Adjectives are words that describe nouns, providing more detail about people, places, things, or ideas. For instance, “tall,” “beautiful,” and “expensive” are all adjectives. When comparing two or more nouns, we use comparative and superlative adjectives. This article will focus on how to form these, specifically addressing the comparative form of “famous.”
Forming Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
There are specific rules for creating comparative and superlative adjectives in English. The method depends on the number of syllables in the original adjective.
One-Syllable Adjectives
- Comparative: Add “-er” to the end of the adjective (e.g., taller, wider). If the adjective ends in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel, double the consonant before adding “-er” (e.g., bigger, hotter). If the adjective ends in “e,” simply add “-r” (e.g., wider, nicer).
- Superlative: Add “-est” to the end of the adjective (e.g., tallest, widest). Follow the same consonant doubling rule as with comparatives (e.g., biggest, hottest). If the adjective ends in “e,” simply add “-st” (e.g., widest, nicest). Always precede the superlative adjective with “the” (e.g., the tallest, the widest).
Two-Syllable Adjectives
- Comparative: If the adjective ends in “y,” change the “y” to “i” and add “-er” (e.g., happier, easier). For most other two-syllable adjectives, use “more” before the adjective (e.g., more famous, more modern).
- Superlative: If the adjective ends in “y,” change the “y” to “i” and add “-est” (e.g., happiest, easiest). For most other two-syllable adjectives, use “most” before the adjective (e.g., most famous, most modern). Always precede the superlative adjective with “the” (e.g., the happiest, the most famous).
Three or More Syllable Adjectives
- Comparative: Use “more” before the adjective (e.g., more interesting, more comfortable).
- Superlative: Use “most” before the adjective (e.g., most interesting, most comfortable). Always precede the superlative adjective with “the” (e.g., the most interesting, the most comfortable).
The Comparative of “Famous”
As “famous” is a two-syllable adjective that doesn’t end in “y,” its comparative form is “more famous.” We use “more famous” to compare the fame of two people or things. For example:
- “Beyoncé is more famous than Taylor Swift.”
Superlative of “Famous”
Following the rules outlined above, the superlative form of famous is “the most famous.” For example:
- “Michael Jackson was the most famous singer of his time.”
Irregular Adjectives
Some adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms that don’t follow the standard rules. Common examples include:
- good – better – best
- bad – worse – worst
- little – less – least
- much/many – more – most
Conclusion
Understanding how to form comparative and superlative adjectives is crucial for effective communication in English. Remember the rules for one, two, and three-syllable adjectives, as well as the irregular exceptions. To answer the initial question directly, the comparative form of “famous” is “more famous.” Using the correct forms allows for clear comparisons and enhances descriptive language.
