Degrees of comparison of the word old. Comparisons of adjectives for beginners

(good, yellow, interesting).

Adjectives in English do not change either by gender, or by numbers, or by cases. Adjectives in English can only change in degrees of comparison.

Adjectives are simple and derivative. Simple adjectives have neither prefixes nor suffixes. Derived adjectives have suffixes or prefixes, or both at the same time.

Adjectives form, as in Russian, two degrees of comparison: comparative and superlative. The basic form of the adjective does not express comparison and is called the positive degree.

Adjective

An adjective is a part of speech that is used to denote a feature of an object.

a clever boy (smart boy)
an English book (English book)
good butter (good butter)
a cold winter (cold winter)

An adjective in English has three forms of degrees of comparison:

positive (positive degree)
comparative (comparative degree)
superlative (superlative degree).

Degrees of adjectives

Formation of degrees of comparison of adjectives (Degrees of comparison of adjectives)

The basic form of the adjective is the positive degree. The forms of comparative and superlative degrees are usually formed from the form of a positive degree in one of two ways:

The first way to form degrees of comparison of adjectives. If the form of an adjective in a positive degree consists of one syllable, the form of its comparative degree is formed using the suffix -eg, and the superlative form - using the suffix -est, which are added to the base of the form of a positive degree.

The second way of forming degrees of comparison of adjectives. From adjectives whose positive form consists of three or more syllables, the comparative degree is formed using the word more, and the superlative degree - using the word most, which are placed before the positive form of the adjective.

From two-syllable adjectives, comparative and superlative forms are also formed using the words more and most.

Sometimes there are forms of two-syllable adjectives formed with the suffixes -er and -est. Most often these are adjectives, the positive form of which ends in -y, -er, -ow.

From some adjectives, the forms of degrees of comparison are formed especially, and these adjectives must be memorized immediately in all forms.

The adjective old forms degrees of comparison in two ways. In most cases, the suffix -eg or -est is added to the base form of the positive degree.

However, in cases where they talk about members of the same family - “elder brother”, “eldest of the brothers”, they use the form elder (senior) or eldest (the eldest).

For the correct spelling of the forms of degrees of comparison of adjectives, you need to know that when the suffixes -er and -est are added, the final letters of the adjective in the form of a positive degree change as follows:

y changes to i after a consonant and does not change after a vowel: dry dry (dry) - drier - driest But: gay (cheerful) - gayer - gayest
e omitted: nice (good) - nicer - nicest
the consonant doubles in monosyllabic adjectives after a short vowel: big (big) - bigger - biggest

The use of the adjective

The adjective is usually used in a sentence as a definition to a noun and stands before the word being defined. An adjective can also be a nominal member of a compound nominal predicate (predicate) and in this case stand after the linking verb to be.
Not is a clever boy. He is a smart boy. (Clever is the definition.) .Not clever. He is smart. (Clever is a nominal member of a compound nominal predicate.)

Not all adjectives are used in these two functions. adjectives alive (alive), afraid (scared), asleep (sleeping), awake (awake), ill (sick) and some others are used only as a nominal member of a compound nominal predicate.

To denote a lower or lowest degree of quality of one item compared to another, the adjective is usually preceded by the word less (less, less) or least (least of all).

Additional material.

Degrees of comparison of adjectives and adverbs.

In English, as well as in Russian, adjectives and adverbs have three degrees of comparison:

positive
comparative
excellent.

In English, there are two ways to construct degrees of comparison.

1. For short (one-syllable) words:

Notes:

with the superlative degree of the adjective, the definite article is often used; When constructing degrees of comparison of adjectives in writing:

the final consonant with the preceding short vowel is doubled: big (bigger ((the) biggest
if the final -y is preceded by a consonant, then -y becomes -i:
easy (easier ((the) easiest; early (earlier ((the) earliest
when -er u -est is added, the final -e is omitted: (see large above). The spelling does not affect pronunciation.

2. For long (consisting of two or more syllables) words:

It doesn't make sense to lengthen the word even further, so another short word is added in front in English:

beautiful
more beautiful
easily
more easily
most easily

To pass values least and least (least) the words less and least are used respectively:

less beautiful
least beautiful

Note:

Sometimes monosyllabic words form degrees of comparison with more / less or most / least, and vice versa, words consisting of more than one syllable have -er / -est at the end; it depends only on the sound - if some form is perceived by ear better than the other, it is put into a sentence: crisp - more crisp - (the) most crisp sounds better than crisp - crisper (the) crispest.

The forms of degrees of comparison of some adjectives and adverbs in English are not formed according to the rule:

Note: The word little can be either an adjective or an adverb; in this case it is used only as an adverb little; if you need to build degrees of comparison from the adjective small, use the word small (see above).

Note: elder / eldest forms are used more often when the speaker is talking about members of his family:

My father is elder than my mother. My father is older than my mother.
This is my eldest son. This is my eldest son.

In most other cases, the degrees of comparison of adjectives are formed according to method 1:

old old er old est

The word most with the indefinite article (a most) is not a degree of comparison, but it matters very much: a most beautiful girl is a very beautiful girl.

The word most can come before a plural noun or pronoun (often with the preposition of) and has the meaning many / most:

Most people like this. Many people like it. Most of them will not be able to come. Most of them won't be able to come.

The definite article is preserved before the superlative form even if there is no noun: Not is the best. He is the best.

To indicate the comparative degree of an adjective, the word than is used (than; at the same time, in order to avoid repeating the same noun, the word one is often put as a substitute for this noun or a possessive pronoun in the absolute form:

My car is bigger than their one / theirs. My car is bigger than theirs.
These cigars are stronger than those ones. These cigars are stronger than those.

In the second part of comparative constructions, pronouns can be used both in the objective case (colloquial variant) and the accusative case (literary variant, usually with an auxiliary verb):

She reads more than him / he does. She reads more than he does.
You are taller than me / I am. You are taller than me.
Did not come earlier than them / they did. He came before they
I know him better than her. I know him better than her.
I know him better than she does. I know him better than she does.

When comparing the same quality, the combination as ... as (same (same) ... as (and) / so (same) ... as (and) is used: She is as beautiful as my mother.(She is as beautiful as my mother.

When comparing quality in a negative form, the combination not so ... as is more often used (not the same ... as: I am not so beautiful as her / she is.(I'm not as pretty as she is.

When comparing with a multiple effect, a combination of as ... as with numerals is used; the second as may be omitted if no other comparison object is mentioned in the situation:

My sister is twice as beautiful (as yours).(My sister is twice as beautiful as (your).
His car is about three times as big (as my car).(His car is three times bigger (mine).

The word half in such cases has a value half as much:

This liquid is half as strong (as that one).(This liquid is twice as weak (that one). I have half as much money (as you have).(I have half the money (than you).

Sometimes the comparison can be strengthened with the help of additional words, more often than others much (much) is used for this: much more / less beautiful much more / less beautiful;

The Russian version than..., the... is translated into English the + comparative degree of the adjective... the + comparative degree of the adjective:

The faster you come the more you will get. The sooner you arrive, the more you get.
The sooner you do it the better. The sooner you do this, the better.

Quality adjectiveshave degrees of comparison. They express a greater or lesser degree of quality in a given subject compared to another subject.
For example: (My house is more beautiful than your house). sometimes the comparison takes place within the same object (increase or decrease) in different periods of its development, i.e. at the present moment, compared to its past state.
For example: (Demand for a product has become higher than last year).

Adjectives have two degrees of comparison:
comparative;
excellent.

1.Comparative adjective means that some feature is manifested to a greater or lesser extent in one subject than in another.
For example: I am happier than you. Your briefcase is heavier than mine. My dog is smarter than yours.

The comparative degree is:
A) simple
B) complex

BUT) Simple comparative degree formed with suffixes:
"her" (s): For example: beautiful - more beautiful, smart - smarter, cold - colder;
"e" (with alternation of the last consonant of the stem or without alternation):
For example: big - more, short - shorter, sweet - sweeter;
"she": For example: old - older, young - younger.
Sometimes, when forming the comparative degree of an adjective, a different root is used.
Good is better, bad is worse, small is less.
Adjectives in the form of a simple comparative degree do not change and do not have endings!

B) Compound Comparative is formed from the full form of the positive degree of the adjective with the help of particles more and less.
Big - more (less) big, beautiful - more (less) beautiful.

2) Superlative adjectives.
The superlative degree shows that some feature is manifested in the given subject to the greatest extent, in comparison with the same feature in other homogeneous subjects.
This is my best game; He is the smartest boy in the class.

Superlatives are:
A) simple
B) complex
The superlative degree of an adjective can change by gender, number, and case.
(We approached the highest mountains).

BUT) simple superlatives formed with the help of suffixes "eysh", "aysh".
For example: stupidest, deepest, rarest, closest
Sometimes, when forming the superlative degree of an adjective, a different root is used.
For example: Good is the best, bad is the worst.
B) Compound Superlative is formed from the full form of the positive degree of the adjective using the particles most, most and least.
For example: Small - the smallest, the smallest, the least small, smart - the smartest, the smartest, the least smart.

Adjectives in the superlative degree, like the full forms of the positive degree of adjectives, change in gender, number and case.

Publication date: 01/28/2012 17:58 UTC

Morphological analysis of the adjective in Russian.
Full and short forms of adjectives. Declension and spelling of case forms of adjectives in Russian.
The concept of an adjective. Morphological features of adjectives. Classes of adjectives in Russian.

This topic is very simple, it lends itself easily even to those who have recently started learning English. If you already know a few adjectives in English, then after studying the material in this article, you can easily form degrees of comparison.

But first, let's figure out how many degrees of comparison there are and why they are needed.

There are three degrees of comparison of adjectives. First degree - positive. It's a simple adjective as you learn it: interesting, beautiful, good etc.

Next degree - comparative. If you have two objects, and you compare them on one or another basis, then you will talk about it in a comparative degree: bigger, smaller, more interesting, more beautiful etc.

And the third degree that adjectives can have is excellent. When you compare several items on any basis, one of them will be superior to others. We say about him that he is the most: the most interesting, the biggest, the best.

In English, everything is exactly the same: there are three degrees of comparison, which are formed according to their own rules.

The first degree is positive. This is a common adjective. For example, let's remember some adjectives in English that you probably know:

Small - small
big - big
easy - easy, simple
interesting - interesting
popular - popular

If we describe one thing without comparing it with anything else, then a simple adjective is used, without suffixes. But as soon as the second object appears, for comparison, it becomes necessary to use comparative degree.

To form it, you need to look at the adjective: how many syllables it has, how long it is. It depends on the way you will use in the formation of the degree. If the adjective is short (1-2 syllables), then you need to add a suffix to it - er:

Small (small) - smaller (smaller)
big (big) - bigger (more)
easy (simple) - easier (easier)

If your adjective is long (more than two syllables), then if you load it with another suffix, it will be unrealistic to pronounce it. Therefore, to form the comparative degree of such adjectives, the word is used more(more), which is placed before the adjective, just like in Russian:

Interesting - more interesting (more interesting)
popular - more popular (more popular)

If you are comparing two objects or phenomena in a sentence, then you will also need the word than(than) to indicate what you are actually comparing and against:

My room is smaller than my brother "s. - My room is smaller than my brother's.
His dog is bigger than mine. - His dog is bigger than mine.
This rule is easier than that one. - This rule is easier than that one.
Detectives are more interesting than historical novels. - Detective stories are more interesting than historical novels.
Is Lady Gaga more popular than Madonna? Is Lady Gaga more popular than Madonna?

Now let's move on to superlatives. If you have several items in front of you that you need to compare, choose one on some basis, then you need to use not a comparative, but an excellent form.

How you form this degree will depend on how many syllables your adjective has. If the adjective is short (1-2 syllables), then the suffix is added - est:

Small - the smallest
big - the biggest
easy - the easiest

If the adjective is long (more than two syllables), then the superlative degree should be formed using the word most(most):

Interesting - the most interesting
popular - the most popular

Prepositions IN and OF.

It was already mentioned above that when you compare two objects, then in comparison you need to use the word than (than).

Prepositions are used with adjectives in the superlative degree. in and of. The choice of preposition is determined by what you are comparing and what information comes after the comparison.

If you are talking about a place (country, city, world), then use the preposition in:

This is the oldest building in our town. - This is the oldest house in our city.
He is the most popular singer in the country. - He is the most popular singer in the country.
What is the highest mountain in the world? - What is the highest mountain in the world?

The preposition is also used when talking about a group of people, an organization:

I am the youngest pupil in the class. - I am the youngest student in the class.

Pretext on used when talking about a period of time:

Today is the longest day of the year. - Today is the longest day of the year.
It was the happiest day of my life. - It was the happiest day of my life.

The article the.

You ask why the article is used in examples with the word most the. We remember that this article is used to indicate something specific, known to the interlocutors. When it comes to superlatives, we single out one item from the group as the only or unique of its kind and it becomes defined:

He is the cleverest boy in the class. - He is the smartest boy in the class. (There is only one smartest student in the class)

This is the oldest house in the town. - This is the oldest house in the city. (There is only one oldest house in the city)

I want to draw your attention to the fact that the article the is not always used with superlative adjectives. If adjectives are preceded by a word that answers the question Whose? / Whose? (or a noun in ), then the article the is not needed:

This is my smallest bag. - This is my smallest bag.
She is Maria "s youngest daughter. - She is the youngest daughter of Mary.

Spelling changes.

When forming the comparative and superlative degrees of adjectives, you must remember that adding suffixes in English is often accompanied by changes in spelling.

With adjectives, there are two main rules to remember:

1. If a short adjective ends in -y, then when adding a suffix, -y changes to i and a suffix is added:

Easy (simple) - easier - the easiest
noisy (noisy) - noisier - the noisiest
busy (busy) - busier - the busiest

2. If a short adjective ends in a consonant preceded by a stressed vowel (closed stressed syllable), then the last consonant is doubled:

Big (big) - bigger - the biggest
fat (fat) - fatter - the fattest

If the adjective ends in two consonants, or in a consonant preceded by a combination of vowels, then nothing is doubled, but the necessary suffix is simply added:

Strong (strong) - stronger - the strongest
cold (cold) - colder - the coldest
weak (weak) - weaker - the weakest

Exceptions.

In English, there are exception adjectives, the comparative and superlative degrees of which are not formed according to the rule, without adding suffixes:

good - better - the best- good / better / the best

bad - worse - the worst- bad / worse / worst

far-farther-the farthest- distant / farther / farthest

little - less - the least- small/smaller/smallest

To compare two objects in English, you can also use the construction as...as (not as...as), with which adjectives in the positive degree are used. Read more about this design.

Try to avoid common mistakes, remember that if you have already added a suffix to the adjective, then you do not need to use the words more or most.

Now you can easily compare objects, people and phenomena and talk about it in English. To consolidate the material covered, remember as many adjectives as possible and try to form degrees of comparison from them, and it will be even more effective to make sentences with them. Leave comments, ask questions, success in learning English!

Adjectives ( Adjectives ) are words that express qualities, attributes of objects. They answer the question which?. In a sentence, they usually define a noun. In English, they do not change either by gender, or by numbers, or by cases:

a little girl - a little girl

a little boy - little boy

little children - little children

With a little boy - with a little boy.

Adjectives change only in degrees of comparison (Degrees of Comparison). There are three degrees of comparison of adjectives: positive (Positive Degree), comparative (Comparative Degree), excellent (Superlative Degree).

Rules for the formation of degrees of comparison of adjectives.

Adjectives in a positive degree do not have any endings, for example: quick (fast), slow (slow), old (old), new (new). Comparative and superlative degrees are formed using the suffixes -er and -est or by adding the words more (more) and most (most). The choice of method depends on the original form of the adjective.

One-syllable and some two-syllable adjectives form the comparative with the suffix -er and the superlative with the suffix -est. With the help of the suffixes -er, -est, two-syllable adjectives ending in -er, -ow, -y, -le (clever, narrow, early, simple) form degrees of comparison.

Here are some examples:

One-syllable and two-syllable adjectives

positive degree	comparative	Superlatives
high - high	higher - higher, higher	highest - the highest
small - small	smaller - less	smallest - smallest, smallest
strong - strong	stronger - stronger, stronger	strongest - the strongest
cheap - cheap	cheaper - cheaper, cheaper	cheapest - the cheapest
quick - fast	quicker - faster	quickest - the fastest
new - new	newer - newer	newest - the newest
clean - clean	cleaner - cleaner, cleaner	cleanest - the cleanest
cold - cold	colder - colder, colder	coldest - the coldest
short - short	shorter - shorter, shorter	shortest - the shortest
great - great, big	greater - more	greatest - the greatest, greatest
weak - weak	weaker - weaker	weakest - the weakest
deep - deep	deeper - deeper, deeper	deepest - the deepest
low - low	lower - lower	lowest - the lowest
clever - smart	cleverer - smarter, smarter	cleverest - the smartest, the smartest
narrow - narrow	narrower - narrower	narrowest - the narrowest
shallow - small	shallower - smaller	shallowest - the smallest

When writing, certain spelling rules must be observed.

1. If the adjective has a short vowel and ends in one consonant, then in the comparative degree and in the superlative degree this consonant is doubled:

big-bigger-big

big - more - largest, largest

Fat-fatter-fattest

thick, fat - thicker - the thickest

Wet-wetter-wettest

wet, wet – wetter – wettest

sad-sadder-saddest

sad, sad - more sad - the saddest

thin - thinner - thinnest

thin, thin - thinner - thinnest

2. If the adjective ends with a letter -y with a preceding consonant, then in the comparative and superlative degrees the letter y changes to i:

Easy - easier - easiest

light - lighter - lightest, lightest

early-earlier-earliest

early – earlier – earliest

dry-drier-driest

dry, arid – drier – driest

But the word shy (shy, fearful) does not obey this rule and forms degrees of comparison as follows:

shy - shyer - shyest.

3. If the adjective ends with a letter -e, then in comparative and superlative degrees is added -r, -st:

wide - wider - widest

wide - wider - widest, widest

late - later - latest

late – later – latest

fine-finer-finest

good, beautiful - better - the best

simple - simpler - simplest

simple - easier - simplest

Polysyllabic adjectives, i.e. adjectives of three or more syllables form degrees of comparison using more for the comparative and most for the superlative. Consider the following examples:

Polysyllabic adjectives

positive degree	comparative	Superlatives
interesting - interesting	more interesting - more interesting	most interesting - the most interesting
beautiful - beautiful	more beautiful - more beautiful	most beautiful - the most beautiful
expensive - expensive	more expensive - more expensive	most expensive - the most expensive
difficult - difficult	more difficult - more difficult	most difficult - the most difficult
dangerous - dangerous	more dangerous - more dangerous	most dangerous - the most dangerous
important - important	more important - more important	most important - the most important
comfortable - comfortable	more comfortable - more comfortable	most comfortable - the most comfortable

In the same way, i.e. using the words more for the comparative degree and most for the superlative degree, form degrees of comparison of some disyllabic words that end in -ed and -

01.03.2014

English adjectives do not have the morphological characteristics of case, gender and number. Their only morphological characteristic is degrees of comparison. By degrees of comparison, only quality adjectives- that is, those that denote any sign that can manifest itself to a greater or lesser extent. These adjectives answer the question “what?”. For example, adjectives big, cheerful, beautiful can have degrees of comparison. It's easy to imagine something prettier, or someone smarter. But relative adjectives (book, yesterday) or possessive adjectives (paternal, hare) do not have degrees of comparison. It is impossible to imagine anything more yesterday or less paternal.

You can practice using degrees of comparison by doing the following.

A separate topic for consideration is also the strengthening of the degrees of comparison of adjectives. I devoted a whole to this topic.

You can practice exponents of comparison using value amplification by going through the following.

Exist three degrees of comparison: positive, comparative and superlative.

Formation of degrees of comparison of adjectives in English.

positive degree.

positive degree(positive degree) indicates the presence of quality. She is the adjective itself:

full (full), polite (polite), profound (solid), noble (noble), beautiful (beautiful).

Comparative.

comparative(comparative degree) indicates a greater intensity of quality. This degree according to the nature of education can be simple or compound. A simple degree of comparison is formed by adding the ending -er to the stem of the adjective:

full - fuller (full - fuller)

If the adjective ends in -e, then add only -r :

If the adjective ends in -y , then -y becomes -i :

happy - happier (happy - happier)

The final consonant will be doubled if the vowel in the last syllable of the word is short and stressed:

simple form comparative degree characteristic of

monosyllabic adjectives:

Full - fuller (full - fuller)

deep - deeper (deep - deeper)

big - bigger (big - more)

disyllabic adjectives if the stress falls on the last syllable:

polite - politer (polite - more polite)

profound - profounder (solid - more thorough)

disyllabic adjectives ending in -le , -y, -some, -ow, -er .

noble -nobler (noble - more noble)

silly - sillier (stupid - dumber)

handsome - handsomer (handsome - more beautiful)

narrow - narrower (narrow - already)

tender - tenderer (gentle - more tender)

The remaining two-syllable and all three- and more-complex adjectives have a compound form of the comparative degree. It is formed by adding the word more.

beautiful - more beautiful (beautiful - more beautiful)

curious - more curious (curious - more curious)

Here are a few sample sentences using a comparative degree.

Holidays at the seaside are more splendid than in the country.

The street I live in is much narrower than this one.

Which of the two lakes is deeper?

Mary is more beautiful than her cousin.

Superlative degree.

Superlatives(superlative degree) comparison of adjectives indicates the greatest manifestation of quality. This degree also has a simple and compound form similar to the comparative degree. In most cases, adjectives in the superlative degree are preceded by the article the.

The simple form is formed by adding the ending -est :

full - the fullest (full - the most complete)

deep - the deepest (deep - the deepest)

polite - politest (polite - the most polite)

happy - the happiest (happy - the happiest)

silly - the silliest (stupid - the most stupid)

big -the biggest (big - largest)

A complex form of superlative degree of comparison is formed by adding the word most:

beautiful - the most beautiful (beautiful - most beautiful)

curious - the most curious (curious - the most curious)

Here are the usage examples superlatives in offers.

Bob is the cleverest man I've ever met.

Molly is the most attentive girl in her class.

Lack of money is our biggest problem.

Yours is the silliest joke I've ever heard.

Special cases of formation of degrees of comparison of adjectives.

There are a number of adjectives that form degrees of comparison not by the rule. These adjectives and their derivatives must be memorized. Here is a complete list of such adjectives.

good - better - the best (good - best - best)

bad - worse - the worst (bad - worst - worst)

many - more - most (many - more - largest / most)

little - less - the least (small / few - less - smallest / least)

far - further - the furthest (far - further - the most distant (about time))

Pay attention to the following pairs, in which, depending on the semantic meaning, the forms of degrees also change:

old - older - oldest (old / older - older - oldest / oldest)

old - elder - the eldest (old / eldest - older - oldest / eldest (only in the description of brothers or sisters))

near - nearer - the nearest (closest - closer - closest (about distance))

near - nearer - the next (close - closer - next (in time))

late - later - the latest (later - later (about time) - the latest / latest at the moment)

late - last - the last (later - later (of those mentioned) - the latest (there will be no more) / past.