Positive. Comparative.Superlative.
tall,taller,tallest.
fine,finer,finest.

Note.—If the simple form ends in e, one e is omitted in the comparison.

Most adjectives of more than one syllable are composed by prefixing more and most, or less and least to the simple form; as,

Positive.Comparative.Superlative.
beautiful,more beautiful,most beautiful,
worthy,less worthy,least worthy.

The following adjectives of two syllables are often compared by adding er and est: happy, pleasant, common, noble, able, narrow.

The following adjectives are compared irregularly:—

Positive.Comparative.Superlative.
good,better,best,
bad, evil, or ill,worse,worst,
little,less,least,
much or many,more,most,
far,farther,farthest,
(forth,)further,furthest or furthermost,
near,nearer,nearest or next,
late,later,latest or last,
fore,former,foremost or first,
old,older or elder,oldest or eldest.

EXERCISE I.

Name each adjective in the following sentences, state its degree, and give the word it modifies:—

1.I never saw a brighter sky.
2.It was a cruel and most unjust sentence.
3.The shores of this lake are high and rocky.
4.To-morrow’ll be the happiest time of all the glad New-year;
Of all the glad New-year, mother, the maddest, merriest day.—Tennyson.
5.I sat and watched her many a day,
When her eyes grew dim and her locks were gray.—Eliza Cook.
6.Small service is true service while it lasts;
Of friends, however humble, scorn not one.—Wordsworth.
7.Look. She is sad to miss,
Morning and night
His—her dead father’s—kiss;
Tries to be bright,
Good to mamma, and sweet.
That is all. “Marguerite.”—Dobson.