What Are Comparatives?

We use comparatives to compare two nouns (people, places, things, or ideas) or two actions. They show a difference between them.

• We often use the word than after a comparative adjective or adverb.
• Comparatives help us say if something is more or less in a certain quality.

How Do We Form Comparatives?

The way we form comparatives depends on the length of the adjective or adverb:

• Short adjectives/adverbs (one syllable): Add -er to the end. For example, old → older, fast → faster.
• Short adjectives ending in -y: Change -y to -ier. For example, happy → happier, easy → easier.
• Adjectives/adverbs with two or more syllables: Use more before the word. For example, beautiful → more beautiful, carefully → more carefully.
• Some two-syllable adjectives: Can use either -er or more (e.g., clever → cleverer / more clever).

What Are Superlatives?

Superlatives describe one noun or action as having the most or least of a quality within a group of three or more. They show an extreme.

• We almost always use the before a superlative adjective or adverb.
• Superlatives tell us which item is the most or the least of something.

How Do We Form Superlatives?

Similar to comparatives, the formation depends on the word's length:

• Short adjectives/adverbs (one syllable): Add -est to the end. For example, old → the oldest, fast → the fastest.
• Short adjectives ending in -y: Change -y to -iest. For example, happy → the happiest, easy → the easiest.
• Adjectives/adverbs with two or more syllables: Use the most before the word. For example, beautiful → the most beautiful, carefully → the most carefully.

What About Irregular Forms?

Some common adjectives and adverbs have irregular comparative and superlative forms. They do not follow the standard rules.

• You need to memorize these irregular forms.
• They are used very frequently in English.

How Do We Use "As...As"?

We use the structure as + adjective/adverb + as to show that two things or actions are equal or similar in some way.

• For example, He is as tall as his brother. (They have the same height.)
• To show inequality, we use not as + adjective/adverb + as. This means something is less than the other.
• For example, She is not as old as me. (She is younger than me.)

What About "Less" and "Least"?

Less and least are the opposites of more and most.

• We use less for comparatives with all adjectives and adverbs to mean 'not as much' or 'not to the same degree'. For example, This book is less interesting than the last one.
• We use the least for superlatives with all adjectives and adverbs to mean 'the minimum amount' or 'to the smallest degree'. For example, That was the least exciting movie I've ever seen.

Common Uses of Comparatives and Superlatives

• Comparing past and present: We often use comparatives or as...as to talk about changes over time. For example, Life is much faster than it was 50 years ago.
• With ever and the present perfect: Superlatives are frequently used with ever and the present perfect tense to talk about experiences. For example, This is the best coffee I've ever tasted.
• To describe preferences: I prefer the bigger car.

Examples

• My new phone is more expensive than my old one.
• She runs faster than her brother.
• This is the most beautiful painting in the museum.
• Who is the bravest person you know?
• The exam was not as difficult as I expected.
• He drives less carefully than his wife.
• That was the least interesting conversation of the day.
• London is bigger than Madrid, but New York is the biggest.

Practice

Common mistakes for Spanish speakers

Spanish speakers sometimes make these mistakes:

• Using more with short adjectives: In Spanish, you often use 'más' with all adjectives. In English, remember more important (correct) but taller (correct), not more tall (incorrect).
• Forgetting the with superlatives: Always use the before a superlative. For example, He is the best student (correct), not He is best student (incorrect).
• Incorrect word order with as...as: The adjective or adverb goes between the two as. For example, as good as (correct), not as as good (incorrect).
• Confusing good/well and bad/badly irregular forms: Remember good → better → best and bad → worse → worst. For adverbs, well → better → best and badly → worse → worst.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between 'comparative' and 'superlative'?

A comparative compares two things (e.g., taller), while a superlative describes one thing as the extreme in a group of three or more (e.g., the tallest).

When do I use 'more' versus adding '-er'?

You generally add -er to one-syllable adjectives and two-syllable adjectives ending in -y (e.g., smaller, happier). You use more for adjectives with two or more syllables that don't end in -y (e.g., more interesting).

Can I use comparatives and superlatives with adverbs?

Yes, you can! For adverbs, we usually use more and the most (e.g., more quickly, the most carefully). Some short adverbs, like fast, follow the adjective rules (e.no-translation>faster, the fastest).

Are there any adjectives that don't follow the rules?

Yes, some common adjectives and adverbs are irregular. For example, good → better → best, bad → worse → worst, and far → farther/further → farthest/furthest.