Comparatives are used to compare one person or thing with another.
👉 Peter is taller than Carl.
Superlatives are used to describe one person or thing as having more of a quality than all other people or things in a group.
👉 Max is the most intelligent person in the world.
How do we form comparatives and superlatives?
It depends on the number of syllables the adjective/adverb has.
One syllable
Ending in a silent “e” — nice
•Comparative —— add “r” —— nicer
•Superlative —— add “st” —— the nicest
Ending in consonant + vowel + consonant — big
•Comparative — the consonant is doubled — bigger
•Superlative — the consonant is doubled — the biggest
Ending in more than one consonant or more than a vowel (or long vowels) — high, cheap, soft
•Comparative — “er” is added — higher, cheaper, softer
•Superlative — “est” is added — the highest, cheapest , softest
Two syllables
Ending in “y” — happy
•Comparative — “y” becomes “i” and “er” is added — happier
•Superlative — “y” becomes “i” and “est” is added — the happiest
Exception for adverbs! If it ends in “ly” we use “more” — more quickly
Without “y” at the end — exciting
•Comparative — more + the adjective + than — more exciting than
•Superlative — the most + the adjective — the most exciting
Exceptions!
1. There are a few irregular adjectives and adverbs
•good → better / the best
•well → better / the best
•bad → worse / the worst
•badly → worse / the worst
•much / many → more / the most
•little → less / the least
•far → farther / the farthest or further / the furthest
•old →
•elder (about family) / the eldest
•older ( about things or people) / the oldest
•little → less / the least (with uncountable nouns)
👉 I have less money than yesterday (money is uncountable)
👉 She works less than Tomas
•few → fewer / the fewest (with countable nouns)
👉 I have fewer euros than yesterday (euros is countable)
👉 There are fewer people in class today
2. With some one-syllable adjectives, you should use “more” and “most” instead of “er” and “est”. Some common ones are: ill, real, right, wrong, fun
👉 Swimming is more fun than jogging.
3. A few two-syllable adjectives can take either “er” and “est” or “more” and “most”. Some common ones are: quiet, polite, simple, friendly, lovely, lively.
👉 My area is quieter / more quiet than yours