What are they?

Comparatives and Superlatives are special forms of adjectives. They are used to compare two or more things. Generally, comparatives are formed using -er and superlatives are formed using -est. This page will explain the rules for forming regular comparatives and superlatives, and also show some basic ways of using them

Forming Comparatives & Superlatives

How these forms are created depends on how many syllables there are in the adjective. Syllables are like sound beats. For instance, sing contains one syllable, but singing contains two sing and ing. Here are the rules:

Adjective Form Only one syllable, ending in E. Examples: wide, fine, cute

Comparative Add -r: wider, finer, cuter

Superlative Add -st: widest, finest, cutest Double the consonant, and add -est: hottest, biggest, fattest

Only one syllable, with one Double the consonant, vowel and one consonant and add -er: hotter, at the end. Examples: hot, bigger, fatter big, fat

Only one syllable, with more than one vowel or more than one consonant at the end. Examples: light, neat, fast Two syllables, ending in Y. Examples: happy, silly, lonely
Two syllables or more, not ending in Y. Examples: modern, interesting, beautiful

Add -er: lighter, neater, faster

Add -est: lightest, neatest, fastest

Change y to i, then add -er: happier, sillier, lonelier

Use more before the adjective: more modern, more interesting, more beautiful

Change y to i, then add -est: happiest, silliest, loneliest

Use most before the adjective: most modern, most interesting, most beautiful

How to use them

Comparatives
Comparatives are used to compare two things. You can use sentences with than, or you can use a conjunction like but.
Jiro is taller than Yukio. Yukio is tall, but Jiro is taller.

Superlatives
Superlatives are used to compare more than two things. Superlative sentences usually use the, because there is only one superlative.
Masami is the tallest in the class. Yukio is tall, and Jiro is taller, but Masami is the tallest.

As...as
As + adjective + as to show similarity
The son is as tall as his father

Not as + adjective + as to show difference

The movie is not as good as the book

Modifying comparatives and superlatives

Comparative Big difference: a lot, much, far Small difference: a little, a little bit, slightly Superlative By far As ... as just

The new house is a lot / much / far bigger than the old one. This is the best book Ive read by far. Its just as pretty as I remember it.

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the comparative or superlative. 1. Joe is ________ than Ed. (short) 2. Al is the _______. (short) 3. Ed is the _______. (thin) 4. Joe is ______ than Al. (thin) 5. Al has the _________ clothes. (colourful) 6. Al is _______ than Joe. (heavy) 7. Ed is the _________. (light) 8. Joe is ________ than Ed. (happy) 9. Ed is the __________. (mysterious) 10. Joe is ________ than Ed. (energetic)

Practice

Use either as as or not as as in the sentences below. 1) The blue car is __________ the red car. (fast) 2) Peter is __________ Fred. (not/tall) 3) The violin is _________ the cello. (not/low) 4) This copy is _________ the other one. (bad) 5) Oliver is __________ Peter. (optimistic) 6) Today it's ____________ yesterday. (not/windy) 7) The tomato soup was ___________ the mushroom soup. (delicious) 8) Grapefruit juice is ____________ lemonade. (not/sweet) 9) Nick is ___________ Kevin. (brave) 10) Silver is ____________ gold. (not/heavy)

More practice

The Great Gatsby

Complete the lines of the opening scene from the movie "The Great Gatsby" with the correct form of the adjectives, nouns or expressions from the box. You may use comparative, superlative, or double comparative forms.

The Great Gatsby

LOOSE - BROAD - HOPEFUL - IN TUNE - YOUNG VULNERABLE - WE DRANK - BIG - HIGH CHEAP 1) In my ________ and _________ years my father gave me some advice that Ive been turning over in my mind ever since. Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, he told me, just remember that all the people in this world havent had the advantages that youve had. 2) The ______ with the time we were, the ________. 3) He was the single _________ person I have ever met; 4) The parties were ________. 5) The shows were ______. 6) The buildings were ___________. 7) The morals were ___________ and the ban on alcohol had backfired, making the liquor _________.

Discussion questions
1. How do you imagine life was like in the 1920's? Does the movie segment surprise you? 2. Would you like to have lived during those years? Why (not)? 3. Alcohol was prohibited, so the prices were very expensive. Do you think alcohol should be prohibited again, the way it used to be in the 20's? Why (not)? 4. What about some drugs, like marijuana? Should they remain banned? Or do you think the legalization will be best?

 Comparative + and + comparative: (repeated comparatives) to emphasize something in process or in a state of change. Increase or decrease
Since shes stopped the chemo, her body has been getting stronger and stronger. (increase) When she was in chemo, her body got weaker and weaker (decrease)

Other forms

The + comparative ... + the + comparative: (double comparatives) when something is dependent on another thing. Cause and effect. Superlative + present perfect: to compare a person or event to our experience up until now (often with ever)
This is one of the hottest countries Ive ever lived in.
The more education women get, the later they marry

 1) He gets ______ (boring). I cant listen to him any longer. 2) I didnt like this book at first, but its getting ____ (interesting). 3) My daughters English results are getting _____ (bad). 4) The boss will be angry with you. You arrive ____ (late) at work. 5) In spring the weather gets _____ (warm). 6) Its time you tidied your room. Its getting _____ (messy). 7) Food is getting ______ (expensive). 8) I think TV programs are getting ______ (violent). 9) I find it ______ (difficult) to see him. 10) Shes getting over her operation. She feels ______ (good).

Repeated Comparative Practice

Double comparative practice

1) The ___ you study for these exams, the ____ you will do. 2) She doesn't really like vodka, so the _____ a bottle you find, the _____ it will be for us. 3) My neighbour is driving me mad! It seems that the _____ it is at night, the ______ he plays his music! 4) He spent a year in India and loves spicy food. The ______ the food is, the _____ he likes it. 5) Of course you can come to the party. The _______ the ______ . 6) She will be really angry about that vase being broken! The _____ she knows about it, the ____ . 7) He has 6 large dogs to protect his house. The _____ the dog, the ____ he feels. 8) Earning money has always been the thing that pleases him most. The he becomes, the he is. 9) You must drive slower in built up areas. The you drive in the city, the it is that you will have an accident.

Superlative + present perfect practice

Build sentences with the following verbs and adjectives: Eat / good meal See / pretty girl Meet / wise man See / careful woman Have / reliable car Have / trustworthy friend Experience / happy moment Do / difficult exercise Go / expensive restaurant

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Watch the movie segment and and build sentences using double comparatives