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Comparaisons

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Comparatives and Superlatives

Comparative:: the second or middle degree of comparison in adjectives or adverbs
Superlative: the third or highest degree of comparison in adjectives or adverbs

The comparative and superlative degrees are formed by adding the -er and -est suffix to adjectives and adverbs with a single consonant for an ending.

	Comparative	Superlative
big	bigger	biggest
soon	sooner	soonest

Adjectives and adverbs ending in -y drop the -y and add an -ier in the comparative degree and an -iest in the superlative degree:

	Comparative	Superlative
dry	drier	driest
early	earlier	earliest

Adjectives and adverbs ending in the silent or mute -e drop the ending -e and add the -er for the comparative and the -est for the superlative:

	Comparative	Superlative
pale	paler	palest
free	freer	freest

Degrees of comparison can also be distinguished with the use of more and most: more clever; most clever

Irregular adjectives:

	Comparative	Superlative
good	better	best
bad	worse	worst
much	more	most
little	less	least
far	farther further	farthest furthest
old	older elder	elder eldest

Irregular adverbs:

	Comparative	Superlative
badly	worse	worst
far	farther further	farthest furthest
little	less	least
much	more	most
well	better	best

Another list of irregular comparatives

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