Unit: Parts of Speech

Lesson: Adjectives

Comparing with Adjectives

Adjectives that show comparison have special forms called degrees.Adjective in the positive degree is the basic form of the adjective.Use the comparative degree to compare two things. Add –er or more to the adjective.Use the superlative degree to compare three or more things. Add –est or most to the adjective.

Comparing with Adjectives

Positive Comparative Superlative

tall taller tallest

clear clearer clearest

big bigger biggest

intelligent more intelligent most intelligent

formal more formal most formal

humid more humid most humid

Comparing with Adjectives

Irregular AdjectivesPositive Comparative Superlative

good better best

well (meaning healthy)

better best

bad wore worst

little (quantity) less least

much, many more most

AdverbsAdverbs are words that modify (describe) verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

Verb: Stonehenge was built gradually.Adjective: This English monument is

made of very large stones.Adverb: Scholars have studied

Stonehenge quite thoroughly.

AdverbsAn adverb can tell how, when, where, or to what extent about the word it modifies. Kinds of Adverbs

When: yesterday, soon, often, sometimes, immediately

An earth wall once surrounded the monument.

Where: here, there, down, up, everywhere, away, far, near

Circles of enormous stones lay inside.

How: well, cleverly, fast, wildly, carefully, badly

The stones were deliberately place in patterns.

To What Extent: very, too, really, terrible, extremely, quite, not

Sunrise was timed rather exactly from these patterns.

Comparing with AdverbsThe positive degree describes one action or quality.The comparative degree compares two actions or qualities. Add –er or more to the adverb.The superlative degree compares three or more actions or qualities. Add -est or most to the adverb.

Comparing with AdverbsPositive Comparative Superlativequiet more quietly most quietlybrightly more brightly most brightlysoon sooner soonestearly earlier earliestrapidly more rapidly most rapidlyfast faster fastestoften less often least often

Comparing with AdverbsIrregular Adverbs

Positive Comparative Superlativewell better best

badly worse worst

little less least

much more most

far farther farthest