Comparatives & Superlatives
Comparing two or more things using -er/more and -est/most
When to Use Comparatives & Superlatives
- •Comparing two items: Cats are faster than dogs.
- •Comparing three or more: This is the most interesting book.
- •Showing small differences: a bit/slightly + comparative.
- •Showing big differences: much/far + comparative.
- •Irregular forms: good/better/best; bad/worse/worst.
How to Form Comparatives & Superlatives
Short adjectives: adj + -er + than; Long adjectives: more + adj + than; Superlatives: the + adj-est / the most + adj
Not as + adj + as for equality; or negative forms of above
Is A + comparative + than B? / Which is the + superlative?
💡 One-syllable → -er/-est; three+ syllables → more/most; two-syllable ending in -y → happier/happiest.
Examples of Comparatives & Superlatives
✓This road is safer than that one.
✗This road is more safe than that one.
Safe is short → safer.
✓She is more creative than her brother.
✗She is creativer than her brother.
Long adjective uses more + adj.
✓He is the tallest in the class.
✗He is the most tall in the class.
Short adjective superlative uses -est.
✓Today is a bit colder than yesterday.
✗Today is cold than yesterday.
Comparatives need than; quantifier (a bit) for small difference.
Common Mistakes with Comparatives & Superlatives
💡 Practice Tips for Comparatives & Superlatives
- • Decide short vs long adjective before choosing -er/-est or more/most.
- • Use quantifiers (much/far/a bit) to show degree of difference.
- • Irregulars: good→better→best; bad→worse→worst; far→farther/further→farthest/furthest.
- • For equality, use as + adjective + as: This is as easy as that.