Comparison: comparative and superlative adjectives

  I Short adjectives ( with one syllable or with two syllables ending in –y)

 

Adjective

Omadussõna  algvõrre

Comparative

Keskvõrre

Superlative

Ülivõrre

 

old

tall

cheap

older

taller

cheaper

the oldest

the tallest

the cheapest

Most adjectives:

+ -er, the –est

late

nice

 

later

nicer

the latest

the nicest

 

Adjectives ending in

-e: + -r, the -st

fat

big

thin

fatter

bigger

thinner

the fattest

the biggest

the thinnest

 

One vowel + one consonant: double consonant

happy

easy

happier

easier

the happiest

the easiest

Change –y to i

 II Longer adjectives ( with two syllables not ending in –y; adjectives with three or more syllables)

 

Adjective

Comparative

Superlative

tiring

cheerful

handsome

intelligent

practical

more tiring

more cheerful

more handsome

more intelligent

more practical

the most tiring

the most cheerful

the most handsome

the most intelligent

the most practical

 

III Irregular comparatives and superlatives

 

Adjective

Comparative

Superlative

good

bad

far

old

better

worse

farther/ further

older/ elder ( NB! “elder”about people in a family)

the best

the worst

the farthest/ furthest

the oldest/ eldest      ( “the eldest” about people in a family)

Koostas: Vilma Raam