AN INTRODUCTION TO ENGLISH GRAMMAR & LANGUAGE
6. Both very and much can be used before Superlative 13. Nearest / Next
Adjective. Nearest denotes distance ; and next denotes position.
For example, For example,
Anil is the very best boy of his class. —correct Mumbai is the seaport nearest to Europe.
Sekhar is much the best boy of our school. Time’s shop is next to Police Station.
7. The same form of degree will be used before and
My uncle lives in the next quarter.
after and
For example,
FORMATION OF
Ram is the best and tallest. —Superlative
Shyam is better and taller. —Comparative COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE DEGREE
Indu is good and tall. —Positive * Most Adjectives of one syllable, and some of more
8. Fewer/Less than one, form their Comparative degree by adding -er and
Fewer is used before countable noun while less is the Superlative Degree by adding -e st to the Positive.
used before uncountable noun. Positive Comparative Superlative
For example, Small Smaller Smallest
No fewer than five persons died. Sweet Sweeter Sweetest
No less than half of the work has been done.
Tall Taller Tallest
9. Former/Latter/Later
Former is used for the first out of two Latter is used Bold Bolder Boldest
for the second out of two. And later is used for time. Clever Cleverer Cleverest
For example, Kind Kinder Kindest
Of Ajay and Nikhil, the former is the more intelligent. Young Younger Youngest
Of iron and gold, the latter is the more precious. Great Greater Greatest
The death of Rajib was later than the death of Indira
Old Older Oldest
10. Latest/Last
Latest refer to time and, last refer to position. * When the last letter in the Positive Degree ends in -
For example, e, only -r and -st are added to their Comparative and
Superlative degrees respectively.
I have not heard the latest news.
Can you say me the latest proceedings of the Positive Comparative Superlative
meeting? Wise Wiser Wisest
The last chapter is carelessly written. Noble Nobler Noblest
Ours is the last house in the street. Able Abler Ablest
11. Elder/Older; Eldest/ Oldest
Large Larger Largest
Elder and eldest are used only of persons, confined to
members of the same family. Brave Braver Bravest
While, older and oldest are both used of persons and White Whiter Whitest
things for the members of different families. Fine Finer Finest
For example, * When the Positive Form ends in -y, preceded by a
John is my elder brother. consonant, the -y is changed into -i before adding -er and -
Alter is my eldest son. east.
My sister is elder to me. Positive Comparative Superlative
Gandhi was older to Nehru.
Happy Happier Happiest
He is older than his sister.
Harry is the oldest boy in the eleven. Easy Easier Easiest
This is the oldest temple in Calcutta. Heavy Heavier Heaviest
Again, old is used in all three degrees while elder is Merry Merrier Merriest
used in Comparative and eldest in Superlative degree. Wealthy Wealthier Wealthiest
For example, * When the Positive Form is a word of one syllable
Positive Comparative Superlative and ends in a single consonant, preceded by a short vowel,
old older oldest this consonant is doubled before adding -er and -east
— elder eldest
Positive Comparative Superlative
12. Farther/Further
Fat Fatter Fattest
Farther means more distant one advanced, while
further means additional. Sad Sadder Saddest
For example, Thin Thinner Thinnest
Delhi is farther from the equator than Colombo. Hot Hotter Hottest
After this he made no further remarks. Big Bigger Biggest
I must have a reply without further delay.
Red Redder Reddest
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