Many descriptive adjectives can be inflected or supplemented in order to make
comparisons or to express degree.
EXAMPLE!!
Sophie is taller than she is, but she is more graceful
James ordered the most expensive dish on the menu
Julie is the calmest and least pretentious person I know.
In your every day dictionary a descriptive adjective is usually listed in what is known as it’s positive form : high, difficult. By adding “er” to the basic form or by putting more or less in front of it, you make the comparative form: higher, more difficult. By adding “est” or by putting most or least in front of it, you make it the superlative form: highest, most difficult, least difficult!
BANAN?! Need an example of this?
| positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| short | shorter | shortest |
| low | lower | lowest |
| brave | braver | bravest |
| beautiful | more beautiful | most beautiful |
| ridiculous | more ridiculous | most ridiculous |
| direct | more direct | most direct |
| gentle | gentler, more gentle | gentlest, most gentle |
| silly | sillier, more silly | silliest, most silly |
| lively | livelier, more lively | liveliest, most lively |
as you can see, for the last example you usually have a choice when you have an adjective of two syllables.
However, when you are presented with this choice the one with “more” and “most” are usually more formal. You may also choose which one you will use according to the rhythm you want to obtain in your sentence.
*** WHEN YOU HAVE ADJECTIVES WITH THREE OR MORE SYLLABLES YOU MUST USE “MORE” AND “MOST”!
ALSO YOU SHOULD NOT DOUBLE UP THE COMPARATIVE OR SUPERLATIVE FORMS!!!
also try to avoid using expressions such as “more intelligent” people
It would be much better if you say something like :
“smarter people” “people with higher intelligence”
back to the main page!
oooh I want to learn more!!
