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simpler
simplest
Adjectives derived by prefixes from those that use -er/-est also use
these suffixes, even though the addition of prefixes makes them longer that two syllables: unhappy - unhappier-unhappiest.
All adjectives other than those enumerated above form their comparative by using the intensifier more and their superlative by using the intensifier the most.
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
interesting
more interesting
the most interesting
generous
more generous
the most generous
personal
more personal
the most personal
In a very few cases, English permits a choice between the two devices:
commoner/more common, commonest/the most common. Ordinary, when one form is prescribed by the rules, the other is forbidden. A few adjectives have irregular forms for the degrees of comparison. p> They are:
good - better - the best
bad - worse - the worst
far - farther - the farthest (for distance)
- further - the furthest (for time and distance)
near - nearer - the nearest (for distance)
- next (for order)
late - later - the latest (for time)
- last (for order)
old - older - the oldest (for age)
- elder - the eldest (for seniority rather the age; used only
attributively)
There are some adjectives that, on account of their meaning, do not
admit of comparison at all, eg perfect, unique, full, empty, square,
round, wooden, daily, upper, major, outer, whole, only and some others.
There are sentence patterns in which comparison is expressed:
a) comparison of equality (as ... as)
eg The boy was as shy as a monkey. p> After his bathe, the inspector was as fresh as a fish. p> When he had left Paris, it was as cold as in winter there .
b) comparison of inequality (not so ... as, not as ... as)
eg His skin was not so bronzed as a Tahiti native's. p> The sun is not so hot today as I thought it would be. p> You are not as nice as people think.
c) comparison of superiority (...-er than, ...-est of (in, ever)
eg He looked younger than his years, much younger than Sheila or me .
To my mind the most interesting thing in art is the personality of
the artist. My mother was the proudest of women, and she was vain, but in the end she had an eye for truth. It's the biggest risk I've ever had to take.
d) comparison of inferiority (less ... than)
eg John is less musical than his sister. p> He had the consolation of noting that his friend was less sluggish
than before. p> e) comparison of parallel increase or decrease (the ... the, ...-er as)
eg The longer I think of his proposal the less I like it. p> The sooner this is done, the better. p> He became more cautious as he grew older. p> There are set phrases which contain the comparative or the superlative
degree of an adjective:
a) a change for the better (for the worst) - зміна на краще (до
гіршого)
eg There seem to be a change for the better in your uncle. He had a very
hearty dinner yesterday. p> b) none the less - проте
eg It did not take him long to make up his mind. None the less she showed
her scorn for his hesitation. p> c) so much the better (the worst) - тим краще (гірше)
eg If he will help us, so much the better. p> If he doesn't work, so much the worst for him. p> d) to be the worst for - робити що- то гірше, ще більше
eg He is rather the worst for drink. p> e) no (none the) worse for - гірше не стане (не став) від ...
eg You'll be no worse for having her to help you. p> You are none the worse for the experience. p> f) if the worst comes to the worst - у гіршому випадку
eg If the worst comes to the worst, I can always go back home to my parents. p> g) to go from bad to worse - ставати все гірше і гірше
eg Thinks went from bad to worse in the family. p> h) as best - в повну міру старання, як тільки можна
eg He made a living as best he could. p> i) at (the) best - в кращому випадку
eg She cannot get away from her home for long. At (the) best she can stay with us for two days. p> Substantivization of Adjectives.
Sometimes adjectives become substantivized. In this case they have the functions o...
