Expert System - How to Change an Adjective to a Comparative or Superlative

This page has a program for helping you change an adjective into a comparative adjective (e.g. big > bigger) or a superlative adjective (e.g. big > biggest).

Rules to make an adjective into a comparative adjective:

• Adjectives with one syllable add '_er' or '_ier'; e.g. 'hard' > 'harder'. ( A syllable is a sound in a word. Many dictionaries use a dot · to divide words into syllables; e.g. 'beau·ti·ful' has three syllables.)
• Adjectives with three or more syllables have 'more' in front; e.g. 'beau·ti·ful' > 'more beautiful'.
• Adjectives with two syllables add '_ier' if they end in 'y'; e.g. 'si·lly' > 'sillier'.

Rules to make an adjective into a superlative adjective:

• Adjectives with one syllable add '_est' or '_iest'; e.g. 'hard' > 'hardest'.
• Adjectives with three or more syllables have 'most' in front; e.g. 'beau·ti·ful' > 'most beautiful'.
• Adjectives with two syllables add '_iest' if they end in 'y'; e.g. 'si·lly' > 'silliest'.

Spelling:
Words ending in consonant - vowel - consonant double the final letter before the _er or _est; e.g. big > bigger > biggest.
Words ending in 'e' just add 'r' or 'st'; e.g. wide > wider > widest.
Words ending in 'y' change the 'y' to 'i'; e.g. easy > easier > easiest.

Here is the program. Type the adjective into the first box, the number of syllables it has into the second, and then choose whether you want a comparative or superlative:

Click here to e-mail me adjectives that this program cannot convert successfully.

Back to the teachers' notes.

hits since 9 July 2001.

If you have any suggestions or questions, please e-mail us at .