Unit 68: FORMS FOR COMPARISON
one hour delivery time = fast
half hour delivery time = faster (this is the comparative form)
ten minutes delivery time = fastest (this is the superlative form)
When we want to make a comparison, we often change the form of a word. Adjectives and adverbs (Unit 64) and some words showing quantity (Unit 57) can change this way. Unit 69 shows you the meaning of comparative sentences and how to make them. This unit tells you about the forms.
Word + -er/ -est
This is for short words.[C]: COMPARATIVE, [S]: SUPERLATIVE
big [C] bigger [S] the biggest
few [C] fewer [S] the fewest
late [C] later [S] the latest
early [C] earlier [S] the earliest
Appendix 7 can help you with the spelling.
More/ most + word
This is for long words.difficult [C] more difficult [S] the most difficult
careful [C] more careful [S] the most careful
carefully [C] more carefully [S] the most carefully
beautiful [C] more beautiful [S] the most beautiful
NOTICE: Some words can use both forms.
either friendly [C] more friendly [S] the most friendly
or friendly [C] friendlier [S] the friendliest
Examples of these words are:
easy, dirty, funny, happy, noisy, narrow, shallow, simple, gentle, clever, common, quiet.
Irregular
good [C] better [S] the best
well [C] better [S] the best
bad [C] worse [S] the worst
badly [C] worse [S] the worst
far [C] farther [S] the farthest
[C] further [S] the furthest
many/much/a lot of [C] more [S] the most
a little [C] less [S] the least