Comparatives and superlatives
Compare two things or identify the highest or lowest in a group.
The basic difference
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Comparative | Compare two people or things | Maya is taller than Leo. |
| Superlative | Show the highest or lowest degree in a group | Maya is the tallest person in her class. |
Use than after a comparative when naming the second thing. Superlatives normally take the; with a possessive, say my best friend, not my the best friend.
Regular adjective forms
| Rule | Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|---|
| One syllable: add -er / -est | small | smaller | the smallest |
| Ends in -e: add -r / -st | large | larger | the largest |
| Consonant–vowel–consonant: double the last consonant | big | bigger | the biggest |
| Consonant + -y: change y to i | happy | happier | the happiest |
| Most adjectives with three or more syllables: more / most | interesting | more interesting | the most interesting |
| Many two-syllable adjectives: more / most | careful | more careful | the most careful |
Some two-syllable adjectives also take -er/-est, especially those ending in -y: happy → happier → the happiest.
Irregular forms
| Base | Comparative | Superlative | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| good | better | the best | quality |
| bad | worse | the worst | quality |
| far | farther / further | the farthest / furthest | distance; further can also mean additional |
| little | less | the least | amount |
| much / many | more | the most | amount / number |
| few | fewer | the fewest | number of countable things |
Use fewer with countable things (fewer books) and less with uncountable amounts (less water).
Useful comparison patterns
| Meaning | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Compare two things | comparative + than | This route is shorter than that one. |
| Choose one from a group | the + superlative + in / of | This is the shortest route in the city. |
| Equal degree | as + adjective + as | This road is as wide as that one. |
| Lower degree | not as + adjective + as | This road is not as wide as that one. |
| Smaller degree | less + adjective + than | This route is less crowded than the other one. |
| One among several | one of the + superlative + plural noun | It is one of the oldest buildings here. |
Making a comparison stronger or weaker
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| much / far / a lot + comparative | This book is much longer. |
| a little / a bit + comparative | This book is a little longer. |
| comparative + and + comparative | The days are getting longer and longer. |
| the + comparative, the + comparative | The earlier we leave, the better. |
Do not use very directly before a comparative: say much better or a lot better, not very better.
Comparing actions with adverbs
Adverbs can also be comparative or superlative. Many -ly adverbs use more/most.
| Adverb | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| fast | faster | the fastest |
| carefully | more carefully | the most carefully |
| well | better | the best |
| badly | worse | the worst |
She runs faster than I do. · Of the three, she runs the fastest.
Common mistakes
| Incorrect | Correct | Remember |
|---|---|---|
| more taller | taller | Do not use more with an -er comparative. |
| the most biggest | the biggest | Do not use most with an -est superlative. |
| gooder | better | Good has an irregular comparative. |
| as taller as | as tall as | Use the base form after as. |
| the better in the class | the best in the class | Use a superlative for the highest in a group. |