Comparatives and Superlatives

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🎯 Comparatives and superlatives

📊 Quick Reference Chart

One-Syllable Adjectives

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

Two or More Syllables

Adjective Comparative Superlative
interesting more interesting the most interesting
beautiful more beautiful the most beautiful
expensive more expensive the most expensive
intelligent more intelligent the most intelligent

👉 Rule of thumb: If it sounds natural with -er/-est, use that. Otherwise, use more/most.

🎯 1. Comparatives (Comparing Two Things)

Formation

One-syllable adjectives: Add -er + than
My car is faster than yours.
She is taller than her brother.

Two+ syllables: Use more + adjective + than
This book is more interesting than that one.
She is more intelligent than I am.

Examples

  • I’m happier than I was last year.
  • This exercise is easier than the previous one.
  • Your house is more comfortable than mine.
  • My job is less stressful than yours.

👑 2. Superlatives (Comparing Three or More Things)

Formation

One-syllable adjectives: Add -est + the
She is the tallest girl in the class.
Today is the hottest day of the year.

Two+ syllables: Use the most + adjective
This is the most expensive restaurant in town.
He is the most talented player on the team.

Examples

  • She has the longest hair in her friend group.
  • That was the best movie I’ve ever seen.
  • This is the most beautiful city I know.
  • He’s the smartest student I’ve taught.

⚠️ 3. Exceptions: Irregular Adjectives

Some common adjectives don’t follow the rules:

Adjective Comparative Superlative
good better the best
bad worse the worst
far farther/further the farthest/furthest
little less the least
much/many more the most
old older/elder* the oldest/eldest*

*Note: elder/eldest is used mainly for family relationships (my elder brother), while older/oldest is more general.

Examples

  • He’s a better teacher than he was five years ago.
  • That was the worst experience of my life.
  • The least expensive option is usually the best choice.
  • She’s farther along in her career than her peers.

🔄 4. Special Cases

Double Comparatives (Getting More and More)

Use the comparative twice connected by and:

She’s getting thinner and thinner.
This situation is becoming more and more complicated.
He’s becoming better and better at playing guitar.

“The + Comparative” Construction

This means “one thing causes another”:

The sooner you start, the better.
The more you practice, the better you’ll play.
The less you worry, the happier you’ll be.

Comparative with “as … as”

To show equality:

She is as tall as her brother.
This book is as interesting as that one.
He’s not as smart as I thought.

✏️ 5. Spelling Changes

When adding -er or -est, watch for these patterns:

Doubling the Final Consonant

(one vowel + one consonant at the end)

  • hot → hotter → hottest
  • big → bigger → biggest
  • sad → sadder → saddest

Changing y to i

(ends in consonant + y)

  • happy → happier → happiest
  • easy → easier → easiest
  • friendly → friendlier → friendliest

Dropping the e

(ends in e)

  • nice → nicer → nicest
  • large → larger → largest
  • simple → simpler → simplest

✅ Summary

  • Comparatives compare two things → add -er or use more + adjective + than
  • Superlatives compare three or more → add -est or use the most + adjective
  • Watch for irregular forms: good/better/best, bad/worse/worst
  • Spelling matters: double consonants, y→i changes, dropping e
  • Double comparatives: -er and -er or more and more