TO KNOW #3
Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
Mariana Balderas
8IMTB
Comparative and superlative adjectives are used to compare and contrast different
qualities or characteristics of nouns. Here's a breakdown of how they're used:
Comparative Adjectives: Comparative adjectives are used to compare two things, showing
which has a higher or lower degree of a particular quality.
• Formation: Most comparative adjectives are formed by adding "-er" to the end of
the adjective, or by placing "more" before the adjective. For example:
• "Taller" (adding "-er" to "tall") or "more intelligent."
• For adjectives with two syllables or more, typically "more" is used rather than
adding "-er." For example:
• "More beautiful" instead of "beautifuller."
• Usage: Comparative adjectives are often followed by "than" to introduce the second
element of comparison. For example:
• "She is taller than her brother."
• "This book is more interesting than the last one."
Superlative Adjectives: Superlative adjectives are used to compare three or more things,
showing which has the highest or lowest degree of a particular quality.
• Formation: Most superlative adjectives are formed by adding "-est" to the end of
the adjective, or by placing "most" before the adjective. For example:
• "Tallest" (adding "-est" to "tall") or "most intelligent."
• As with comparatives, for adjectives with two syllables or more, typically "most" is
used rather than adding "-est." For example:
• "Most beautiful" instead of "beautifulest."
• Usage: Superlative adjectives are often preceded by "the" and followed by a noun or
by "of" when comparing. For example:
• "She is the tallest in her class."
• "This is the most interesting book of all."
Remember, irregular adjectives have different forms for comparatives and superlatives.
For example:
• Good (comparative: better, superlative: best)
• Bad (comparative: worse, superlative: worst)
Understanding comparative and superlative adjectives is essential for expressing
comparisons accurately and effectively in English.
Comparatives:
1. Short Adjectives (one syllable):
• For most one-syllable adjectives, you simply add "-er" to the end to form the
comparative.
• Example: fast → faster
2. Long Adjectives (two or more syllables):
• For most adjectives with two or more syllables, you use "more" before the
adjective to form the comparative.
• Example: beautiful → more beautiful
3. Irregular Comparatives:
• Some adjectives have irregular comparative forms that do not follow the
typical "-er" or "more" pattern. For example:
• Good → better
• Bad → worse
• Far → farther or further
Superlatives:
1. Short Adjectives (one syllable):
• For most one-syllable adjectives, you add "-est" to the end to form the
superlative.
• Example: fast → fastest
2. Long Adjectives (two or more syllables):
• For most adjectives with two or more syllables, you use "most" before the
adjective to form the superlative.
• Example: beautiful → most beautiful
3. Irregular Superlatives:
• Similar to comparatives, some adjectives have irregular superlative forms.
• Example: good → best
• Example: bad → worst
• Example: far → farthest or furthest
Exceptions and Notes:
• Adjectives ending in "-y" typically change the "y" to "i" before adding the endings "-
er" or "-est".
• Example: happy → happier → happiest
• Adjectives ending in "-e" usually only require adding "-r" or "-st" without any
additional letters.
• Example: wide → wider → widest
https://www.ef.com/wwen/english-resources/english-grammar/comparative-and-superlative/
https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/grammar/a1-a2-grammar/comparative-superlative-
adjectives
https://continuingstudies.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/200/grammar/csadj/
