Inflection of adjectives Comparison Kuiper and Allan Chapter 2.1.3

Comparison Adjectives may take two different endings, giving three forms, e.g. –positive formcomparative form superlative form –bigbiggerbiggest –talltallertallest –Not all adjectives take the -er and -est endings, but use more and most, e.g. evil more evil most evil incredible more incredible most incredible

Exercise Divide the adjectives below into three groups: those which take the -er and - est endings, those which take more and most, and those which take neither of the above. –high, wide, dead, red, medical, ugly, narrow, absolute, painful, final

Answers –-er, -estmore, mostneither high√x x wide√x x deadxx √ red√x x medicalxx √ ugly√√ x narrow√x x absolutexx √ painfulx√ x finalxx √

Gradability Note that not all adjectives take comparison. Some are gradable, e.g. you can be more or less tall. However a procedure can not be more or less medical. It’s either medical or it isn’t.

Comparison as a test for adjectives So comparison is a positive test for adjectives. If a word can take a comparative and superlative form then its an adjective.

Exercise Find the adjectives in the following poem: The Lily The modest Rose puts forth a thorn, The humble Sheep a threat ’ ning horn; While the Lily white shall in love delight, Nor a thorn nor a threat stain her beauty bright. William Blake