An adjective, when used for comparison, is used in two forms: comparative and superlative. Penlighten compiles a comprehensive list of commonly used adjectives along with their degrees of comparison.
Remember!
Make sure that you avoid illogical comparisons while using the comparative and superlative degrees. For example, the words ‘deader’ and ‘deadest’, although listed as real words in some dictionaries, are illogical. One cannot be deader than someone, or deadest of all. A few more examples of such comparisons are alone, always, correct, everlasting, fatal, first, final, impossible, infinite, instantaneous, last, mortal, never, only, pregnant, single, supreme, universal, and wrong.
An adjective is a figure of speech that is used to describe the noun or pronoun in a sentence. It is used to modify the noun or pronoun. For example, “Mary is an intelligent girl.” In this sentence, the word ‘intelligent’ tells us more about the noun ‘Mary’, and is therefore, the adjective.
When adjectives are used for comparisons, they are used in different forms: positive, comparative, and superlative. These different forms of comparison are called degrees of comparison. They are dependent on the number of items that are to be compared. A comparative form is used to compare two or more items, whereas a superlative form is used to compare three or more items.
COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES LIST
| POSITIVE FORM | COMPARATIVE FORM | SUPERLATIVE FORM |
| able | abler | ablest |
| angry | angrier | angriest |
| ancient | more ancient | most ancient |
| anxious | more anxious | most anxious |
| attractive | more attractive | most attractive |
| bad | worse | worst |
| beautiful | more beautiful | most beautiful |
| big | bigger | biggest |
| black | blacker | blackest |
| bold | bolder | boldest |
| brave | braver | bravest |
| bright | brighter | brightest |
| brilliant | more brilliant | most brilliant |
| broad | broader | broadest |
| busy | busier | busiest |
| calm | calmer | calmest |
| careful | more careful | most careful |
| careless | more careless | most careless |
| cheap | cheaper | cheapest |
| cheerful | more cheerful | most cheerful |
| clean | cleaner | cleanest |
| clear | clearer | clearest |
| clever | cleverer | cleverest |
| close | closer | closest |
| cold | colder | coldest |
| comfortable | more comfortable | most comfortable |
| complicated | more complicated | most complicated |
| cool | cooler | coolest |
| curly | curlier | curliest |
| dangerous | more dangerous | most dangerous |
| dark | darker | darkest |
| dear | dearer | dearest |
| deep | deeper | deepest |
| delicious | more delicious | most delicious |
| delightful | more delightful | most delightful |
| difficult | more difficult | most difficult |
| dirty | dirtier | dirtiest |
| dry | drier | driest |
| dull | duller | dullest |
| early | earlier | earliest |
| easy | easier | easiest |
| embarrassed | more embarrassed | most embarrassed |
| enjoyable | more enjoyable | most enjoyable |
| evil | eviler | evilest |
| exciting | more exciting | most exciting |
| expensive | more expensive | most expensive |
| famous | more famous | most famous |
| fair | fairer | fairest |
| far | farther | farthest |
| far | further | furthest |
| fast | faster | fastest |
| fat | fatter | fattest |
| fine | finer | finest |
| flat | flatter | flattest |
| foolish | more foolish | most foolish |
| fore | former | foremost |
| fore | former | first |
| forgetful | more forgetful | most forgetful |
| fresh | fresher | freshest |
| friendly | friendlier | friendliest |
| frightening | more frightening | most frightening |
| funny | funnier | funniest |
| generous | more generous | most generous |
| good | better | best |
| great | greater | greatest |
| green | greener | greenest |
| handsome | more handsome | most handsome |
| happy | happier | happiest |
| hard | harder | hardest |
| healthy | healthier | healthiest |
| heavy | heavier | heaviest |
| helpful | more helpful | most helpful |
| high | higher | highest |
| hot | hotter | hottest |
| hungry | hungrier | hungriest |
| immense | more immense | most immense |
| important | more important | most important |
| in | inner | inmost |
| in | inner | innermost |
| intelligent | more intelligent | most intelligent |
| interesting | more interesting | most interesting |
| kind | kinder | kindest |
| large | larger | largest |
| late | later | latest |
| late | latter | last |
| lazy | lazier | laziest |
| late | later | latest |
| lazy | lazier | laziest |
| light | lighter | lighest |
| little | less | least |
| long | longer | longest |
| loud | louder | loudest |
| low | lower | lowest |
| lucky | luckier | luckiest |
| mad | madder | maddest |
| many | more | most |
| merry | merrier | merriest |
| much | more | most |
| narrow | narrower | narrowest |
| naughty | naughtier | naughtiest |
| near | nearer | nearest |
| new | newer | newest |
| nigh | nigher | nighest |
| nigh | nigher | next |
| noisy | noisier | noisiest |
| old | elder | eldest |
| old | older | oldest |
| out | outer | outermost |
| out | outer | utmost |
| pale | paler | palest |
| pleasant | more pleasant | most pleasant |
| poor | poorer | poorest |
| powerful | more powerful | most powerful |
| pretty | prettier | prettiest |
| prosperous | more prosperous | most prosperous |
| proud | prouder | proudest |
| quick | quicker | quickest |
| red | redder | reddest |
| rich | richer | richest |
| sad | sadder | saddest |
| safe | safer | safest |
| sensible | more sensible | most sensible |
| shallow | shallower | shallowest |
| sharp | sharper | sharpest |
| short | shorter | shortest |
| simple | simpler | simplest |
| slim | slimmer | slimmest |
| slow | slower | slowest |
| small | smaller | smallest |
| smooth | smoother | smoothest |
| soon | sooner | soonest |
| strange | stranger | strangest |
| strong | stronger | strongest |
| sweet | sweeter | sweetest |
| tall | taller | tallest |
| terrible | more terrible | most terrible |
| thick | thicker | thickest |
| thin | thinner | thinnest |
| thirsty | thirstier | thirstiest |
| thoughtful | more thoughtful | most thoughtful |
| tiny | tinier | tiniest |
| ugly | uglier | ugliest |
| unusual | more unusual | most unusual |
| up | upper | uppermost |
| useful | more useful | most useful |
| valuable | more valuable | most valuable |
| warm | warmer | warmest |
| wealthy | wealthier | wealthiest |
| well | better | best |
| wet | wetter | wettest |
| white | whiter | whitest |
| wide | wider | widest |
| wild | wilder | wildest |
| wise | wiser | wisest |
| wonderful | more wonderful | most wonderful |
| young | younger | youngest |
| zealous | more zealous | most zealous |
It can be difficult to learn how to form the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives. There are various rules that have to be followed to do so. You can refer to degrees of comparison in order to learn more.
