Adjectives can take three forms. I’m not talking about liquid, solid or gas; I mean positive, comparative and superlative.
Simply put, the positive form of an adjective describes a single noun or pronoun.

  • Rex is smart. John’s car is fast.

The comparative form of an adjective compares two nouns or pronouns.

  • Laura is smarter than a fifth grader. I am older than dirt.

The superlative form then compares three or more nouns or pronouns.

  • Thunder is the biggest of our three dogs. Nashville is the greatest city in the world!

Not sure when to use more/most, double the last consonant or change y to i? Here are a few general rules. But remember, there are always exceptions.


If the adjective has only one syllable, simply add -er, -est.

cold, colder, coldest

wild, wilder, wildest

kind, kinder, kindest

If the adjective has only one syllable and ends in e, simply add -r, -st.

nice, nicer, nicest

late, later, latest

blue, bluer, bluest

If the last three letters of an adjective are a consonant-vowel-consonant, then double the last letter and add -er, -est.

big, bigger, biggest

hot, hotter, hottest

wet, wetter, wettest

If the adjective has two syllables and ends in y, change the y to i and add -er, -est.

hungry, hungrier, hungriest

happy, happier, happiest

funny, funnier, funniest

If the adjective has two syllables but does not end in y, use “more” or “most” at the beginning of the adjective.

modern, more modern, most modern

fragile, more fragile, most fragile

yellow, more yellow, most yellow

If the adjective has three or more syllables, use “more” or “most” before the adjective.

favorite, more favorite, most favorite

wonderful, more wonderful, most wonderful

comfortable, more comfortable, most comfortable