Comparatives and Superlatives

1. Forming the comparatives and superlatives

As a general rule, the comparative adjective is created by adding –er at the end of the adjective. The superlative adjective is created by adding –est at the end.

In the case of two or more syllables, we use the words more and most to form the comparative and superlative forms.

• One or two syllable words ending in –e:

safe – safer – safest

nice – nicer – nicest

1. One syllable words ending in a short vowel plus consonant double the consonant at the end of the adjective

big – bigger – biggest

sad – sadder – saddest

1. two syllable adjectives ending in –y: the –y changes into an –i:

busy – busier – busiest

happy – happier – happiest

1. Two syllable adjectives ending in –r, –ly, -ow, –y, and -l can have two forms:

clever – cleverer / more clever – cleverest / most clever

Also: common, handsome, simple, stupid, pleasant

2. Irregular forms

Some comparative and superlative adjectives and adverbs are irregular.

Note: ‘elder’ cannot be used in comparative sentences. We cannot say ‘He is elder than Kate.’

3. Comparative sentence

When we compare two or more things, we can say: X is bigger/better/safer/etc. than Y

London is bigger than Leeds.

Henry is more/less intelligent than Rick.

The neighbour’s children are older than mine.

When two things are the same, we say: X is as (so) big/good/interesting as Y

Your cat is as old as my cat.

Jack is so strong as Fred.

His car is not as expensive as your car.

4. The superlative sentence

If something is the best/biggest/most expensive, we say:

X is the best/nicest/most interesting in the world/classroom/family

James is the tallest in the class.

The McLaren F1 is the most expensive car in the world.

Note: In a superlative sentence, we usually use ‘in’ and not ‘of’

5. As…as + adjective / adverb

as + adjective or adverb + as

Just (about) / nearly / quite as + adjective or adverb + as

I would like to have as many apples as possible.

Phone me as soon as necessary.

as + clause + as

As + much/many/little/few + as

Please, write me as soon as you can.

As far as I know, they have moved house.

You can take as many slices as you feel like.

6. The … the

We can compare things by using the ‘the…the’ structure: The + older/better/etc. + clause

The older I get, the more I know.

The richer he gets, the more unhappy he becomes.

The more relaxed he is, the more he talks.

7. Emphasis

We can add emphasis to comparative adjectives the following ways:

much / far / a lot / lots / even happier

considerably / significantly happier

substantially / a great deal happier

many / far / a lot more / less / fewer

a bit / a little / a little bit / quite a lot / somewhat bigger

We can emphasize the superlative forms the following ways:

quite / nearly / easily / much / by far the most expensive car

We can emphasize the as …. as structure the following ways:

Nearly / twice / three times as good as

My brother is quite a lot taller than you.

His house is by far the best in this street.

8. clauses

not + adjective/adverb + enough to do something

The time was not enough to complete the exercise.

• too + adjective/adverb + to do something

It was too hot to sit in the garden.

too + adjective + a/an + noun

It was too popular a restaurant to be able to get a table.

so + adjective/adverb + that clause

His car was so fast that the police couldn’t catch him.

9. Showing result

• so + adjective/adverb + that clause
  • so + many / much + noun + that

His car was so fast that the police couldn’t catch him.

• such + a/an + adjective + singular noun + that
  • such + adjective + plural noun + that
  • such + a lot of + noun + that
  • enough + noun (+ for and/or + to infinitive)
  • adjective / adverb+ enough (+ for and/or + to infinitive)

10. As / like

Like + noun / gerund / pronoun is used to compare two things which are similar or the same.

Like can also mean ‘for example’ or ‘such as’ or ‘similarly’:

As + nouns / clause means ‘in the same way’ or ‘in the positions of’ when referring to jobs.