508. Comparative and Superlative Adjectives with Irregular Spelling

Most adjectives add -er to become comparative and -est to become superlative. However, some comparative and superlative adjectives change their spelling in other ways.

Short words sometimes double the last letter before adding -er or -est.
hot, hotter, hottest
slim, slimmer, slimmest
big, bigger, biggest

Words ending in -y change the -y to an -i before adding -er or -est.
happy, happier, happiest
funny, funnier, funniest
silly, sillier, silliest

Some adjectives double the last letter or change the -y to an -i before adding -er or -est.

▶ You try it. Put the correct form of the adjective into the blank in this sentence. Jim told a funny joke, but I thought Bob’s joke was ________. Did you put a comparative adjective into the blank? Did you spell it correctly? Good for you!