THE COMPARATIVE AND

THE SUPERLATIVE
COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES
Comparative adjectives are used to compare differences between the two objects they modify
(larger, smaller, faster, higher). They are used in sentences where two nouns are compared, in
this pattern:

Noun (subject) + verb + comparative adjective + than + noun (object).

The second item of comparison can be omitted if it is clear from the context (final example
below).

EXAMPLES
My house is larger than hers.
This box is smaller than the one I lost.
Your dog runs faster than Jim's dog.
The rock flew higher than the roof.
Jim and Jack are both my friends, but I like Jack better. ("than Jim" is understood)

SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES
Superlative adjectives are used to describe an object which is at the upper or lower limit of a
quality (the tallest, the smallest, the fastest, the highest). They are used in sentences where a
subject is compared to a group of objects.

Noun (subject) + verb + the + superlative adjective + noun (object).

The group that is being compared with can be omitted if it is clear from the context (final
example below).

EXAMPLES
My house is the largest one in our neighborhood.
This is the smallest box I've ever seen.
Your dog ran the fastest of any dog in the race.
We all threw our rocks at the same time. My rock flew the highest. ("of all the rocks" is
understood)

FORMING REGULAR COMPARATIVES AND

SUPERLATIVES
Forming comparatives and superlatives is easy. The form depends on the number of syllables
in the original adjective.
ONE SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES
Add -er for the comparative and -est for the superlative. If the adjective has a consonant +
single vowel + consonant spelling, the final consonant must be doubled before adding the
ending.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

tall taller tallest

fat fatter fattest

big bigger biggest

sad sadder saddest

TWO SYLLABLES
Adjectives with two syllables can form the comparative either by adding -er or by preceeding the
adjective with more. These adjectives form the superlative either by adding -est or by
preceeding the adjective with most. In many cases, both forms are used, although one usage
will be more common than the other. If you are not sure whether a two-syllable adjective can
take a comparative or superlative ending, play it safe and use moreand most instead. For
adjectives ending in y, change the y to an i before adding the ending.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

happy happier happiest

simple simpler simplest

busy busier busiest

tilted more tilted most tilted

tangled more tangled most tangled

THREE OR MORE SYLLABLES

Adjectives with three or more syllables form the comparative by putting more in front of the
adjective, and the superlative by putting most in front.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

important more important most important

expensive more expensive most expensive

IRREGULAR COMPARATIVES AND

SUPERLATIVES
These very common adjectives have completely irregular comparative and superlative forms.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

good better best

bad worse worst

little less least

much more most

far further / farther furthest / farthest

Comparative/superlative

Comparative is the name for the grammar used when

comparing two things. The two basic ways to compare
are using as .. as or than. Examples of each are shown
below:
 She's twice as old as her sister.
He's not as stupid as he looks!
I'm almost as good in maths as in science.
This book is not as exciting as the last one.
The cafeteria is not as crowded as usual.
Russian is not quite as difficult as Chinese.

This computer is better than that one.

She's stronger at chess than I am.
It's much colder today than it was yesterday.
Our car is bigger than your car.
This grammar topic is easier than most others.
I find science more difficult than mathematics.
Today's ESL lesson was more
interesting than usual.
Note: In each of the example sentences above, the comparative form of
the adjective is shown. See the foot of this page for information about the
comparison of adverbs.

When comparing with as .. as, the adjective does not

change. When comparing with than, however, some
changes are necessary, depending on the number of
syllables the adjective has:

1-syllable adjectives: add -er to the adjective

My sister is much taller than me.

It's colder today than it was yesterday.
Note: If the word ends: consonant-vowel-consonant, then the last consonant is
usually doubled in the comparative. Examples: big-bigger, fat-fatter, hot-hotter.

2-syllable adjectives ending in -y: change the -

y to -ier

She's looking happier today.

This grammar topic is easier than the last one.
Why is everyone else luckier than me?
Beware: Do not confuse adjectives and adverbs. 2-syllable adverbs ending in -
y must be compared with the word more. Example: I drive more quickly (quicklier)
than my brother.
Other 2-syllable adjectives: use more with the
unchanged adjective

The shops are always more crowded just before

Christmas.
Is there anything more boring than reading about
grammar?
My sister is more careful with her writing than I
am with mine.
Note: The comparative of some shorter 2-syllable adjectives can be formed with -
er. Examples: simple-simpler, clever-cleverer, narrow-narrower. To be sure which
comparative method to use, you will need to consult a good dictionary.

Adjectives with 3 or more syllables: use more with

the unchanged adjective

Russian grammar is more difficult than English

grammar.
My sister is much more intelligent than me.
I find maths lessons more enjoyable than science
lessons.
The older you get, the more irritating you
become.

In the superlative you talk about one thing only and

how it is the best, worst, etc. You do not
compare two things. The following guidelines apply to
the superlative:

1-syllable adjectives: add -est to the adjective

(plus the)

My sister is the tallest in our family.

Yesterday was the coldest day of the year so far.
Note: If the word ends: consonant-vowel-consonant, then the last consonant is
usually doubled in the superlative. Examples: big-biggest, fat-fattest, hot-hottest.
2-syllable adjectives ending in -y: change the -
y to -iest(plus the)

The richest people are not always the happiest.

Which do you think is the easiest language to
learn?
She's the luckiest person I know.
Beware: Do not confuse adjectives and adverbs. 2-syllable adverbs ending in -
y form their superlative with the words the most. Example: Of all the people I know
my father drives the most quickly (quickliest).

Other 2-syllable adjectives: use the most with the

unchanged adjective

The most boring thing about ESL class is doing

grammar exercises.
My sister is the most careful person I know.
Note: The superlative of some shorter 2-syllable adjectives can be formed with -er.
Examples: simple-simplest, clever-cleverest, narrow-narrowest. To be sure which
superlative method to use, you will need to consult a good dictionary.

Adjectives with 3 or more syllables: use the

most with the unchanged adjective

Some people think that Russian is the most

difficultlanguage.
Albert Einstein was the most intelligent person
in history.
My most enjoyable class is English.
You are the most irritating person I have ever
met!

Following are two common irregular

comaparative/superlative forms:

good-better-the best
bad-worse-the worst
The following guidelines apply to
the comparative/superlative of most adverbs:

1-syllable adverbs: add -er/-est

I can run faster than you. / I can run the

fastest in my class.
She works harder than me. / She works the
hardest of all students.

Other adverbs: use more / the most*

She ran more quickly than me. / Of all the

students she ran the most quickly.
* In informal English it is common to hear the adjectival comparative/superlative
form of two-syllable adverbs. For example: She ran quicker than me. | She ran
the quickest.

Many educated English speakers prefer to use the nominative plus a verb rather
than the accusative in such comparative sentences, especially in formal situations.
They say, for example, My sister is taller than I am. or She ran more quickly than I
did.
The alternative, omitting the verb as in the following examples, is considered to be
even more formal and is avoided by most British English speakers: My sister is
taller than I. or She ran more quickly than I.

Do a quiz on the comparative | superlative.

One-syllable Adjectives
To form the comparative, we add -er to the end of the adjective.

To form the superlative, we add -est to the end of the adjective.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

small smaller the smallest

cold colder the coldest
light lighter the lightest
wide * wider the widest
hot ** hotter the hottest

* When an adjective ends in the letter E, we just add the -R (for comparatives) or -ST (for
superlatives). We do not write two Es together. Wider (correct) not wideer (incorrect).
** When an adjective ends in a consonant + short vowel + consonant (C + V + C), we
normally double the last letter. big - bigger - biggest, wet - wetter - wettest

London is bigger than Santiago.

Mike is taller than John but James is the tallest.
Yesterday was the hottest day of the year.
It is the oldest building in the village.
I want a faster car.

Notice how comparatives are often followed by than when comparing two things or people.

Two-syllable Adjectives ending in -Y

To form the comparative, we remove the -y and add -ier to the end of the adjective.

To form the superlative, we remove the -y and add -iest to the end of the adjective.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

crazy crazier the craziest

happy happier the happiest
early earlier the earliest

It was the happiest day of my life.

My joke was funnier than your one.
This section is easier than the rest.

Adjectives with Two or more Syllables

For Adjectives with 2 syllables (that don't end in -y) and higher (3, 4 syllables etc), we
use more for comparatives and the most for superlatives.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

handsome more handsome the most handsome

nervous more nervous the most nervous
enthusiastic more enthusiastic the most enthusiastic

My girlfriend is more beautiful than yours.

Alex is more intelligent than you but I am the most intelligent.
It was the most wonderful day I have ever had.
Some exceptions with two-syllable adjectives ending in -er and -est:

narrow - narrower, simple - simpler, quiet - quieter

Irregular Forms
Adjective Comparative Superlative

good better the best

bad worse the worst
far *** further / farther the furthest / farthest
little less the least
many/much more the most
old **** older/elder the oldest / eldest

I am a better tennis player than you but Marcelo is the best.

Steve is a worse liar than me but Adrian is the worst.

*** Farther - Further

Further / farther, furthest / farthest are all used for distance.

Only Further / furthest are used to mean 'additional' or 'more advanced'.

Puerto Montt is further / farther than Valdivia is from here (in Santiago).
If you require further information, please contact reception.

Remember that the opposites of 'more' and 'most' are 'less' and 'least', respectively.

**** Older - Eldest

We use elder / eldest when we are talking about family relationships and normally only
before a noun (not by itself unless it is a pronoun).

He is my elder brother. (We cannot say: My brother is elder than me. - incorrect)
The eldest sister would pass on her dresses to the younger one.

Comparative and Superlative of ILL

When comparing how ill people are, you will normally hear worse or the worst and not
"iller or illest". Some people may prefer to replace ill with sick (sicker, sickest) when
comparing.
Comparative and Superlative
Adjectives
Comparative adjectives compare two things. Superlative adjectives compare more than
two things

Commonly, adjectives that contain only one syllable or end in 'y' use 'er' to form
comparatives and 'est' to form superlatives. For adjectives ending in y, change the 'y' to
'i' before adding the 'er' or 'est'.

old older oldest

young younger youngest
pretty prettier prettiest
long longer longest
short shorter shortest
bright brighter brightest
close closer closest
happy happier - happiest

Adjectives with two or more syllables do not change but instead add more to form
comparatives and most to form superlatives.

respectable more respectable most respectable

beautiful more beautiful most beautiful
preferable more preferable most preferable
hardworking more hardworking most hardworking

Some adjectives have different forms of comparatives and superlatives.

good better best

bad worse worst
little less least
much (many) more most
far further - furthest

The word than typically appears in comparative sentences.

Amy is smarter than Betty.

Chad is stronger than Dan.
Greg is more diligent than his brother.
I have more apples than he.
She likes him more than me.

Superlatives are typically accompanied by the word the.

Tom is the oldest man in town.

Paul is the tallest boy in the neighborhood.
 That shade of blue is the most beautiful color.
This is the longest song that I have ever heard.

[Quiz 8.1]

Write the appropriate comparative or superlative form of the word cold in each blank.

Yesterday was a cold day. Today is than yesterday. Tomorrow will be

the day yet.

[Quiz 8.2]

Which of the following sentences is incorrect?

1)Mary is shorter than Jane.

2)The moon is more closer to the earth than the sun.
3)I have the best score on the exam.

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Download this explanation in PDF here.

To make the comparative form of adjectives (like 'bigger' or

'more expensive') and the superlative form (like 'biggest' or
'most expensive'), first we need to know how many syllables are
in the adjective.

Adjectives with one syllable

Usually if an adjective has only one syllable, we add 'er' to make

the comparative form. We add 'est' to make the superlative
form.

clean cleaner / cleanest

cold colder / coldest
small smaller / smallest
young younger / youngest
tall taller / tallest
 There are some spelling changes. If there is one vowel followed
by one consonant at the end of the adjective, we often double
the consonant.

wet wetter / wettest

big bigger / biggest
hot hotter / hottest
thin thinner / thinnest

If the adjective ends in 'y', this often changes to 'i'.

dry drier / driest

If the adjective ends in 'e', we don't add another 'e', just 'r'.

nice nicer / nicest

large larger / largest

Even when the adjective has only one syllable, it's still not
wrong to use 'more' or 'most'. It's possible to say 'more wet' or
'most tall'. This isn't incorrect.

There are a few adjectives that we have to use 'more' or 'most'

with, even though they only have one syllable. We CAN'T add
'er' or 'est'.

fun more fun / most fun (NOT funner / funnest)

real more real / most real (NOT realer / realest)
right more right / most right (NOT righter / rightest)
wrong more wrong / most wrong (NOT wronger / wrongest)

Adjectives with two syllables

For adjectives with two syllables we generally use 'more' or

'most'.

careful more careful / most careful

bored more bored / most bored

But some two syllable adjectives can take 'er' or 'est'. It's also
fine to use 'more' (for the comparative) or 'most' (for the
superlative).
 clever cleverer / cleverest
simple simpler / simplest
narrow narrower / narrowest
quiet quieter / quietest

Adjectives with two syllables that end in 'y' usually can add 'er'
or 'est' (y generally changes to i). It's also fine to use 'more' or
'most'.

dirty dirtier / dirtiest

pretty prettier / prettiest
happy happier / happiest
ugly uglier / ugliest

Adjectives with more than two syllables

Adjectives with more than two syllables can only make their
comparative by using 'more' and their superlative by using
'most'.

beautiful more beautiful / most beautiful

intelligent more intelligent / most intelligent
interesting more interesting / most interesting
expensive more expensive / most expensive

Irregular adjectives

There are also some irregular adjectives. We just need to learn

these forms.

good better best

bad worse worst
far further furthest
little less least
much more most