B2 COURSE
Unit 13 - Comparatives & superlatives
We use Comparatives and Superlatives to compare two or more nouns.
The formation of the comparative and superlative depends on the number of syllables in the adjective:
Examples:
Adjective Comparative Superlative
tall taller the tallest
short shorter the shortest
nice nicer the nicest
big bigger the biggest
hot hotter the hottest
funny funnier the funniest
expensive more expensive the morst expensive
interesting more interesting the most interesting
Irregulars! :
Adjective Comparative Superlative
good better the best
bad worse the worst
many more the most
much more the most
far farther / further the fathest / the
furthest
13.1. - One-syllable adjectives
To form the comparative, we add -er to the end of the adjective.
To form the superlative, we add -est to the end of the adjective.
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B2 COURSE
Unit 13 - Comparatives & superlatives
Examples:
Adjective Comparative Superlative
small smaller the smallest
cold colder the coldest
light lighter the lightest
wide* wider the widest
hot** hotter the hottest
* When an adjective ends in the letter -e, we just add -r (for comparatives) or -st (for superlatives). We
do not write two ‘-e’ together. Wider (correct) not wideer (incorrect).
** Whan an adjective ends in a consonant + vowel + consonant (C + V + C), we normally double the last
letter. Big – bigger – biggest. Wet – wetter – wettest.
Examples:
London is bigger than Santiago.
Mike is taller than John but James is the tallest.
Yesterday was the hottest day of the year.
It is the oldest building in the village.
I want a faster car.
Notice how comparatives are often followed by than when comparing two things or people.
13.2. - Two-syllable adjectives ending in -y
To form the comparative, we remove the -y and add -ier to the end of the adjective.
To form the superlative, we remove the -y and add -iest to the end of the adjective.
Adjective Comparative Superlative
crazy crazier the craziest
happy happier the happiest
early earlier the earliest
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B2 COURSE
Unit 13 - Comparatives & superlatives
Examples:
It was the happiest day of my life.
My joke was funnier than your one.
This section is easier than the rest.
13.3. - Adjectives with two or more syllables
For adjectives with 2 syllables (that don’t end in -y) and higher (3, 4 syllables, etc.), we use more for
comparatives and the most for superlatives.
Adjective Comparative Superlative
handsome more handsome the most handsome
nervous more nervous the most nervous
enthusiastic more enthusiastic the most enthusiastic
Examples:
My girlfriend is more beautiful than yours.
Alex is more intelligent than you but I am the most intelligent.
It was the most wonderful day I have ever had.
There are some exceptions with two-syllable adjectives that the comparative and superlative form
end in -er and -est.
Examples:
Narrow – narrower.
Simple – simpler.
Quiet – Quieter.
13.4. - Irregular forms
Adjective Comparative Superlative
good better the best
bad worse the worst
little less the least
many / much more the most
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B2 COURSE
Unit 13 - Comparatives & superlatives
13.5. - Equal comparisons
We usually compare two things which have the same quality with as + adjective + as.
Examples:
My daughter is as beautiful as my wife.
My son is as clumsy as my wife.
My brother is as tall as my father.
We can replace as + adjective +as with so + adjective + as in negative sentences.
Examples:
My ex-girlfriend is not so beautiful as my wife.
My mother is no so fat as my father.
My brother is not so tall as my father.
We can show that two things are not equal using not + as + adjective + as. When we use this
structure, the first thing mentioned is ‘less’ than the second thing.
Examples:
This one isn’t as big as the old one.
Jenny’s new flat isn’t as nice as her old one.
Paris isn’t as big as Tokyo.
Remember:
As...as...
We use as...as... to show two things are equal.
Not as...as...
We use not as...as... to show two things are unequal.
