The comparative and the superlative

Some adjectives describe the qualities of a noun, for example tall, long, expensive. These are qualitative adjectives. Qualitative adjectives have three forms; the positive, the comparative and the superlative.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
big	bigger	biggest
slow	slower	slowest
difficult	more difficult	most difficult

Comparative adjectives

A comparative adjective is used to express a difference between two things. For example, bigger is the comparative form of big. We use the comparative when we want to compare two nouns. The preposition than is used after a comparative adjective in order to introduce the second part of a comparison.

• He needs stronger painkilling drugs.
• I'm trying to find a better job.
• He’s older than me.
• My daughter is taller than my wife.
• He was more intelligent than his brother.

Superlative adjectives

A superlative adjective expresses the greatest degree of a quality. For example,  biggest is the superlative form of big. We use the superlative to compare one person or thing with all other people or things in a group. Remember to use the definite article before a superlative.

• He is my best friend.
• What’s the highest mountain in the world?
• It was the happiest year of my life.
• She is the tallest girl in her class.

Forming comparative and superlative adjectives

We form the comparative and superlative in different ways, depending on the number of syllables in the base adjective.

Adjectives with one syllable

If the adjective has one syllable, the suffix -er is added to the end to form the comparative. The suffix -est is added to form the superlative.

quick	quicker	quickest
big	bigger	biggest
fat	fatter	fattest
sad	sadder	saddest
hot	hotter	hottest

We double the final letter when the adjective ends in consonant+vowel+consonant.     

         

Adjectives with two syllables

Some adjectives with two syllables take the suffixes -er and -est.

narrow	narrower	narrowest
simple	simpler	simplest
tiny	tinier	tiniest

Note: If the adjective ends in -y, change y to i before adding -er or -est.

Some use more to form the comparative and most to form the superlative.

useful	more useful	most useful
bored	more bored	most bored

Note: More or most is not used with the -er or -est form of an adjective.

Adjectives with three or more syllables

All adjectives with three or more syllables use more and most.

interesting	more interesting	most interesting
difficult	more difficult	most difficult

Irregular adjectives

Some common adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms.

good	better	best
bad	worse	worst
little	less	least
much	more	most

Grammar Cards