August 18, 2008 – 5:55 am
When writing an offense report, the need to compare items or people may arise. It is important to understand how to properly modify adjectives and adverbs.
The superlative of an adjective or adverb indicates that something has some feature to a greater degree than anything it is being compared to in a given context.
The comparative denotes the degree or grade by which a person or thing has a property greater or less than that of another it is being compared to in a given context.
- One syllable adjectives: cheap
Comparative: add er (cheaper)
Superlative: add est (the cheapest)
- One syllable adjectives ending in e: nice
Comparative: add r (nicer)
Superlative: add st (the nicest)
- One syllable adjectives ending in consonant - vowel - consonant: hot
Comparative: add consonant + er (hotter)
Superlative: add consonant + est (the hottest)
- Two syllable adjectives ending in y: happy
Comparative: replace y with ier (happier)
Superlative: replace y with iest (the happiest)
- Two or more syllable adjectives: beautiful
Comparative: add more / less (more / less beautiful)
Superlative: add the most / the least (the most / least beautiful)
- Irregular adjectives
good - better - the best
bad - worse - the worst
far - further - the furthest
Remember, you should use comparatives to compare two people, items or entities.
Example: Scott is thinner than Rich.
Use superlatives to compare one thing with the rest of the group it belongs to.
Example: Rich is the best looking officer on the department.
Some obsessive compulsive people object to the use of the superlative or comparative with modifiers such as “full,” “complete,” or “really,” which by definition already denote either a totality, an absence, or an absolute. Unfortunately, these words are routinely and frequently qualified in contemporary speech and writing. The good news is there are drugs available that can help them deal with this obsession.
Finally, permit me to conclude with a “rule of thumb” to help you remember whether to use the comparative (-er) or superlative (-est) form. Use the comparative form to compare two items because -er has two letters. Use the superlative form to compare three or more items because -est has three letters.
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