COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES

FORMING THE COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE

Number of syllables Comparative Superlative

one syllable + -er The + -est
tall taller The tallest
alto Ms alto El/la/los/las ms alto/a/os/as
one syllable with the spelling consonant + single vowel + consonant: double the final
consonant:
fat fatter The fattest
big bigger The biggest
sad sadder The saddest
Number of syllables Comparative Superlative
two syllables + -er OR more + adj + -est OR most + adj
polite, pleasant, common, quiet
happy happier The happiest
yellow yellower The yellowest
simple simpler/ The simplest
tender tenderer The tenderest

busy busier The busiest

Number of syllables Comparative Superlative

three syllables or more + adj The most + adj

more or coming from
Latin or has a suffix
important more important The most important

expensive more expensive The most expensive

bored More bored The most bored
artful More artful The most artful
modern More modern The most modern

Examples:

a. A cat is fast, a tiger is faster but a cheetah is the fastest

b. A car is heavy, a truck is heavier, but a train is the heaviest
c. A park bench is comfortable, a restaurant chair is more comfortable, but a sofa is the
most comfortable