Comparatives & Superlatives

We can use adjectives to compare people, places, or things. Sometimes in our comparisons, we want to show that one person or thing has more of a certain quality than the other, while in other comparisons, we want to show that the two sides are very similar or even the same in that quality.  In this lesson, we will learn how to use adjectives to create such comparisons.

 

‘By looking at a picture, you may think that dogs and wolves are very similar, and you are right. In fact, they are the closest relatives in nature; however, they have many differences. For example, dogs, which are known as man’s best friend, are friendlier and more playful, while wolves can be more aggressive. Wolves are also larger, with larger heads and stronger jaws. Also, wolves are better problem-solvers than dogs.’

 

In the passage above, the words ‘friendlier, more playful, more aggressive, larger, stronger, and better’ are all comparative adjectives, and the words ‘the closest and best’ are called superlative adjectives. But what do they mean?

We use comparatives to say that one person or thing has more of a quality than another person or thing.

 

✅ I am 5 years older than my sister.

 

We use superlatives to say that one person or thing has more of a particular quality than everyone or everything else.

 

✅ Basketball is the most exciting sport to watch.

✅ This is the most delicious food I’ve had in years.

✅ Tracey was one of the most intelligent students in the class.

Note that we use comparative adjectives to compare one person, thing, etc. with one or more persons, things, etc. In other words, there is a one-to-one comparison. We use superlatives to compare one person or thing with a whole group or category that the word belongs to. There is usually a word in the sentence that refers to the general group or category.

 

✅ He is smarter than all his classmates. (he vs every one of his classmates)

✅ He is the smartest student in my class.  

✅ She is more experienced than everyone else in the office. (she vs every one of his colleagues)

✅ She is the most experienced member of our staff.

✅ Coffee is more popular than other hot drinks. (coffee vs every other hot drink)

✅ Coffee is the most popular hot drink.

 

How we form these adjectives depends on the number of syllables that the adjective has. Generally speaking, in shorter adjectives, the comparative form is made by adding -r or er, and the superlative form is created by adding -st or -est to the end of the adjective. In adjectives with more syllables, we use more + adjective to create the comparative form and most + adjective to make the superlative.

 

1. One-syllable Adjectives

2. Two-syllable Adjectives

 

I. Adjectives with two syllables that end in -y or -w and those ending in an unstressed vowel /l/ or /ə(r)/ commonly take -r or -er and -st or -est.

 

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
happy easy  tidy   narrow shallow hollow   simple gentle clear clever	happier easier  tidier   narrower shallower hollower   simpler gentler clearer cleverer	happiest easiest  tidiest   narrowest shallowest hollowest   simplest gentlest clearest cleverest

II. With other two-syllable adjectives, we use more + adjective or most + adjective. To help you remember these adjectives, you can pay attention to the endings like –ous, –ful, –less, –ing, –ed.

 

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
gorgeous careful tasteless tiring crowded pleasant awkward perfect	more gorgeous more careful more tasteless more tiring more crowded more pleasant more awkward more perfect	most gorgeous most careful most tasteless most tiring most crowded most pleasant most awkward most perfect

3. Adjectives with Three or More Syllables 

 

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
attractive dangerous interesting practical	more attractive more dangerous more interesting more practical	most attractive most dangerous most interesting most practical

Note that some adjectives take irregular forms in comparison.

 

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
good bad far ill	better worse further/farther worse	best worst furthest/farthest worst

Note that some two-syllable adjectives can take two forms; however, using more and most is becoming more common.

 

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
common handsome polite mature	commoner / more common handsomer / more handsome politer / more polite maturer / more mature	commonest / most common handsomest / most handsome politest / most polite maturest / most mature

Note that for one-syllable adjectives that end in -ed and a few other adjectives, such as real, like right, and wrong, we use more and most to create comparison.

✅ The show was terrible; I’d never been more bored than that in my life.

✅ The school was more like a military camp!

Note that we can use ‘less’ and ‘least’ with comparative and superlative adjectives.

✅ Our English exam was less difficult than the other exams. (= was not as difficult as…)

✅ This is one of the least expensive places to visit in summer.

Note that for adjectives like happy, tidy, friendly, etc, the negative forms (unhappy, untidy, unfriendly) can still take -er or -est in comparative and superlative forms, while using ‘more’ and ‘most’ is also correct. 

unhappy 🡺 unhappier / more unhappy and unhappiest / most unhappy

Note that we cannot use that or as after the comparative form of an adjective.

✅ The new chair is more comfortable than the old one. (NOT more comfortable that/as the old one)

Note that it is possible to use a clause after a comparative adjective and ‘than’.

✅ The increase in housing costs is greater than we expected.

✅ We finally decided to stay for longer than we had planned.

 

Note that for some compound adjectives that have an adjective or an adverb in their first part, there are two possible comparative and superlative forms. However, in many cases, it is common to change the first part of the adjective. It is good to remember that with many compound adjectives, there is usually no comparative or superlative form.

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
Good-looking     Well-known     Well-educated	more good-looking OR better-looking more well-known OR better-known   better-educated	most good-looking OR best-looking most well-known OR best-known   best-educated

Note that we can use both subject and object pronouns after than in comparatives. The difference is that with a subject pronoun, we usually use a verb. This can be an auxiliary verb or a be verb.

Note that when there are two or more comparative adjectives with more, we need to use more only once.

✅ He is more hardworking and productive than most people I know.

✅ This house is definitely more luxurious and expensive.

Note that we can use double comparatives to show how someone or something is changing.

✅ His tumour grew bigger and bigger in just a few months.

✅ It was the end of June, and the days had already started to get shorter and shorter.

Note that to make a comparison stronger or weaker, we can use such words and phrases as far, much or very much, rather, a lot, a little, a bit, even, any, no, etc. We don’t use very in this structure.

✅ German is far more difficult than English.

✅ I am a little better today, but I haven’t fully recovered yet.

✅ He was no more reasonable than the other speakers on the show.

Note that we can modify a superlative with words and phrases like much, by far, quite, nearly, easily, etc.

✅ He was by far the most charming gentleman in the company.

✅ They are easily the most powerful team in the league.

✅ I generally admire his works, but I think this is much the best.

 

 

We can use adverbs in comparative and superlative forms in the same way that we use adjectives. With most adverbs, we use more and most to make comparatives and superlatives.

✅ We have to finish everything a bit more quickly.

✅ Can you speak a bit more slowly?

✅ Rayan is most often bad-tempered and unapproachable in the mornings.

Note that there is a small number of adverbs that form cooperatives and superlatives with -er and -est. This is particularly common among adverbs having the same forms as their adjectives. Have the following adverbs in mind: soon, early, late, fast, long, hard, near, high, low, loud.

✅ I usually arrive at work earlier and have a cup of coffee before work begins.

✅ We’d better drive today. It will take longer by bus.

✅ I went out and got something to eat in the nearest place.

Note that some adverbs have irregular comparative and superlative forms.

 

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
well badly much far ill	better worse more further/farther worse	best worst most furthest/farthest worst

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note that to compare two qualities or descriptions relating to the same thing or person, we use more (NOT -er) to show that the thing or person we are talking about has more of one of the qualities than the other one.

✅ The room is more small than cosy. (It is small but not very cozy.)

✅ His response was more rude than frank. (It was rude and not just frank.)

Note that after superlatives and also after expressions with the first, second, next, last, etc., we can use to + infinitives with the same meaning as a relative clause. This is only possible when the noun after the superlative is the subject of the verb that follows.   

✅ He was the youngest player to win the gold medal at the Olympics. (also the youngest player who won …)

✅ Junko Tabei was the first woman to climb Mount Everest. (also the first woman who climbed …)

✅ This is the hardest exam I’ve taken in my life. (NOT possible to use to + infinitive because the word ‘exam’ is NOT the subject of the verb ‘take’)

Note that in superlatives, when we compare the same person or thing in different situations, we must drop the.

✅ The dish is best served with white rice.

✅ Children are happiest with their own parents.

Note that for many compound adjectives, there is usually no comparative or superlative form. Instead, we use an adverb to modify the whole adjective or even change the first part.

✅ a bad-tempered man 🢂 an extremely bad-tempered man

✅ a well-educated advisor 🢂 a perfectly educated advisor

Note that after superlatives, to refer to a group, place, etc. that the word belongs to, we often use the preposition ‘in’. There are some exceptions, however.

✅ He was the smartest student in the class. (NOT of the class)

✅ They make the most expensive cars in the world. (NOT of the world)

✅ She described the loss of her child as the most painful of all his experiences.

✅ Of all my friends, Jeanie is the kindest.

Note that in spoken English, most adjectives with one syllable can form comparatives and superlatives with more and most, instead of -er and -est, to create emphasis. This is particularly common when the comparative is not followed by than.

✅ This is even more silly to think he will change anytime soon.

✅ It is certainly the most proud moment in my entire life.

 

Note that we only use elder and eldest in one specific situation: to refer to a person’s age compared to others, especially among the members of a family. However, we cannot use these words before ‘than’ or after a verb the same way we use older and oldest.

✅ Their eldest daughter died in a car accident.

✅ His elder brother went on to become a dentist.

✅ Janet is a few years older than her boyfriend. (NOT elder than her boyfriend)

✅ He is the oldest person I know. (NOT the eldest person I know)

Note that we use further in two different meanings: 1. In a greater distance, and 2. More or to a higher degree. However, the word farther is only used with the first meaning.

✅ Their relationship has further improved in recent months. 🢂 more improved; NOT farther

✅ We drove further/farther east for another two hours. 🢂 talking about distance

✅ As he got older, he sank further and further into depression. 🢂 more and more; NOT farther and farther

✅ He played (the best of any player in the cup final.