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ADJECTIVE & ADVERB NOTES: COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE
DEGREES
The difference between adjectives and adverbs
 An adjective modifies a noun or pronoun
o Adjectives usually come before the nouns they modify.
He works in a SMALL flower shop.
o Adjectives sometimes follow a linking verb and describe the subject.
Linking verbs= forms of the verb be (am, are, is , was, were)
He is YOUNG and OBSERVANT.
 These words also act as linking verbs so adjectives sometimes
follow them too: become, seem, appear, look, sound, feel, taste,
grow, smell
The new employee, Teruo, seems UNSUITABLE for the job, but he
soon becomes GOOD at it.
 An adverb describes a verb, an adjective, or another verb
o Adverbs tell how, when, where, or to what extent. Many adverbs end in –
ly.
He is fired EVENTUALLY because he is TOO generous to customers.
 Know whether you need to use an adverb or an adjective!
Adjectives can make comparisons
 The comparative form compares two things.
This painting is LARGER than that one.
 The superlative form compares three or more things.
Of the three, this painting is the largest.
 There are several ways to form the comparative and superlative forms
o Comparative (two things compared)
 Add –er to most one-syllable adjectives: highhigher,
bigbigger
 Add –er to many two-syllable adjectives: lovelylovelier,
happy happier
 Place more or less before many two-syllable adjectives:
partial more partial, loyalless loyal
 Some adjectives totally change form: goodbetter,
badworse
o Superlative (three or more things compared)
 Add –est to most one-syllable adjectives: highhighest,
bigbiggest,
 Add –est to many two-syllable adjectives: lovelyloveliest,
happyhappiest
 Place most or least before many two-syllable adjectives:
partialmost partial, loyalleast loyal
Hint: use your dictionary to figure out whether you can add est to
an adjective or whether you need to use most or least. If the


dictionary doesn’t list the est form, then you know that you need to
use most or least.
Place most or least before many three-syllable adjectives:
wonderfulmost wonderful, beautiful most beautiful,
expensiveleast expensive
Some adjectives totally change form goodbest, badworst