The degrees of comparison of adjectives in English is one of the most easy-to-understand grammatical 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 a clear analogy with the Russian language can be drawn.
So, there are three degrees of comparison of adjectives in English, of which only two are worth paying attention to.
1. Positive: "This orange is big." In fact, it is a neutral form of an adjective. There is no question of comparison.
2. Comparative: "This orange is larger than regular oranges."
3. Excellent: "it's the biggest dog in the world."
Thus, we have three forms of the adjective: big, bigger, biggest.
Very many adjectives in Russian can have two lexical forms to express the same degree of comparison. For example, "the most beautiful" and "the most beautiful". Their meaning is notdiffers. We are talking about the same thing: some item is so beautiful that it has no competitors.
However, in English there is almost no such duality. 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 words in such cases is quite clearly different: far, near, old, late.
For example: far (far) - farer (more distant) - farest (most distant) - used when talking about distance.
But: far - further (furthest) - furthest (most distant) - these forms are used if we say "further", implying some kind of sequence, not distance.
Let's take a closer look at the degrees of comparison of adjectives in English. The exercises to help you master them are very simple: first try to decline any words, then make sentences with them yourself.
So, to form a power of comparison in English, two options are used:
1. Endings -er, -est get:
- monosyllabic, that is, short, adjectives consisting of one syllable: high tower (high tower) - higher tower (higher tower) - highest tower (highest tower);
- two-syllable adjectives ending in -y (this ending transforms into -i). Examples: busy woman (busy woman) - busier woman (busier woman) - busiest woman (busiest woman):
are two-syllable adjectives ending in -ow. Examples: narrow river (narrow river) - narrower river (narrower river) - narrowest river (narrowest river);
are two-syllable adjectives ending in -le. Examples: gentle reader (understanding reader) - gentler reader (more understanding reader) - gentlest reader (most understanding reader);
are two-syllable adjectives ending in -er. Examples: tender heart (tender heart) - tenderer heart (more tender heart) - tenderest heart (most tender heart);
are two-syllable adjectives with an accent on the second. Examples: polite boy (polite boy) - politer boy (more polite boy) - politest boy (most polite boy);
- three-syllable adjectives with the prefix un-. Examples: unclear question - unclearer question - unclearest question.
2. The degrees of comparison of adjectives in English are formed using the additional words more (more), most (most) and opposite in meaning less (less) and least (least). Forms are formed according to this scheme:
- 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 (most boring or boring lecture);
- all polysyllabic adjectives. For example: independent people (independent people) - more independent people (more independent people) - mostindependent people (the most independent people).
There are exceptions. These are the following words: good (good), bad (bad), a lot (much, many), small (little). When they form degrees of comparison, their root changes.
Examples:
Comparative degree of comparison of adjectives in English:
This cheese is better than that one. - This cheese is better than that.
The red dress is worse than the blue one. - The red dress is worse than the blue one.
The mouse is smaller than the cat. - A mouse is smaller than a cat.
He was even less attractive than the monkey. - He was less attractive than a monkey.
Superlative adjectives:
The best day ever. - The best day.
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. Once you've mastered the principles of declension, pay attention to nuances such as doubling the last consonant in adjectives, the disappearance of a vowel, and strengthening the comparison with the word "much".
