Making Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

To make the comparative form of adjectives (like 'bigger' or 'more expensive') and the
superlative form (like 'biggest' or 'most expensive'), first we need to know how many syllables
are in the adjective.

Adjectives with one syllable

Usually, if an adjective has only one syllable, we add '-er' to make the comparative form. We
add'-est' to make the superlative form.

 clean → cleaner / cleanest

 cold → colder / coldest
 small → smaller / smallest
 young → younger / youngest
 tall → taller / tallest

There are some spelling changes. If there is one vowel followed by one consonant at the end of the
adjective, we often double the consonant.

 wet → wetter / wettest

 big → bigger / biggest
 hot → hotter / hottest
 thin → thinner / thinnest

If the adjective ends in '-y', this often changes to 'i'.

 dry → drier / driest

If the adjective ends in -'e', we don't add another '-e', just '-r'.

 nice → nicer / nicest

 large → larger / largest

Even when the adjective has only one syllable, it's still not wrong to use 'more' or 'most'. It's
possible to say 'more wet' or 'most tall'. This isn't incorrect.

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 There are a few adjectives that we have to use 'more' or 'most' with, even though they only have one
syllable. We CAN'T add 'er' or 'est'.

 fun → more fun / most fun (NOT funner / funnest)

 real → more real / most real (NOT realer / realest)
 right → more right / most right (NOT righter / rightest)
 wrong → more wrong / most wrong (NOT wronger / wrongest)

Adjectives with two syllables

We generally use 'more' or ‘most’ adjectives with two syllables.

 careful → more careful / most careful

 normal → more normal / most normal

But some two-syllable adjectives can take '-er' or '-est'. It's also fine to use 'more' (for the
comparative) or 'most' (for the superlative).

 clever → cleverer
 simple → simpler
 narrow → narrower
 quiet → quieter

Adjectives with two syllables that end in 'y' usually can add '-er' or '-est' (y generally changes to i).
It's also fine to use 'more'.

 dirty → dirtier / dirtiest

 pretty → prettier / prettiest
 happy → happier / happiest
 ugly → uglier / ugliest

Adjectives with more than two syllables

Adjectives with more than two syllables can only make their comparative by using 'more' and their
superlatives by using 'most'.

 beautiful → more beautiful / most beautiful

 intelligent → more intelligent / most intelligent
 interesting → more interesting / most interesting
 expensive → more expensive / most expen

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 Irregular Adjectives

There are also some irregular adjectives. We just need to learn these forms.

Less … than
Comparatives are normally used to state superiority when you want to say that something is “more”
than another thing; however, you can also use them to mention relations of inferiority.
When using comparatives of superiority, the adjectives could be modified, depending on the number
of syllables they have, however, talking about inferiority, the structure does not change, it is always
the same.

Peter is less considerate than Marta. (=Marta is more considerate)

Lecce is less big than London.

The Taj Mahal is less famous than The Great Wall of China.

AS….AS
Comparison of equality is used to show that two things, people are similar. There is no difference
between the subject and the object. It can be used with adjectives, adverbs and nouns.

as + adjective + as.

As+noun+as

As + adverb + as

Bogota is as interesting as Buenos Aires.

Peter isn’t as considerate as Marta. (=Marta is more considerate)

Use not as/ not so + adjective + as to talk about the difference between two things or
people.
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After than or as … as we use an object pronoun (me, you, him, etc.) or a subject pronoun (I, you,
he, she, etc.) + auxiliary verb.

o My sister is taller than me.

o My sister is taller than I am.

Modifying comparatives

We can use much, so much, a lot, even or far with comparative adjectives to show big differences.

Sales in July were a lot higher than sales in June.

Showing small differences

We can use slightly, a little, a bit, a little bit or not much with comparative adjectives to show small
differences.

The number of registrations has been slightly lower than we expected.

Houses in my city are not much more expensive than flats.

We can use almost, nearly, not quite, roughly, more or less or about with as … as and the same as.

She's almost as old as I am.

The figures for May are more or less the same as the figures for June.

He was far less experienced than the other applicant.

We can use nowhere near with as … as.

The interview was nowhere near as difficult as the written exam.

Showing there is no difference

We can use exactly the same as or just as … as to emphasise that there is no difference.

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A new phone can be just as expensive as a new computer these days.

When we want to describe how something or someone changes we can use two comparatives
with AND:

The balloon got bigger and bigger.

Everything is getting more and more expensive.

Grandfather is looking older and older.

Any/no more than

We can use any/no + comparative (any better, no faster, any more expensive, etc.). We use any in
negative sentences and no with positive verbs.

o Your performance was no better than mine.

o Your performance wasn’t any better than mine.

Superlative adjectives
We use the superlative form of an adjective or adverb to compare more than two things, persons,
animals.

After the superlative we use in + names of places or singular words for groups of people (class,
school, team, family, etc.)

o She is the best student in the class.

o He’s the tallest in the family.
o Messi is the best player in the world. (NOT of the class, etc.)

We normally use of + periods of time or a number of people (of the year, of my life, of my brothers,
of the students, etc.).

o It was the best evening of my life.

o I am the tallest of my brothers.

The most… I have ever…

We often use the superlative with the present perfect tense and ever.

o This is the best movie I’ve ever watched.

o She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.

The/my/Tom’s best …

Before the superlative we always use the, or my/your/his/etc. or Tom’s/Jenny’s/etc.)

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 o He is the best.
o This is my most expensive jacket.
o This is Paul’s best friend.

The least

The opposite of the most is the least

o He is the least hardworking student in the class.

Comparing actions with adverbs

We can use the comparative or superlative form of adverbs to compare actions.

o She drives fast, but I drive faster.

o He plays well, but I play better than him.

With adverbs ending in –ly, you must always use more to form the comparative, and most to form
the superlative

o She speaks more quietly than her boss. (NOT quietlier)

o He cooks well, but more slowly than his workmates. (NOT slowlier)

For adverbs that have the same form as adjectives, the comparative and superlative forms are like
adjectives: add –er to form the comparative and –est to form the superlative. The most common of
these adverbs are: late-later, early-earlier, fast-faster, hard-harder, and long-longer.

o He works harder than me.

o She always arrives earlier than her boss.
o It took us longer than usual to arrive because of the traffic.

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