English Adjective Degrees and Past Tense Formation

Comparatives

We use comparatives to compare two things, people, or concepts.

• John is thinner than Bob.
• It's more expensive to travel by train than by bus.
• My house is smaller than my friend's house.

Comparative Rules

One Syllable Adjectives – Add -er

• CHEAP – CHEAPER
• FAST – FASTER
• LIGHT – LIGHTER

One Syllable Adjectives Ending in E – Add -r

• NICE – NICER
• FINE – FINER
• WIDE – WIDER

Two or More Syllables Adjectives – Use More/Less

• BEAUTIFUL – MORE BEAUTIFUL / LESS BEAUTIFUL
• INTERESTING – MORE INTERESTING / LESS INTERESTING

Irregular Adjectives

• GOOD – BETTER
• BAD – WORSE
• FAR – FURTHER / FARTHER

One Syllable Adjectives Ending in CVC – Double the Last Consonant + -er

• HOT – HOTTER
• BIG – BIGGER
• FAT – FATTER

Two Syllables Adjectives Ending in Y Preceded by a Consonant – Replace Y with -ier

• HAPPY – HAPPIER
• EASY – EASIER
• LONELY – LONELIER

Superlatives

We use superlatives to compare one thing, person, or concept with the rest of the group.

• John is the tallest in the class.
• This is the most expensive hotel I've ever stayed in.
• He's the best football player in the team.

Superlative Rules

One Syllable Adjectives – Add -est

• CHEAP – THE CHEAPEST
• FAST – THE FASTEST
• LIGHT – THE LIGHTEST

One Syllable Adjectives Ending in E – Add -st

• NICE – THE NICEST
• FINE – THE FINEST
• WIDE – THE WIDEST

One Syllable Adjectives Ending in CVC – Double the Last Consonant + -est

• HOT – THE HOTTEST
• BIG – THE BIGGEST
• FAT – THE FATTEST

Two Syllables Adjectives Ending in Y Preceded by a Consonant – Replace Y with -iest

• HAPPY – THE HAPPIEST
• EASY – THE EASIEST
• LONELY – THE LONELIEST

Two or More Syllables Adjectives – Use The Most/The Least

• BEAUTIFUL – THE MOST BEAUTIFUL / THE LEAST BEAUTIFUL
• INTERESTING – THE MOST INTERESTING / THE LEAST INTERESTING

Irregular Adjectives

• GOOD – THE BEST
• BAD – THE WORST
• FAR – THE FURTHEST / THE FARTHEST

Past Simple Tense

We use the Past Simple to describe actions that occurred and were completed in the past.

Regular Verbs Rules

• If the verb ends in E, just add -D.
• If the verb ends in a consonant, vowel, and consonant (CVC), double the last consonant and add -ED.
• If the verb ends in Y preceded by a consonant, replace the Y with -IED.
• For all other verbs, add -ED.

Irregular Verbs

These verbs do not follow the standard -ED rule. They often change their internal vowel sound.

• Pattern 1 (i → o): write = wrote
• Pattern 2 (ee → ept): sleep = slept
• Pattern 3 (i → a): drink = drank

Usage of Was and Were (Past Simple of 'To Be')

Subject Pronoun Usage

• Singular Subjects: I, He, She, It = WAS
• Plural Subjects: We, You, They = WERE

Examples of Was and Were

Affirmative Sentences

• I was a good student.
• You were crying last night.

Negative Sentences

• I was not / wasn't a good student.
• You were not / weren't crying last night.

Interrogative Sentences

• Was I a good student?
  R: Yes, you were / No, you weren't.
• Were you crying last night?
  R: Yes, I was / No, I wasn't.