Comparative & Superlative Adjectives

Comparative Adjective

These are used when we are comparing two nouns and need to show which noun possesses the adjective or character in a greater or lesser amount, when compared with the other. – bigger, sweeter, cleaner, etc.

• I have a big dog but hers is bigger.
• He is sweeter than the other boys.
• The cupboard is cleaner than before.

Superlative Adjective

This form is used when three or more nouns are being compared and we need to show that one or more of the nouns posses the adjective or characteristic to the highest amount possible. We usually add ‘the’ before the superlative form. – biggest, sweetest, cleanest, etc.

• She has the biggest dog in the colony.
• He is the sweetest boy in his class.
• The cupboard is the cleanest thing in the house.

Comparison of Adjectives Rule #1

Single Syllable Words and Double Syllable Words ending with -y, -er, -ow, -le –

• We use ‘-er’ to make the comparative and ‘-est’ to make the superlative.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Black	Blacker	Blackest
Fair	Fairer	Fairest
Clever	Cleverer	Cleverest

• When there is a silent ‘e’ at the end of the positive form, we remove that and add ‘-er’ and ‘-est’

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Nice	Nicer	Nicest
Late	Later	Latest

• When the adjective ends with a ‘y’, we convert the ‘y’ into ‘i’ before adding ‘-er’ and ‘-est

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Pretty	Prettier	Prettiest
Lazy	Lazier	Laziest

• If the adjective is a small one with little stress on the vowel, we double the last consonant.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Hot	Hotter	Hottest
Wet	Wetter	Wettest

Comparison of Adjectives Rule #2

Other Words with Two or More Syllables
For other double syllable words that do not end with -y, -er, -ow, -le, and for adjectives with more than two syllables, we use more and most to form the comparatives and superlatives.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Difficult	More Difficult	Most Difficult
Careful	More Careful	Most Careful
Handsome	More Handsome	Most Handsome
Interesting	More Interesting	Most Interesting

Comparison of Adjectives Rule #3 (Special Adjectives)

There a few adjectives that can use both ‘-er and -est’ and ‘more’ and ‘most’ to form their comparative and superlative forms. The distinction between these is that ‘-er and -est’ are used when we are comparing the noun to another noun and ‘more’ and ‘most’ is used when we are comparing characteristics within the noun.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Clever	Cleverer/ More CleverE.g: He is cleverer than her.	Cleverest/Most CleverE.g: He is more clever than studious.
Quiet	Quieter/ More QuietE.g: This is the most quiet it gets here.	Quietest/ Most QuietE.g: This is the quietest place.
Brave	Braver/ More BraveE.g: She is braver than other girls.	Bravest/ Most BraveE.g: She was more brave than afraid.
Sure	Surer/ More SureE.g: He was surer of the result than others.	Surest/ Most SureE.g: You’ll be more sure about the concept after you read the chapter.

Comparison of Adjectives Rule #4 (Irregular Comparisons)

These adjectives do not make their comparative and superlative forms using the rules above. Their comparative and superlative forms are different words altogether.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Bad	Worse	Worst
Good	Better	Best
Far (place & time)	Further	Furthest
Far (place)	Farther	Farthest
Old (people)	Elder	Eldest
Little (amount)	Less	Least
Late (order)	Latter	Last