Degrees of Adjectives
***Remember, an Adjective describes a noun***
 Comparative Form- uses ER to compare two nouns to each other
Examples:
 This painting is larger than that one.
 You should hang that painting higher on the wall.
 Some words are an exception--If you had ER to the end it will sound funny. If that is the case, add
MORE, or LESS to compare two nouns to each other
Examples:
 This painting has more paint than that one. (painter would not make sense)
 This painting is less expensive than that one. (expensiver would not make sense)
Adjective
Comparative Form
Big
High
Happy
Red
Dirty
**Generous
**Fun
**Special
Bigger
Higher
Happier
Redder
Dirtier
More/Less Generous
More/Less
Fun
More/Less Special
 Superlative Form- uses EST to compare three or more nouns to each other
Examples:
 This painting is the largest of all of the paintings in the exhibit.
 You should hang that painting as the highest one on the wall.
 Some words are an exception--If you had EST to the end it will sound funny. If that is the case, add
MOST, or LEAST to compare three or more nouns to each other
Examples:
 This painting is the most well-known among the paintings. (well-knownest would not make sense)
 This painting is the least beautiful of all of the works of art. (beautifullest would not make sense)
Adjective
Superlative Form
Big
High
Happy
Red
Dirty
**Generous
**Fun
**Special
Biggest
Highest
Happiest
Reddest
Dirtiest
Most/Least Generous
Most/Least
Fun
Most/Least
Special
Irregular Degrees of Adjectives
 Some words do not follow the same rules as most of the other adjectives. These irregular
words are listed below.
Adjective
Comparative Form
Superlative Form
Bad
Worse
Worst
Far (distance)
Farther
Farthest
Far (extent)
Further
Furthest
Good
Better
Best
Little (amount)
Less
Least
Many
More
Most
Much
More
Most
Well
Better
Best
Ill
Worse
Worst
Examples:
 Hillary felt worse about the comment than the slap she gave. (bad)
 We hiked until we could go no farther. (far)
 Jed needed no further explanation. (far)
 This is the best meal I ever ate. (good)
 Phil ate the least amount of food of anyone at the party. (little)
 The third grade class took more of the children to the zoo than first grade. (many)
 This week’s winner won the most money ever in a sweepstakes. (much)
 Soccer is the sport Eddy plays best of all. (well)
 Suddenly the worst patient became than before. (ill)