Lesson 36

Adjectives can be used in comparisons which means we change the form of the adjective when speaking of one, two, or more than two. They change either by adding er or est to the adjective or by using the words more or most before the adjective. Some are irregular in their form and must be memorized or looked up in the dictionary. The dictionary gives the forms for most words using er or est to form comparisons.

The three degrees of comparison are called (1) positive which states a quality of one thing or person, (2) comparative which compares two things or persons, and (3) superlative which compares more than two things or persons.

Examples: positive - new, careless, good; comparative - newer, more careless, better; superlative - newest, most careless, best

Write the comparative and superlative forms of the following adjectives.

1. jolly

2. honest

3. dim

4. friendly

5. little

Answers

1. jolly, jollier, jolliest

2. honest, more honest, most honest

3. dim, dimmer, dimmest

4. friendly, friendlier, friendliest

5. little, less or lesser or littler, least or littlest (Little when referring to amount uses less, lesser and least; when referring to size uses littler and littlest.)