poorer poorest warm warmer warmest cold colder coldest quick quicker quickest bright brighter brightest dark darker darkest clean cleaner cleanest strong stronger strongest weak weaker weakest large larger largest close closer closest deep deeper deepest loud louder loudest soft softer softest hard harder hardest safe safer safest brave braver bravest
Absolute Comparative Superlative big bigger biggest hot hotter hottest thin thinner thinnest fat fatter fattest sad sadder saddest wet wetter wettest red redder reddest mad madder maddest glad gladder gladdest dim dimmer dimmest slim slimmer slimmest flat flatter flattest fit fitter fittest grim grimmer grimmest hot hotter hottest
-y (-ier / -iest)Absolute Comparative Superlative happy happier happiest easy easier easiest busy busier busiest noisy noisier noisiest funny funnier funniest lazy lazier laziest heavy heavier heaviest lucky luckier luckiest early earlier earliest pretty prettier prettiest silly sillier silliest angry angrier angriest hungry hungrier hungriest dirty dirtier dirtiest windy windier windiest
more / most )Absolute Comparative Superlative careful more careful most careful useful more useful most useful beautiful more beautiful most beautiful difficult more difficult most difficult expensive more expensive most expensive important more important most important exciting more exciting most exciting boring more boring most boring famous more famous most famous interesting more interesting most interesting comfortable more comfortable most comfortable successful more successful most successful generous more generous most generous confident more confident most confident popular more popular most popular powerful more powerful most powerful dangerous more dangerous most dangerous careful more careful most careful helpful more helpful most helpful creative more creative most creative
-er/-est or more/most (Inform learners that both are heard, but more/most is often safer in formal writing.)
Absolute Comparative (-er) Superlative (-est) Comparative (more) Superlative (most) narrow narrower narrowest more narrow most narrow simple simpler simplest more simple most simple clever cleverer cleverest more clever most clever quiet quieter quietest more quiet most quiet gentle gentler gentlest more gentle most gentle friendly friendlier friendliest more friendly most friendly common commoner commonest more common most common modern moderner modernest more modern most modern pleasant pleasanter pleasantest more pleasant most pleasant polite politer politest more polite most polite
Absolute Comparative Superlative good better best bad worse worst little less least much more most many more most far farther / further farthest / furthest old older / elder oldest / eldest late later latest / last near nearer nearest / next
not normally compared (absolute only)(Usually not used with -er/-est or more/most in standard English.)
Absolute Comparative Superlative perfect — — unique — — dead — — married — — single — — main — — wooden — — daily — — universal — — complete — —
