2. Comparative
and
Superlative
Forms
• 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.
• Forming regular comparatives and
superlatives
How these forms are created depends on how
many syllables there are in the adjective.
Syllables are like "sound beats". For instance,
“nice" has one syllable, “lovely" has two, and
“beautiful” has three.
3. How to Use Comparatives and Superlatives
Comparatives •Comparatives are used to compare two things, two people, or two places.
•You can use sentences with THAN, without THAN, or you can use a conjunction
like BUT.
Examples:
A shared house is cheaper than a dorm.
A shared house is cheaper.
A dorm is cheap, but a shared house is cheaper.
Superlatives •Superlatives are used to compare more than two things.
•Superlative sentences usually use THE because there is only one superlative.
Examples:
Living at home is the cheapest accommodation you can find.
4. Using Comparatives
Examples Notes
cheap
A shared house is cheaper than a dorm.
One-syllable adjectives usually take the –er(+than)
ending.
noisy
Dorms are noisier than apartments.
With two-syllable adjectives that end in -y, change
the -y to -i before adding –er.
expensive
An apartment is more expensive than a dorm.
A dorm is less expensive than an apartment.
Two-syllable adjectives not ending in –y or
adjectives with more than two syllables take more
or less (+than).
common
Dorms are commoner/ more common than shared
houses.
Some two-syllable adjectives can take either the –er
(+than) ending or the words more or less.
good – bad – far
Apartments are better than dorms.
Living in a dorm is worse than living at home.
Some irregular comparatives include good – better,
bad – worse, far – farther/ further.
5. Using Superlatives
Examples Notes
cheap
Living at home is the cheapest accommodation you can find.
One-syllable adjectives usually take the –est ending.
lively
Dorms have the liveliest atmosphere.
With two-syllable adjectives that end in -y, change the -y to -i
before adding –est.
expensive
An apartment is the most expensive type of accomodation.
A shared house is the least expensive.
Two-syllable adjectives not ending in –y or adjectives with
more than two syllables take the most or the least.
common
Dorms are the most common/ the commonest type of
accommodation among college students.
Some two-syllable adjectives can take either the –est ending
or the words the most or the least.
good – bad – far
For me, apartments are the best type of accommodation.
Sharing a dorm is the worst type.
Some irregular superlatives include good – best, bad – worst,
far – farthest/ furthest.
6. Watch Out!
1. Do not use both -er and more in the same comparative.
Lisa is more taller than he is. (INCORRECT) √ Lisa is taller than he is.
2. Than often follows comparative forms. If than is not used, it is still
implied.
I’m older than my sister. I’m also taller (than my sister).
3. Less can sound awkward with one-syllable adjectives. To avoid
this, use the comparative form of the adjectives with the opposite
meaning.
I’m less tall than my brother. (AWKWARD)
√ I’m shorter than my brother.
7. Watch Out!
1. Superlative adjectives are often followed by a noun. The noun indicates the thing that
you are comparing. Superlative adjectives can also be used without a noun if the context
indicates the missing noun.
All the teachers here are good, but Ms. Jordan is probably the best. (=the best teacher)
2. Do not use than after a superlative.
He is the most hardworking student than of all.
√ He is the most hardworking student of all.
3. The least sometimes sounds awkward with one-syllable adjectives. To avoid this, use
the superlative form of an adjective with the opposite meaning.
I am the least tall in my family. (AWKWARD)
√ I am the shortest in my family.
8. Summary of Rules
Adjective Comparative Superlative
Only one syllable, ending in E.
Examples: wide, fine, cute
Add -R:
wider, finer, cuter
Add -ST:
widest, finest, cutest
Only one syllable, with one vowel and one consonant at
the end.
Examples: hot, big, fat
Double the consonant, and add -ER:
hotter, bigger, fatter
Double the consonant, and add -EST:
hottest, biggest, fattest
Only one syllable, with more than one vowel or more than
one consonant at the end.
Examples: light, neat, fast
Add -ER:
lighter, neater, faster
Add -EST:
lightest, neatest, fastest
Two syllables, ending in Y.
Examples: happy, silly, lonely
Change -Y to -I, then add -ER:
happier, sillier, lonelier
Change -Y to -I, then add -EST:
happiest, silliest, loneliest
Two syllables or more, not ending in Y.
Examples: modern, interesting, beautiful
Use MORE or LESS before the adjective:
more modern, more interesting, less beautiful
Use the MOST or the LEAST before the
adjective:
the most modern, the most interesting, the
least beautiful
