Word Classes
Adjectives and their degrees
Find the adjective in a sentence and build its comparative and superlative with -er and -est.
An adjective describes a noun. It tells you which one, or what it is like: a narrow lane, a golden ring, a silent room. Take the adjectives out of a piece of writing and you can still follow it — but you can no longer picture it.
Where an adjective sits
Usually just before the noun it describes: a heavy box. It can also come after a verb like is, looks, feels or seems: The box is heavy. Both are adjectives doing the same job.
Three degrees
Positive describes one thing: quiet. Comparative compares two: quieter. Superlative picks one out of three or more: quietest.
The spelling changes
Most adjectives just add -er and -est: soft, softer, softest. One short vowel and one last consonant means the consonant doubles: hot, hotter, hottest. A word ending in a consonant plus -y changes the y to i: dusty, dustier, dustiest.
Worked example
Build the three degrees of "thin".
Start with the positive: thin.
That is the adjective as it comes, describing one thing.
Try it together
Work through "easy" the same way.
Three questions, one for each degree.
1.Write the comparative of "easy". Remember what happens to a -y ending.
Have a go
Write the superlative of "cold".
Ready to practise?
Eight questions on what you have just read. Nothing is timed, and you can play as many times as you like.