Adjectives Adjectives in English. Superlative adjectives in English: examples

comparative is needed mainly to compare some things with others. After all, you must agree that it would be difficult to explain without comparing any objects. Every day in our dialect such comparative adjectives as “beautiful, better, warmer, colder, cooler, etc.” are scrolled through, we just may not notice it. Therefore, the entire topic below is important for digestibility and is presented with accessible simplicity.

How to turn a positive adjective into a comparative adjective?

First, let's figure out what is the positive degree of an adjective? It's simple. The positive degree of an adjective is the original form of an adjective that indicates the quality of an object and is used without any comparison with other objects. Eg:

• It's beautiful day – Beautiful day.
• My teacher is very young - My teacher is too young.
• They're very friendly people – They are very friendly people.
• It's an expensive restaurant - This is an expensive restaurant.
• The rooms are very small – The rooms are very small.

Another question may arise here. What is the comparative degree of an adjective? And here everything is even simpler. A comparative adjective is a form of an adjective that indicates the quality of one thing in relation to another thing. For example:

• Vegetables are cheaper than meat – Vegetables are cheaper than meat.
• This bag of potatoes is heavier than that bag of tomatoes – This bag of potatoes is heavier than that bag of tomatoes.
• Spain is warmer than England – Spain is warmer than England.
• This new car is faster than my old one – This new car is faster than my old one.
• Sarah is older than her brother – Sarah is older than her brother.

Feel the difference? Now we will return to the main question: how to convert an adjective from a positive degree to a comparative degree?

When converting, the standard for all adjectives is to add the suffix “-er” to the end of the word. For example:

Standard rule: Adjective + suffix “-er”
Adjective (positive degree)	Translation	Adjective (compare step)	Translation
Old	Old	Old er	Older
Tall	High	Tall er	Higher
Slow	Slow	Slow er	Slower
Cold	Cold	Cold er	Colder
Small	Small	Small er	Less
Strong	Strong	Strong er	Stronger
Clean	Clean	Clean er	Cleaner
Short	Short	Short er	Briefly speaking
Long	Long	Long er	Longer
Cheap	Cheap	Cheap er	Cheaper

IN English language, when comparing, the conjunction “than” is often used:

• The coast road to the town is shorter than the mountain road – The road along the embankment to the city is shorter than the road through the mountains.
• My father is younger than my mother - My father is younger than my mother.
• His new mobile is smaller than his old one - His new mobile phone is smaller than his old one.
• The Empire State building is taller than the Statue of Liberty - The Empire State Building is taller than the Statue of Liberty.
• Wool is warmer than cotton – Wool is warmer than cotton.

However, there are always a number of the following conversion rules that must be followed:

1. For two-syllable adjectives ending with a consonant and “-y”: change “-y” to “-i” + suffix “-er”:

Rule for two-syllable adjectives ending in “-y”: change y → i + suffix “-er”
Adjective (positive degree)	Translation	Adjective (compare step)	Translation
Happy	Happy	Happ ier	Happier
Easy	Easy	Eas ier	Easier
Dirty	Filthy	Dirt ier	Dirtier
Pretty	Cute	Prett ier	Cuter
Wealthy	Rich	Wealth ier	Richer

Examples:

• English is easier than Japanese – English is easier than Japanese.
• My suitcase is heavier than your suitcase - My suitcase is heavier than your suitcase.
• Your car is dirtier than mine - Your car is dirtier than mine.
• His new girlfriend is prettier than your Julia – His new girl prettier than your Yulia.
• Last time she was happier than today - Last time she was happier than today.

2. If a one-syllable adjective ends in a vowel and a consonant: add the last consonant + the suffix “-er”:

Adjective (positive degree)	Translation	Adjective (compare step)	Translation
Big	Big	Big ger	More
Hot	Hot	Hot ter	Hot
Fat	Thick	Fat ter	Thicker
Thin	Thin	Thin ner	Thinner

Examples:

• The Grand Hotel is bigger than is the Sea View Hotel – “The Grand Hotel” is bigger than “The Sea View Hotel”.
• My cup of tea is hotter than yours - My cup of tea is hotter than yours.
• Mike is fatter than John - Mike is fatter than John.
• The screw-driver is thinner than mine – This screwdriver is thinner than mine.

3. To adjectives ending in “-e”, add only one suffix “-r”:

Adjective (positive degree)	Translation	Adjective (compare step)	Translation
Nice	Nice	Nic er	More pleasant
True	Loyal	Tru er	Or rather
White	White	Whit er	Whiter
Polite	Polite	Polit er	More polite
Large	Large	Large er	Larger

For example:

• My arguments are truer than yours - My arguments are truer than yours.
• Her shirt is whiter than her girlfriends’ – Her shirt is whiter than her friend’s.
• Wheels of your car is larger than wheels of mine – The wheels of your car are larger than the wheels of mine.

4. Before two-syllable adjectives that do not end in “-y” and before adjectives that consist of 3 or more syllables, when converting to the comparative degree, add the service word “more” without adding a suffix:

For adjectives consisting of 2 or more syllables
Positive degree	Translation	comparative	Translation
Careful	Careful	More careful	More careful
Worried	Excited	More worried	More excited
Expensive	Expensive	More expensive	More expensive
Intelligent	Smart	More intelligent	Smarter
Beautiful	Beautiful	More beautiful	More beautiful

For example:

• The train is more expensive than the bus - The train is more expensive than the bus.
• Drivers in this country are more careless than drivers in my country – Drivers in this country are more careless than drivers in my country.
• The exam today was more difficult than last year’s exam - Today’s exam was more difficult than last year’s exam.
• The students ask more intelligent questions than they did before - Students ask more intelligent questions than they asked before.
• Her second book is more interesting than her first - Her second book is more interesting than her first.

5. We also cannot do without exceptions, which, when transformed, take on a completely different form than in all of the above points:

Exceptions to comparative adjectives
Positive degree	Translation	comparative	Translation
Good	Good	Better	Better
Bad	Bad	Worse	Worse
Little	Small	Less	Less
Far	Far	Farther	Further

For example:

• Ms. Davies is a better teacher than Mr. Andrews – Mrs. Davis is a better teacher than Mr. Andrews.
• These boots are worse than those that we received last year - These boots are worse than those that we were given last year.
• I’ve less money than you have - I have less money than you.
• From here to Moscow is farther than to St. Petersburg – From here it is further to Moscow than to St. Petersburg.

To strengthen the expression, we can insert adverbs such as a bit (a little), a lot (much), much (significantly) before comparative adjectives:

• She’s a lot happier now - She’s much happier now.
• I’m a bit older than you - I’m a little older than you.
• This book is much more interesting than the other one - This book is much more interesting than the others.

On this this post finished. Perhaps you would like to ask or add something to this article. If so, please leave your comment below. Good luck.

Adjective [" xGIktIv] a

An adjective is a part of speech that denotes a characteristic of an object, person or phenomenon. It answers the question what? - Which? which? which? regarding the qualities or properties of the object referred to.

Adjectives in English do not change in number, gender and cases, they do not have short forms. Adjectives subject to change only by degrees of comparison. According to their meaning they are divided into:

A) Quality adjectives. They denote characteristics of an object that may be inherent in it to a greater or lesser extent, therefore such adjectives may have forms of degrees of comparison. For example, objects may differ qualitatively: in size - largebig, larg er bigger, more, larg est greatest; by weight - heavyheavy and so on.;

b) Relative adjectives. There are significantly fewer of them than quality ones. They convey characteristics of an object that cannot be present in the object to a greater or lesser extent. Therefore they have no degrees of comparison and cannot be combined with adverbs of degree: veryVery etc.. For example: denoting the material from which the item is made - woodenwood, scene - ruralrural, rustic and so on.

Adjectives are simple, derived and compound (complex). Used in functions in a sentence definitions And nominal part of a compound predicate.

A number of adjectives do not differ in form from adverbs. To distinguish them from adverbs, you need to remember that adjectives define nouns, and adverbs - verb, adjective or other adverb, e.g.: adverbs - well Fine; late late; little few; adjectives: - well good (about health); late late; little small.

There are adjectives ending in –ed And –ing. You need to be aware of this so as not to confuse them with past tense forms, participles, gerunds, etc. You should be guided by their place and role in the sentence. Adjectives with endings –ed usually describe the state of the person himself, and adjectives with –ing- the impression that an object (phenomenon) makes on him: interesting, scary and so on. For example:

Adjective with -ed	Adjective with -ing
interested interested tired tired excited excited surprised surprised shocked shocked	interesting interesting tiring tedious exciting exciting surprising amazing shocking shocking

An adjective always refers to a noun (or, less commonly, a pronoun). According to its role in the sentence, it can be:

1) definition and then it's worth it before noun;

2) part of a compound nominal predicate and then it stands after defined noun:

1) He wears black shoes. He wears black shoes. ; 2) His shoes are black. His shoes black. That's all, actually. Below we will look at some more examples illustrating this:

1-a Adjectives in the defining function are usually placed before noun. And if there is article or another determinant noun (possessive, demonstrative pronouns, etc.), then between it and the noun:

London is a beautiful city.	London – Beautiful city.
He came at the wrong time.	He came to unsuitable time.

Before An adjective can have an adverb of degree that enhances its meaning, for example veryVery, tootoo much etc. And the defined noun itself can be omitted and only implied in meaning:

If a noun is defined by several adjectives, then adjectives reflecting the actual state of things are located closer than adjectives expressing a subjective opinion, for example: a nice sunny day- what he sunnysolar is an obvious fact, but the fact that he niceglorious, then this is for whom, how. More examples:

Typically, adjectives characterizing a noun are arranged in the following order:

Epithet, quality:	good	good
Size:	large	big
Form:	round	round
Age:	old	old
Color:	brown	brown
Origin:	Italian	Italian
Substance, material:	wooden	wood
A word that forms a single semantic group with a noun:	dinner	dining
Noun:	table	table

1 - b After of the word being defined, they are placed in the following cases:

a) If the adjective is a modifier of an indefinite pronoun:

I"ll tell you something wonderful.	I will tell you something amazing.
There is nothing wrong.	Everything is fine. ( Nothing erroneous)

b) If the adjectives themselves have dependent words and in various comparative constructions (see below):

c) If the definition is expressed by adjectives absentmissing, presentpresent and some others:

2 Adjective in function nominal part of a compound predicate(predicative) is placed after the linking verb. A compound nominal predicate consists of a linking verb and a nominal part (predicative). Most often used as a linking verb. verb to be (am, is, are, was...).

London is beautiful.	London is beautiful.( Beautiful)
I think he is right.	I think he's right. ( correct)
The table was big and round.	Table was big And round.

A number of other verbs are also used in this capacity: to seem, to look – seem, look, to become, to turn, to get – become, do and etc.

The flat looked small and cozy .	Apartment seemed small And cozy.
She became fat.	She became thick(gained weight)
He is getting old.	He's getting old. ( becomes old)

Adjectives illsick And wellgood (about health), as well as adjectives starting with "a", such as alivealive, afraidfrightened, asleepsleeping, awakewoken up and others are used only as a predicative and do not have forms of degrees of comparison:

She is ill again.	She again sick.
All is well with her.	Not everything Fine. (about health, well-being)
I was afraid of the dog.	I was afraid of the dog. (was scared)

Every person or thing has distinctive characteristics, properties, signs. And in order to tell your interlocutor about them, you need to be able to correctly use the appropriate adjectives. Today we will study this grammatical category, and also learn its laws of composition and use. In addition, they will help us quickly understand and remember the rules about simple and polysyllabic adjectives in English language examples, given in the final section.

Grammatical meaning

The role of English adjectives is no different from the role of Russian ones - to characterize people and describe objects, emphasizing their qualities, characteristics, properties. Despite the fact that there is always a noun in conjunction with this part of speech, it does not change either number, gender, or case.

• I see a gray bird -II seegray bird.
• Gray birds are sitting on the branch of the tree –Gray birdssittingonbranchtree.
• I gave some bread to the gray bird -IgaveA littleof breadthisgray bird.

The only time adjectives change the form in an English sentence is when they are used to compare objects and express superiority.

Comparison forms

Before mastering comparison methods, it is necessary to understand that for English grammar The composition of adjectives is very important. They come in three types: simple, complex and compound.

Compound adjectives are a combination of two words and are written with a hyphen (sometimes together). These combinations consist of adjectives and other parts of speech: numerals, nouns, participles, etc.

• A one-eyed young man lives in this flat – A young one-eyed man lives in this apartment.
• Mother bought a dark blue suit for my brother –Motherboughtmybrotherdark-bluecostume.
• He didn't want to take a low-paid jobHe didn't want to take a low-paying job.

The compound form is rarely used. One- and two-syllable adjectives and words with a large number of syllables are much more common. For the first two groups, comparative forms are formed by changing the stem, and the last category requires additional words. Therefore, we will separately analyze polysyllabic adjectives in English, giving examples of composing their comparative degrees. For now, let's focus on the first group.

Definitions consisting of one syllable, as well as adjectives of two syllables with the endings le, er, ow, y form degrees of comparison in a suffixal way. For the comparative degree it is the suffix –er, and for the superlative degree it is est. Since only one person or thing can be superior to everyone, the article the is placed before such adjectives.

• Ihaddonemytaskby3 o'clockbecauseitwas easy – I completed my task by three o’clock because it was light.
• YouhaddoneyourtaskfasterthanIdidbecauseyourtaskwas easier – You completed your task faster than I did, because your task was easier.
• Hehaddonehistaskearlierthanothersdidbecausehistaskwas the easiest - He completed his task before everyone else, because his task was the easiest.

When changing the degree for monosyllabic adjectives, several nuances related to spelling are typical. When a definition ends with one consonant preceded by a short vowel, it is doubled in the comparative construction. Here we note that the final unreadable vowel e is never doubled.

• It was hot yesterday –Yesterdaywashot.
• The weather is getting hotter and hotter –WeatherbecomesAllhotterAndhotter.

Words ending in -y with a preceding consonant change that letter to i.

• My sister is lazy – Mysisterlazy.
• He is the laziest pupil in his class –HemostlazystudentVhisclass.

Note that in this group there are special cases that are studied separately.

Polysyllabic adjectives in English - examples of construction

For definitions containing three or more syllables, no changes occur to the word itself. In compiling comparative degrees they are helped by special additional notations: more/less(more/less) And themost/theleast(most/least).

Original form	Comparison	Superiority
comfortable room comfortable room	more comfortable room the room is more comfortable	the most comfortable room the most comfortable room
beautiful butterfly beautiful butterfly	more beautiful butterfly the butterfly is more beautiful	the most beautiful butterfly the most beautiful butterfly
expensive present expensive gift	less expensive present less expensive gift	the least expensive present not an expensive gift at all

This method is often used to form comparison forms of adjectives ending in –ed and –ing, which many equate to participles.

• He wasn't more surprised than his brother –HewasstrongersurprisedhowhisBrother.
• It was the most interesting day of my trip –Thiswasmostinterestingdayfrommytrips.

Often, two-syllable adjectives are also used this way, especially if they end in –ful, -less, -ous.

• Your husband is more careful than my –Is yourshusbandmorecaring,howmy.
• It is the most useless thing in the world –Thisthe mostuselessthingVworld.
• Palahniuk is more famous writer than Frei –Palahniukmorefamouswriter,howFry.

To words always used for education degrees of comparison additional structures also include: frequent, careless, modern, normal, certain, foolish, correct and etc.

Some representatives of adjectives can even use both methods of constructing comparisons.

An adjective is an independent part of speech that denotes a characteristic of an object. This part speech answers the question: “what?”, translated as “which one?”

For example: purple - purple, red, obedient - obedient, boring - boring, English - English.

Adjectives in English will not change by gender, number or case. The changes concern only degrees of comparisons of adjectives, which we will consider in the next topic.

There are simple and derived adjectives. Simple ones are used without any suffixes or prefixes.

For example: long - long, blue - blue, small - small. Derived adjectives in English are made up of suffixes or prefixes or both parts of the word.

For example: unknown - unknown, irrational - irrational.

Adjective suffixes in English

The most common adjective suffixes are:

-ful: beautiful – wonderful, awful – terrible

-less: pointless - useless, heartless - heartless

-ous: enormous – grandiose, gigantic, courageous – courageous, brave

-al: fundamental - basic, radical, normal - ordinary, normal

-able, -ible: capable - capable, credible - trustworthy.

Adjective prefixes in English

The most popular adjective prefixes are:

un-: unbelievable - incredible, unforbidden - not forbidden

in-: innocent - innocent, immaculate, incredible - improbable, incredible

There are also compound adjectives. They include two words, but when translated they mean one meaning.

For example:

Dark-green - dark green, dark-haired - dark-haired, snow-iced - snow-ice.

An adjective has two functions in a sentence: a determiner and a nominal part of a compound predicate.

The little boy is on the skating-rink – A little boy on the rink.

Here the function of the adjective is definition.

The boy is little - The boy is small.

Here the function of the adjective is the nominal part of the compound predicate.

Converting adjectives to nouns in English

Adjectives in English can act as nouns. They have a plural meaning and denote a group of persons or all persons who share one or another characteristic. They are used with the definite article and without the ending “s”.

For example:

Many television channels use sign language for thedeaf. Many TV channels use sign language interpretation for the deaf

They build special clinics for the wounded. They are building special clinics for the wounded.

An adjective combined with one of the following nouns is used to designate one or more persons:

people; woman, women; man, men; person, persons

For example:

A deaf man - blind, rich people - rich, three poor persons - three poor people.

Adjectives that indicate nationality can become nouns that indicate a group of people of that nationality. If the endings of adjectives are “ian”, “an”, for example, Ukrainian – Ukrainian, American – American, then when turning into nouns, they can be used in both the plural and singular. In the plural they use the ending "s".

For example:

Ukrainian - Ukrainian

Ukrainians - Ukrainians

a Norwegian - Norwegian

Norwegians - Norwegians

an American - American

Americans - Americans

Plural nouns can denote not only a group of people of a certain nationality, but also the entire nation as a whole. In this case, you need to use the definite article.

For example:

The Americans - Americans

The Bulgarians - Bulgarians

If the ending of the adjective is “se”, “ss”, for example Japanese - Japanese, Swiss - Swiss, then when turning into nouns, the words can be used in both the plural and singular. There will be no ending "s" in the plural. If we are talking about the nation as a whole, then they must be preceded by a definite article.

For example:

A Japanese - Japanese, three Japanese - three Japanese

A Swiss - Swiss, ten Swiss - ten Swiss

If the adjective ends in “ch”, “sh”, for example, Dutch - Dutch, English - English, then when turning into nouns, they are used in the plural, when they convey the nation as a whole. In this case, the definite article is used.

For example:

The Scotch - Scots

The Spanish

The Dutch are the Dutch.

If it is not about the entire nation, then compound nouns come to the rescue:

Man, men; woman, women

For example:

a Scotchman - Scotsman, Scotchmen - Scots

a Dutchwoman - Dutch, four Dutchwomen - four Dutch women

An exception would be: a Spaniard - a Spaniard or a Spanish woman, five Spaniards - five Spaniards or a Spanish woman.

English sentences with adjectives

In the function of definition, the adjective is placed before the noun, but if it performs the function of the nominal part of a compound predicate, then it is used after the linking verb.

We sold a big house – We sold a big house

The house is big – The house is big.

If a noun is described not by one, but by a large number of adjectives, then those that are more closely related to it are indicated closer to it.

For example:

He is a handsome rich man - He is a handsome rich man.

We bought an expensive modern seeding-machine - We bought an expensive modern seeder.

Some adjectives ending with the suffixes -ible, -able can be used not only before the noun, but also after it.

For example:

The seeds were treated on the first favorable day. Or The seeds were treated on the first day favourable.

The seeds were processed on the first favorable day.

The adjective enough is also used before and after a noun.

For example:

She has enough money. She has enough money.

She has enough money

Order of adjectives in English sentences. Table

There are rules for the order of use of adjectives in English. The sequence of words is as follows:

1. opinion translated into English - opinion

2. size in translation - size

3. quality translated into English - quality

4. age translated into English - age

5. shape translated into English - shape

6. color translated into English - color

7. origin translated into English - origin

8. material translated into English - material

9. purpose translated into English – purpose

Usually, more than three adjectives that refer to one noun are not used. If there is a need to use more than three nouns, then it is easier to break the sentence into subordinate clauses.

Look at the table

Article	Opinion ( opinion)	Size ( size)	Quality ( quality)	Age ( age )	Form ( Shape)	Color ( Color)	origin	Material ( material)	purpose	noun ( noun)
	stylish		hydrostable		oblong	silvery	French	iron	hunting	knife
	Chic	Big	Water-resistant	New	Oblong	Silver	French	Iron	Hunting	knife
	active	small				gray				kitten
					right	green				sofa
some	useful	pocket								dictionary
			shock		round		Swiss	silver		watch
	pointless								psychological	methods
	tasty						Ukrainian		Christmas	meal

If the same characteristic is described by several definitions, then they are combined with the conjunction “and”.

For example:

Strong and healthy body – strong and healthy body

The conjunction “and” is also used between color names.

For example, red and black – red and black.

If two definitions characterize different signs, then such conjunctions as “though”, “yet”, “but” are used.

For example:

He is a foolish but strong boy - He is a bit stupid, but a strong guy.

We ordered a tasty, though unhealthy dish - We ordered a tasty, although not healthy dish.

The adjective - an adjective in English means hallmark subject (subject) in three degrees. In accordance with the type (simple or complex, that is, monosyllabic or polysyllabic), you can form a comparative or superlative adjective construction.

Words denoting colors (white, red, blue), qualities of people and objects (prudent, strong, fearful, clean, wet) are all adjectives.

Rules for forming degrees of simple (monosyllabic) adjectives

• positive degree - positive degree;
• comparative degree - comparative degree;
• superlative degree - superlative degree.

A simple adjective is created by adding the suffix -est if the word is simple (one-syllable). In addition, the superlative degree is characterized by the addition of a definite article (the) to the adjective, since we are no longer talking about a simple object (the subject of a sentence or in a phrase), but about the best and most outstanding of its kind.

The simplest examples of using monosyllabic adjectives in the superlative degree of comparison:

• strong - the strongest (strong - the strongest or strongest);
• sharp - the sharpest (sharp - the sharpest or sharpest);
• clever - the cleverest (smart - the smartest or smartest);
• neat - the neatest (neat - the neatest or neatest);
• short - the shortest (short - the shortest or mildest);
• East or West home is best - East or West - home is better (analogous to the Russian proverb “It’s good when visiting, but at home it’s better”).

If the adjective ends in -y, as in other similar words, this letter changes to ending -i. And only then is the superlative sign added, that is, the ending -est:

• naughty - naughtiest (naughty - the most naughty);
• pretty - prettiest (lovely - the most charming);
• dry - driest (dry - the driest);
• noisy - noisest (noisy - the noisiest);
• happy - happiest (happy - happiest);
• dirty - dirtiest (dirty - the dirtiest);
• messy - messiest (sloppy - the most sloppy).

The same rule applies simple words: ugly (ugly, ugly), busy (busy).

An adjective ending in the vowel e loses its final letter:

• nice - nicest (good - the best or the nicest);
• white - whitest (white - the whitest or whitest);
• rare - rarest (rare - the rarest or rarest).

In simple one-syllable adjectives, after a short vowel, the consonant is doubled:

• big - biggest (big - the biggest);
• fat - fattest (fat - the fattest);
• red - reddest (red - the reddest);
• hot - hottest (hot - the hottest).

The same rule includes the following words: sad (sad, sorrowful), hot (hot), wet (wet).

Example sentences:

Europe is the largest continent - Europe is the widest continent.

Oceania is the smallest continent - Oceania is the smallest continent.

Exceptions to the rules

The superlative degree of an adjective in English cannot be formed according to typical rules. People learning English at first try to memorize these examples or always have a cheat sheet with them:

• good - best (good - the best);
• bad - worst (bad - the worst);
• little - least (small - the smallest);
• many, much - most (many - most or largest).

The adjective OLD (old), in addition to its exclusivity, is distinguished by two forms of superlative formation. The most common form:

• old - oldest (old - the oldest or oldest).

But, if we are talking about family members (relatives), another form is used:

• old - eldest (old - the oldest or oldest).

Usage examples

Exceptional superlative adjective. Examples of use:

My diploma work in the best - My diploma work is the best.

This campaign has the worst production - This campaign has the worst production.

My son is the smallest in his class - My son is the smallest in his class.

This book is the oldest in my library - This book is the oldest in my library.

Our great-grandfather is the eldest member of the family - Our great-grandfather is the eldest member of the family.

Try forming the superlative degree of the following adjectives:

• new(new);
• fast (fast);
• tall (high);
• cheap (cheap);
• expensive (expensive).

Formation of degrees of polysyllabic adjectives

A polysyllabic adjective is one that has more than one syllable, that is, a combination of a consonant and a vowel.

In this case, the exceptional construction more - the most, already familiar from the previous explanation, is used. The superlative degree from this combination is simply substituted for the adjective:

• comfortable - the most comfortable (comfortable - the most comfortable or most comfortable);
• interesting - the most interesting (interesting - the most interesting or most interesting).

The same with the words: popular (popular), beautiful (beautiful).

Other comparative constructions with adjectives

The superlative degree of an adjective can also be formed by other comparative constructions.

The conjunction than is used if the degree of quality of one item is compared with the degree of quality of another:

This room is larger than that - This room is larger than that.

Better late than never - Better late than never.

Two heads are better than one - Two heads are better than one.

Green gallary is wider than red - The green gallery is wider than the red one.

Antarctida is bigger than Oceania - Antarctica is larger than Oceania.

Using the construction as...as (same...as, same...as). In this case, the adjective in the positive degree is compared between as and as:

This book is as interesting as that - This book is as interesting as that one.

Yellow car as fast as green - The yellow car is as fast as the green one.

This doctor as clever as that one - This doctor is as smart as that one.

Exercises to consolidate what you have learned

1) Quiz. Try to answer the questions using constructions of words with adjectives in the comparative degree.

Which country is smaller? (Scotland or England)

Which country is begger? (Russia or Spain)

Which is the largest continent on our planet?

Which is the biggest ocean on our planet?

Which city is older? (Moscow or London)

Which is the smallest country? (Vatican City or Monaco)

2) Read the dialogue between two friends Alison and Tony and try to understand what they are talking about.

Alison: My cat is big. It is beautiful and neat. Your dog is messier than my cat.

Tony: My dog ​​is bigger than your cat. It is more beautiful than your cat.

Alison: My house is newer than your house. It is the newest in our street.

Tony: No, it is not. Your house is older than my house. Your garden is smaller than my garden.

Alison: Yes, it is. But it is more beautiful. It's the most beautiful garden in our city.

Tony: Our car is bigger, newer, more comfortable and more expensive than your car.

Alison's cat: Alison is as fast and clever as Tony.

Tony's dog: Tony is as fast and clever as Alison.