adjectives & adverbs

Adjectives are used to modify nouns,

e.g. The dog is loud. – What is the dog like? – loud

Adverbs are used to modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs,

e.g. The dog barks loudly. – How does the dog bark? – loudly


Positive Form


Use the positive form of the adjective if the comparison contains one of the following expressions:

as … as

Example: Jane is as tall as John.


Negative Form

not as … as / not so … as


*Example: John is not as tall as Arnie.



Comparative Form and Superlative Form (-er/-est)


1* one-syllable adjectives

(clean, new, cheap)

2*two-syllable adjectives ending in -y or -er

(easy, happy, pretty, dirty, clever)


positive form // comparative form // superlative form

clean / cleaner / (the) cleanest


Exceptions in spelling when adding -er / -est


* silent ‘e’ is dropped

Example: late-later-latest

* final ‘y’ after a consonant becomes i

Example: easy-easier-easiest

* final consonant after short, stressed vowel is doubled

Example: hot-hotter-hottest




Comparative Form and Superlative Form (more/most)


* adjectives of three or more syllables (and two-syllable adjectives not ending in -y/-er)



positive form // comparative form // superlative form

difficult _ more difficult _ most difficult


Comparative Form and Superlative Form (irregular comparisons)


positive form // comparative form // superlative form

good _ better _ best

bad / ill _ worse _ worst

little (amount) _ less _ least

little (size) _ smaller _ smallest

much / many _ more _ most

far (place + time) _ further _ furthest

far (place) _ farther _ farthest

late (time) _ later _ latest

late (order) _ latter _ last

near (place) _ near _ nearest

near (order) - next _

old (people and things)_ older _ oldest

old (people) _ elder _ eldest