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Comparatives & Superlatives

Compare things and express the highest degree

What are Comparatives and Superlatives?

Comparative: Compares two things (bigger, more expensive)
Superlative: Shows the extreme/highest degree (biggest, most expensive)

One-Syllable Adjectives

Comparative: add -er

adjective + -er

Examples

  • tall → taller - She is taller than me.
  • old → older - He's older than his brother.
  • cheap → cheaper - This is cheaper than that.
  • fast → faster - A car is faster than a bike.

Superlative: add -est

the + adjective + -est

Examples

  • tall → tallest - She is the tallest in the class.
  • old → oldest - He's the oldest child.
  • cheap → cheapest - This is the cheapest option.
  • fast → fastest - He's the fastest runner.

Spelling Rules for -er/-est

Ending in -e: add -r/-st

Examples

  • large → larger → largest
  • nice → nicer → nicest

Ending in consonant + y: change y to i

Examples

  • happy → happier → happiest
  • easy → easier → easiest

One vowel + one consonant: double consonant

Examples

  • big → bigger → biggest
  • hot → hotter → hottest
  • thin → thinner → thinnest

Two-Syllable Adjectives

Ending in -y: use -er/-est

Examples

  • happy → happier → happiest
  • funny → funnier → funniest
  • pretty → prettier → prettiest

Others: use more/most

Examples

  • careful → more careful → most careful
  • modern → more modern → most modern
  • useful → more useful → most useful

Three+ Syllable Adjectives

Always use more/most

Examples

  • expensive → more expensive → most expensive
  • interesting → more interesting → most interesting
  • difficult → more difficult → most difficult
  • beautiful → more beautiful → most beautiful
  • comfortable → more comfortable → most comfortable

Irregular Forms

Irregular Comparative and Superlative Forms

Examples

  • good → better → best
  • bad → worse → worst
  • far → farther/further → farthest/furthest
  • little → less → least
  • much/many → more → most

Comparative Structures

Than (comparing two things)

Examples

  • She is taller than me.
  • This is more expensive than that.
  • He runs faster than I do.

As...as (equal comparison)

Examples

  • She is as tall as her brother. (equal)
  • This isn't as expensive as that. (not equal)
  • He's as good as the professional.

Less...than (opposite of more)

Examples

  • This is less expensive than that.
  • She's less confident than before.

The...the (proportional)

Examples

  • The more you practice, the better you get.
  • The bigger the house, the more expensive it is.

Superlative Structures

The + superlative (+ in/of)

Examples

  • She is the tallest in the class.
  • This is the most expensive of all.
  • He's the best player on the team.
  • It's the worst movie I've ever seen.

One of the + superlative + plural

Examples

  • He's one of the best players.
  • This is one of the most beautiful cities.

Common Mistakes

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ She is more tall than me. → ✅ She is taller than me.
  • ❌ This is the most cheap. → ✅ This is the cheapest.
  • ❌ He's the better student. → ✅ He's the best student. (superlative)
  • ❌ She is more good. → ✅ She is better. (irregular)
  • ❌ He's tall as me. → ✅ He's as tall as me.
  • ❌ This is most expensive. → ✅ This is the most expensive. (need "the")

Practice Tips

Practice Tips

  • 📏 Syllable rule: 1 syllable = -er/-est. 3+ syllables = more/most. 2 syllables = depends (-y words use -er/-est).
  • ⚡ Irregular trio: Memorize good/better/best, bad/worse/worst. These are the most common irregulars.
  • 🎯 Than vs. Then: Use "than" for comparisons. "Then" is for time. "Bigger than" NOT "bigger then."
  • 📝 The superlative: Always use "the" before superlatives: "the biggest," "the most expensive."
  • 🔍 Double forms: Never mix! ❌ "more better," ❌ "more easier." Choose one: "better" OR "more easy" (neither is correct - use "easier").

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