According to the norms of modern grammar in the English language there are 3 degrees of comparison of adjectives.First degree - a positive.It is the standard form of the adjective.It has no shade of comparison and expresses a qualitative condition of the subject or object.From this form, and form the remaining two degrees: comparative and superlative.If we compare two items to each other in quality, then we use the comparative degree.When we want to consciously select one item from a group of three or more, the transfer of superlatives.
In general, the rules for the formation of the grammatical category in English is not very different from the formation of the degrees of comparison of adjectives in the German language.We must add the special suffixes -er and -est to form the basis of a positive, or to put it in front of more and most.So we have the comparative and superlative.The latter always takes with him the use of the article the.The number of syllables in a word directly affects the method of forming the degrees of comparison of adjectives.English, in addition, do not always allow the presence of the grammatical category.It is used only in qualitative adjectives.That is, the words, performing the function description.
All monosyllabic adjectives are formed by adding -er and -est to form the basis of the positive: rich - richer - the richest .Syllable words ending in -ow, -le, -y, -er, and often form a degree with special suffixes: tender - tenderer - the tenderest .Forming degrees of comparison adjectives above process should take into account some of the nuances of spelling.They are as follows.
1. If the adjective ends with a consonant, and in front of it - stressed vowel, the consonant is doubled: wet - wetter - the wettest .
2. If the adjective ends unstressed -e, then this vowel before the suffix falls: close - closer - the closest .
3. If the adjective ends in -y And according to her, then y changes to -i: lucky - luckier - the luckiest .If y is a vowel before, the transformation occurs.
easiest way to remember education degrees of comparison of adjectives, which consist of three or more syllables, as well as those that have been formed by the sacrament.Before the positive form just puts more and most.Then the adjective takes the necessary degree of comparison, without any change in the basis of: dangerous - more dangerous - the most dangerous, boring - more boring - the most boring .Likewise, the extent and form a two-syllable adjectives ending in -al, -ish, -ant, -ive, -ent, -less, -ic, -ful, -ous: tragic - more tragic - the most tragic.
In English, there is also a separate group of irregular adjectives in the education level comparisons are not subject to common grammatical rules and reverse the basis of positive form.
| laid. | good (well) | little | bad (ill) | far | many / much | old |
| match. | better | less | worse | farther (further) | more | older (elder) |
| Prevoskh. | the best | the least | the worst | farthest (furthest) | most | oldest (eldest) |
As mentioned above, in the English language, not all adjectives have the ability to form degrees of comparison.These include:
- all relative adjectives ( wooden, European, daily, preparatory );
- adjectives that were taken at the time of the Latin language, and carry a tinge of comparison or superiority ( former, inner, upper, optimal, proximal );
- quality absolute adjectives, the value of which does not allow a comparison ( dead, middle, principle, previous );
- qualitative adjectives formed with the negative prefix in- and un- at the beginning of the word ( incurable, inconvenient, unsuitable );
- qualitative adjectives whose meaning has a shade comparison.Most often they end with the suffix -ish ( redish, blueish ).
