1．Degree Forms形容词的比较等级

Many adjectives have three different forms that are used in comparisons of persons and things:the positive degree form，the comparative degree form，and the superlative degree form．The comparative degree is used to compare two items;the superlative，three or more．

形容词一般有三种比较等级：原级、比较级和最高级。

a．For regular adjectives，add-er to form the comparative;add-est to form the superlative．

大多数形容词后加-er和-est即构成比较级和最高级。

fast　faster　fastest

late　later　latest

light　lighter　lightest

slow　slower　slowest

In words with a short vowel followed by a single consonant，double the consonant when adding-er or-est．

少数形容词需双写结尾的辅音字母，然后加-er和-est。

big　bigger　biggest

sad　sadder　saddest

In words ending in y，usually change the y to i before adding-er or-est．

以-y结尾的双音节词通常将y改为i然后再加-er和-est。

happy　happier　happiest

heavy　heavier　heaviest

b．For irregular adjectives the comparative and superlative are formed by changes in the words themselves．

少数形容词有下列不规则变化。

bad　worse　worst

far　farther\further　farthest\furthest

good\well　better　best

little　less　least

many\much　more　most

c．Adjectives of more than three syllables form the comparative and superlative by adding more or most(or less，or least)．

三个或三个以上音节的形容词通常加more或most（less或least）构成比较级和最高级。

beautiful　more beautiful　most beautiful

capable　more capable　most capable

satisfactory　more satisfactory　most satisfactory

Compare the following sentences:

Miss Garcia made a good suggestion at the monthly management meeting．

Miss Garcia made a better suggestion than I．

Miss Garcia made the best suggestion of all those that were made at the meeting．

Ann is more beautiful than any other woman in our administration department．

Ann is the most beautiful woman in our department．

Tom is less diligent than any other young man in the computer center．

Tom is the least diligent young man in the center．

d．Some adjectives as listed below are considered to be absolute，expressing the highest degree of a quality，and cannot be compared．

有些形容词自身意义已经完备，故无比较级。

full　accurate　complete

correct　dead　sound

final　perfect　level

right　unique　square

spotless　straight　average

Read the following sentences:

He presented a unique plan to the committee．

Paul had a perfect paper which was published on the Economists．

e．When comparing an object with the rest of its class，be sure to use other or else with the comparative degree．

将一事物从群体中单列进行比较，通常要加other或else。

The Queen ElizabethⅡis larger than any other passenger ship．

Our store has a smaller volume of sales than any other store in the area．

Jim is a better salesman than anyone else on the sales team．