
English has a few adjectives whose comparative and superlative forms are irregular. That is, they don't form the usual patterns for forming comparatives and superlatives (-er, -est; or -ier, iest; or more-, most-).
Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
good | better | best |
bad | worse | worst |
little | littler, less | littlest, least |
far | farther, further | farthest, furthest |
It is fair to say that those adjectives known as "absolute terms" are also irregular adjectives, because they have no comparatives whatsoever. For ESL learners it is important to learn "good, better, best" and "bad, worse, worst" because they are very commonly used. Also, "more, most" and "less, least" are very commonly used.
Base word | Comparative | Superlative |
good | better | best |
bad | worse | worst |
little | less | least |
much (many) | more | most |
well | better | best |
far | further | furthest |