Adjectives with no comparative or superlative forms
Some English adjectives which were once used in the comparative degree have lost their comparative meaning. They are now used as positive adjectives. Examples are:ย former, latter, elder, upper, inner, outer and utter.
- Theย formerย part of the story is more interesting than theย latterย part.
- He has anย elderย brother.
- I think we should paint theย innerย walls another color.
- This isย utterย nonsense.
Certain comparatives which have their origin in Latin have no positive or superlative degree. There are twelve in all. All of them end inย -or, not -er. Five of these twelve comparatives have lost their comparative meaning and are now used as positive adjectives. They are:ย inferior, exterior, ulterior, major and minor.
- It is a matter ofย minorย importance.
- I have noย ulteriorย motive in offering you help.
- Theย exteriorย walls of the structure is made of stone.
The remaining seven are still used as comparative adjectives. Note that they are followed byย toย instead ofย than. Examples are:ย inferior, superior, prior, anterior, posterior, senior and junior.
- This paper isย inferior toย that. (NOT This paper is inferior than that.)
- He isย junior toย me.
- His colleagues areย senior toย him.