COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES - SPELLING

• English Adjectives

  In English, adjectives decline for three degrees of modification: positive, comparative, and superlative. Learn the rules for spelling and pronouncing the comparative and superlative forms of English adjectives in the following sections.
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  Single Syllable Adjectives

  For one-syllable adjectives spelled with a final consonant preceded by either two vowels or additional consonants, simply add the -er or -est suffix. For example:
  
  

  • cold – colder – coldest
  • deep – deeper – deepest
  • fast – faster – fastest
  • lean – leaner – leanest

  
  For one-syllable adjectives spelled with a final y or w preceded by a vowel, simply add the -er or -est suffix. For example:
  

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  • gay – gayer – gayest
  • low – lower – lowest
  • new – newer – newest
  • slow – slower – slowest

  For one-syllable adjectives spelled with a final consonant preceded by a single vowel, double the final consonant and add the -er or -est suffix. For example:
  
  

  • big – bigger – biggest
  • fat – fatter – fattest
  • hot – hotter – hottest
  • sad – sadder – saddest

  
  For one-syllable adjectives spelled with a final e preceded by a consonant, remove the e and then add the -er or -est suffix. For example:
  
  

  • cute – cuter – cutest
  • fine – finer – finest
  • nice – nicer – nicest
  • wide – wider – widest
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  -y, -le, and -er Adjectives

  For one- or two-syllable adjectives spelled with a final y preceded by a consonant, change the y to an i and then add the -er or -est suffix. For example:
  
  

  • burly – burlier – burliest
  • dry – drier – driest
  • sassy – sassier – sassiest
  • ugly – uglier – ugliest

  
  For two-syllable adjectives spelled with a final le, remove the e and then add the -er or -est suffix. For example:
  
  

  • gentle – gentler – gentlest
  • humble – humbler – humblest
  • little – littler – littlest
  • simple – simpler – simplest

  
  For two-syllable adjectives spelled with a final er, simply add the -er or -est suffix. For example:
  
  

  • bitter – bitterer – bitterest
  • eager – eagerer – eagerest
  • somber – somberer – somberest
  • tender – tenderer – tenderest

  
  Note, however, that the comparative and superlative forms of -le and -er adjectives are in the process of linguistic change with the addition of both -er/-est suffixes and more/most adverbs producing grammatically acceptable forms. For example, native English speakers use both humbler and more humble and both tenderest and most tender.
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  Irregular Adjectives

  Some English adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms. For example:
  
  

  • bad – worse – worst
  • far – further – furthest
  • good – better – best
  • many – more – most
  • old – elder – eldest
  • well – better – best