Comparative & Superlative

Comparative and superlative adjectives are used to compare people, things, or situations. Comparatives compare two things, while superlatives compare one thing to all others in a group.

1. What Are Comparative and Superlative Adjectives?

Comparative adjectives compare two things:

This car is bigger than that one.
She is taller than her brother.

Superlative adjectives compare one thing to all others in a group:

This is the biggest car in the parking lot.
She is the tallest person in her family.

2. Formation Rules

a) One-syllable adjectives

Comparative: adjective + -er Superlative: adjective + -est

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
tall	taller	tallest
fast	faster	fastest
big	bigger	biggest
hot	hotter	hottest

b) Two-syllable adjectives ending in -y

Comparative: change -y to -i + -er Superlative: change -y to -i + -est

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
happy	happier	happiest
easy	easier	easiest
busy	busier	busiest
heavy	heavier	heaviest

c) Two or more syllable adjectives

Comparative: more + adjective Superlative: most + adjective

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
beautiful	more beautiful	most beautiful
expensive	more expensive	most expensive
difficult	more difficult	most difficult
important	more important	most important

d) Irregular adjectives

Some adjectives have completely irregular forms:

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
good	better	best
bad	worse	worst
far	farther/further	farthest/furthest
little	less	least
much/many	more	most

3. Using Comparatives

a) With "than"

This book is more interesting than that one.
She is taller than her sister.
The weather is better today than yesterday.

b) Without "than" (when it's clear what we're comparing)

The red dress is cheaper. (than the blue one)
This way is faster. (than the other way)

4. Using Superlatives

a) With "the"

This is the best movie I've ever seen.
She is the most intelligent student in the class.
That was the worst day of my life.

b) Without "the" (with possessive adjectives)

This is my best friend.
It's her most expensive dress.

5. Common Mistakes

❌ Wrong	✅ Correct
She is more tall than me.	She is taller than me.
This is the most big house.	This is the biggest house.
He is gooder than you.	He is better than you.
This is more easy.	This is easier.

Remember

For one-syllable adjectives, use -er/-est. For longer adjectives, use more/most.

6. Special Constructions

a) "As... as" (equality)

She is as tall as her mother.
This book is as interesting as that one.
The movie is as good as the book.

b) "Not as... as" (inequality)

He is not as tall as his brother.
This car is not as expensive as that one.

c) "Less... than" and "Least"

This book is less interesting than that one.
This is the least expensive option.

7. Comparative and Superlative Adverbs

Many adverbs also have comparative and superlative forms:

Fast → faster → fastest
Quickly → more quickly → most quickly
Well → better → best
Badly → worse → worst

Examples:

She runs faster than me.
He speaks English more fluently than his brother.
She sings best in the choir.

Quick Review

Comparative: compare two things (add -er or use more + adjective).
Superlative: compare one thing to all others (add -est or use most + adjective).
One syllable: use -er/-est.
Two+ syllables: use more/most.
Always use "the" with superlatives (except with possessives).
Use "than" with comparatives when comparing two specific things.
Irregular forms: good/better/best, bad/worse/worst, etc.

Comparative & Superlative

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