Have you ever wondered why we say better instead of gooder? In this blog post, you’ll learn all about irregular adjectives—words that don’t follow the normal rules when changing to comparative (like taller) or superlative (like tallest) forms. It’s important to master these tricky forms to sound fluent in English. We explain the simple differences and give you 100 easy examples so you can quickly understand and use them correctly in your everyday speech and writing.
What Are Irregular Adjectives?
Irregular adjectives are adjectives that do not follow normal grammar rules when we compare things.
Instead of using -er or -est, they change into a new form, new spelling, or stay the same.
Irregular adjectives are used in daily speech, school writing, and formal communication, so it is important to understand them.
Types of Irregular Adjectives
1. Change to a Different Word
These adjectives completely change in their comparative and superlative forms.
Examples:
- Good → better → best
- Bad → worse → worst
2. Change Spelling Form
These adjectives change their spelling in an unusual way.
Examples:
- Far → farther/further → farthest/furthest
3. Stay the Same in All Forms
Some adjectives do not change at all.
Examples:
- Fun → fun → fun (commonly used in spoken English)
Common Irregular Adjectives
| Base Form | Comparative | Superlative | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| good | better | best | of high quality |
| bad | worse | worst | not good |
| far | farther / further | farthest / furthest | long distance |
| little (amount) | less | least | small quantity |
| many | more | most | large number |
| much | more | most | large amount |
| well (adverb) | better | best | healthy or good |
| old | older / elder | oldest / eldest | aged |
| late | later | latest | not early |
| early | earlier | earliest | before expected |
Daily Used Irregular Adjectives Examples
- ill → worse → worst
- near → nearer → nearest
- long → longer → longest
- big → bigger → biggest
- hot → hotter → hottest
- thin → thinner → thinnest
- fat → fatter → fattest
- sad → sadder → saddest
- dry → drier → driest
- happy → happier → happiest
- easy → easier → easiest
- busy → busier → busiest
- funny → funnier → funniest
- pretty → prettier → prettiest
- angry → angrier → angriest
- heavy → heavier → heaviest
- lazy → lazier → laziest
- crazy → crazier → craziest
- friendly → friendlier → friendliest
- lovely → lovelier → loveliest
Academic and Descriptive Irregular Adjectives
- shy → shyer → shyest
- narrow → narrower → narrowest
- simple → simpler → simplest
- gentle → gentler → gentlest
- clever → cleverer → cleverest
- quiet → quieter → quietest
- polite → politer → politest
- rude → ruder → rudest
- brave → braver → bravest
- safe → safer → safest
- large → larger → largest
- small → smaller → smallest
- young → younger → youngest
- old-fashioned → more old-fashioned → most old-fashioned
- modern → more modern → most modern
- useful → more useful → most useful
- harmful → more harmful → most harmful
- serious → more serious → most serious
- curious → more curious → most curious
Irregular Adjectives List
| No. | Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | good | better | best |
| 2 | bad | worse | worst |
| 3 | far | farther/further | farthest/furthest |
| 4 | many | more | most |
| 5 | much | more | most |
| 6 | little | less | least |
| 7 | well (adv.) | better | best |
| 8 | old | older/elder | oldest/eldest |
| 9 | late | later | latest |
| 10 | ill | worse | worst |
| 11 | near | nearer | nearest |
| 12 | long | longer | longest |
| 13 | big | bigger | biggest |
| 14 | hot | hotter | hottest |
| 15 | thin | thinner | thinnest |
| 16 | fat | fatter | fattest |
| 17 | sad | sadder | saddest |
| 18 | dry | drier | driest |
| 19 | happy | happier | happiest |
| 20 | easy | easier | easiest |
| 21 | busy | busier | busiest |
| 22 | pretty | prettier | prettiest |
| 23 | angry | angrier | angriest |
| 24 | heavy | heavier | heaviest |
| 25 | crazy | crazier | craziest |
| 26 | funny | funnier | funniest |
| 27 | friendly | friendlier | friendliest |
| 28 | lovely | lovelier | loveliest |
| 29 | shy | shyer | shyest |
| 30 | narrow | narrower | narrowest |
| 31 | simple | simpler | simplest |
| 32 | gentle | gentler | gentlest |
| 33 | clever | cleverer | cleverest |
| 34 | quiet | quieter | quietest |
| 35 | rude | ruder | rudest |
| 36 | brave | braver | bravest |
| 37 | safe | safer | safest |
| 38 | large | larger | largest |
| 39 | small | smaller | smallest |
| 40 | young | younger | youngest |
| 41 | bright | brighter | brightest |
| 42 | dark | darker | darkest |
| 43 | sharp | sharper | sharpest |
| 44 | soft | softer | softest |
| 45 | warm | warmer | warmest |
| 46 | cold | colder | coldest |
| 47 | sweet | sweeter | sweetest |
| 48 | sour | sourer | sourest |
| 49 | deep | deeper | deepest |
| 50 | high | higher | highest |
| 51 | low | lower | lowest |
| 52 | strong | stronger | strongest |
| 53 | weak | weaker | weakest |
| 54 | fast | faster | fastest |
| 55 | slow | slower | slowest |
| 56 | rich | richer | richest |
| 57 | poor | poorer | poorest |
| 58 | fresh | fresher | freshest |
| 59 | kind | kinder | kindest |
| 60 | calm | calmer | calmest |
| 61 | cool | cooler | coolest |
| 62 | warm | warmer | warmest |
| 63 | proud | prouder | proudest |
| 64 | loud | louder | loudest |
| 65 | bright | brighter | brightest |
| 66 | bold | bolder | boldest |
| 67 | harsh | harsher | harshest |
| 68 | smooth | smoother | smoothest |
| 69 | rough | rougher | roughest |
| 70 | strange | stranger | strangest |
| 71 | strong | stronger | strongest |
| 72 | weak | weaker | weakest |
| 73 | neat | neater | neatest |
| 74 | clean | cleaner | cleanest |
| 75 | dirty | dirtier | dirtiest |
| 76 | tasty | tastier | tastiest |
| 77 | noisy | noisier | noisiest |
| 78 | messy | messier | messiest |
| 79 | cloudy | cloudier | cloudiest |
| 80 | tricky | trickier | trickiest |
| 81 | healthy | healthier | healthiest |
| 82 | wealthy | wealthier | wealthiest |
| 83 | lovely | lovelier | loveliest |
| 84 | lucky | luckier | luckiest |
| 85 | lonely | lonelier | loneliest |
| 86 | icy | icier | iciest |
| 87 | mighty | mightier | mightiest |
| 88 | fancy | fancier | fanciest |
| 89 | spicy | spicier | spiciest |
| 90 | muddy | muddier | muddiest |
| 91 | windy | windier | windiest |
| 92 | sunny | sunnier | sunniest |
| 93 | tricky | trickier | trickiest |
| 94 | funny | funnier | funniest |
| 95 | lovely | lovelier | loveliest |
| 96 | tiny | tinier | tiniest |
| 97 | early | earlier | earliest |
| 98 | late | later | latest |
| 99 | hard | harder | hardest |
| 100 | fun (informal) | more fun | most fun |
Irregular Adjectives with Examples PDF
100 Examples of Irregular Adjectives PDF
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