positive - comparative- superlative
A - Comparison with -er/-est
clean - cleaner - (the) cleanest
We use -er/-est with the following adjectives:
1) adjectives with one syllable
clean
cleaner
cleanest
new
newer
newest
cheap
cheaper
cheapest
2) adjectives with two syllables and the following endings:
2 - 1) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -y
dirty
dirtier
dirtiest
easy
easier
easiest
happy
happier
happiest
pretty
prettier
prettiest
2 - 2) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -er
clever
cleverer
cleverest
2 - 3) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -le
simple
simpler
simplest
2 - 4) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -ow
narrow
narrower
narrowest
Spelling of the adjectives using the endings -er/-est
large
larger
largest
Leave out the silent -e
big
bigger
biggest
Double the consonant after short vowel
sad
sadder
saddest
dirty
dirtier
dirtiest
Change -y to -i (consonant before -y)
shy
shyer
shyest
Here -y is not changed to -i.(although consonant before -y)
B - Comparison with more - most
difficult - more difficult - (the) most difficult
all adjectives with more than one syllable (except some adjectives with two syllables - see 2 - 1 to 2 - 4)
C - Irregular adjectives
good
better
best
bad
worse
worst
much
more
most
uncountable nouns
many
more
most
countable nouns
little
less
least
little
smaller
smallest
D - Special adjectives
Some ajdectives have two possible forms of comparison.
common
commoner / more common
commonest / most common
likely
likelier / more likely
likeliest / most likely
pleasant
pleasanter / more pleasant
pleasantest / most pleasant
polite
politer / more polite
politest / most polite
simple
simpler / more simple
simplest / most simple
stupid
stupider / more stupid
stupidest / most stupid
subtle
subtler / more subtle
subtlest
sure
surer / more sure
surest / most sure
Difference in meaning with adjectives:
far
farther - farthest - distance
further - furthest - distance or time
late
later - latest
latter - x
x - last
old - older - oldest - people and things
elder - eldest - people (family)
near - nearer - nearest - distance
x -next - order
Present Perfect - Use
1) Result of an action in the past is important in the present
I have cleaned my room.
2) Recently completed action
He has just played handball.
3) Action beginning in the past and still continuing
We have lived in Canada since 1986.
4) together with lately, recently, yet
I have been to London recently.
Signal words
just, yet, never, already, ever, so far, up to now, recently, since, for
Form
have/has + past participle
Examples
Affirmative sentences:
I have played football.I've played football.
You have played football.You've played football.
Negative sentences:
I have not played football.I've not played football.I haven't played football.
You have not played football.You've not played football.You haven't played football.
Questions:
Have I played football?
Have you played football?
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Present Perfect X Simple Past
PP - Result of an action in the past is important in the present
SP - Action finished in the past
PP- Recently completed actions
SP -series of completed actions in the past
PP - Actions beginning in the past and still continuing
SP - together with the Past Progressive/Continuous - The Simple Past interrupted an action which was in progress in the past.
PP- together with lately, recently, yet
2) Signal words
PP - just, yet, never, already, ever, so far, up to now, recently, since, for
SP- yesterday, last week, a month ago, in 2002
3) Form
PP - have/has + past participle
SP - regular verbs: infinitive + ed
irregular verbs:2nd column of the table of the irregular verbs
4) Examples
Affirmative sentences
I have played football.
I've played football.
I played football.
You have played football.
You've played football.
You played football.
He has played football.
He's played football.
He played football.
Negative sentences
I have not played football.
I've not played football.
I haven't played football.
I did not play football.
I didn't play football.
You have not played football.
You've not played football.
You haven't played football.
You did not play football.
You didn't play football.
He has not played football.
He's not played football.
He hasn't played football.
He did not play football.He didn't play football.
Questions
Have I played football?
Did I play football?
Have you played football?
Did you play football?
Has he played football?
Did he play football?