Spelling Rules in Comparatives and Superlatives

The spelling rules for comparatives and superlatives follow the same patterns. Comparative adjectives generally take -er as an ending, and superlative adjectives generally take -est as an ending.

Here are some examples of regular comparisons:

clean-cleaner-cleanest

cheap-cheaper-cheapest                                    

high-higher-highest

However, there are a few different spelling patterns according to the ending of the adjectives.  

Spelling 1Spelling 2Spelling 3

After one-syllable adjectives ending in letter ‘-e’ 

Add -r/-st. 

For example 

large-larger-largest 

nice-nicer-nicest 

After one-syllable adjectives ending in one vowel and a single consonant: 

Double the last letter and add -er/-est. 

For example 

big- bigger-biggest 

hot-hotter-hottest

After two-syllable adjectives ending in the letter ‘-y’: 

Drop the letter ‘-y’ and add -ier/-iest.

For example 

lovely-lovelier-loveliest 

cozy-cozier-coziest

What about the irregular adjectives?

There a few irregular comparative forms in English. The comparative and superlative forms of good, bad are irregular.

Good becomes better and best.

Bad becomes worse and worst

The adjective ‘far’ is irregular and has two forms. 

Far becomes farther and farthest (meaning distance)

Far becomes further and furthest (for all other meanings)

When you talk about the age of people in a family ‘old’ is irregular. And it is only used before nouns.

For example: "My elder brother is an engineer."


Exercise

Practice Quiz

Spelling Rules in Comparatives and Superlatives

 

Add new comment

Plain text

  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Allowed HTML tags: <a> <em> <strong> <cite> <blockquote> <code> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd>
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.