happy slow tall 

Adrian is the biggest of all the boys. 

Mary is the tallest of the four girls. 

happier slower taller 

happiest slowest tallest 

Some words are so constructed that to add the suffix ‘-er’ or ‘- est’ would produce clumsy words. In this case ‘more’ and ‘most’ are put before the adjective instead: 

beautiful excitable intelligent irritable 

more beautiful more excitable more intelligent more irritable 

most beautiful most excitable most intelligent most irritable 

Joanne was the most beautiful girl Frank had ever seen. 

Gail was the most intelligent student in the class. 

‘More’ and ‘most’ cannot be used if ‘-er’ or ‘-est’ have been used. 

‘Bad’, ‘good’ and ‘little’ do not follow the rules and have their own words for comparison: 

bad good little 

The patient is worse today. 

Clive is the best pupil I have ever taught. 

That is the least of my worries. 

worse better less 

worst best least 

