The comparative form of an adjective is used for comparing two people or things (e.g., he is taller than me), while the superlative is used for comparing one person or thing with every other member of their group (e.g., he was the tallest boy in the class).
Regular adjectives with one syllable
Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
tall | taller | the tallest |
large | larger | the largest |
big | bigger | the biggest |
tall - taller - the tallest
1. Adjectives ending in two constants or two vowels and a constant , add -est.
long - longer - the longest, short - shorter - the shortest, bright - brighter - the brightest/
2. Adjectives ending in -e, add -st.
Nice - nicer - the nicest, late - later - the latest, safe - safer - the safest.
3. Many adjectives ending in a single vowel + single consonant double the consonant and, add -est.
Fat - fatter - the fattest, thin - thinner - the thinnest, flat - flatter - the flattest.
long - longer - the longest, short - shorter - the shortest, bright - brighter - the brightest/
2. Adjectives ending in -e, add -st.
Nice - nicer - the nicest, late - later - the latest, safe - safer - the safest.
3. Many adjectives ending in a single vowel + single consonant double the consonant and, add -est.
Fat - fatter - the fattest, thin - thinner - the thinnest, flat - flatter - the flattest.
Regular adjectives with two or more syllables
Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
heavy | heavier | the heaviest |
modern | more modern | the most modern |
important | more important | the most important |
common | more common | the most common |
1. Adjectives ending in -y change y to i and add -est.
Happy - happier - the happiest, dirty - dirtier - the dirtiest, funny - funnier - the funniest.
2. For most longer adjectives use more and the most.
More comfortable, most independent.
3. Some two-syllable adjectives can form their comparatives and superlatives in two ways: by adding -est or with more and most.
More clever/ most clever, more pleasant/ most pleasant.
Happy - happier - the happiest, dirty - dirtier - the dirtiest, funny - funnier - the funniest.
2. For most longer adjectives use more and the most.
More comfortable, most independent.
3. Some two-syllable adjectives can form their comparatives and superlatives in two ways: by adding -est or with more and most.
More clever/ most clever, more pleasant/ most pleasant.
Irregular adjectives
Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
good | better | the best |
bad | worse | the worst |
old | older | the oldest |
elder | the eldest | |
far | farther | the farthest |
further | the furthest |
Comparative and superlative adjectives in context
- More/-er + than
I'm taller than my brother.
My brother's more serious than me.
I'm more intelligent than he is/him.
- The most/-est
I'm the tallest.
My sister's the most intelligent student in her school.
- Less + than/ the least
That film was less interesting than the last one I saw.
It was the least interesting film I've seen all year.
Other comparative constructions
- as...as
This construction can be used with adjectives or adverbs to make comparisons between two things or people.
I'm as tall as my brother.
Trains don't travel as fast as planes.
In negative sentences so can be used instead of the first as.
Cats aren't so friendly as dogs.