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Lesson 12. The Complete Guide to Comparative and Superlative Adjectives in English

Comparative Superlative English
Comparative and Superlative Adjectives in English

Comparative Adjectives

We use comparative adjectives to compare two objects. It is used to describe an object that has a higher degree of quality than another one. We can form comparative adjectives by ‘attaching the suffix –er to the adjective’ or ‘placing the word more before the adjective’.

Structure: Subject + Verb + Comparative Adjective + than + Object

 

Examples:

Africa is bigger than Europe.

Carbon monoxide is more dangerous than carbon dioxide.

Prevention is better than cure.

 

Superlative Adjectives

When we want to describe an object that has more of the particular quality than anything or anyone else of the same type. We can form superlative adjectives by ‘attaching the suffix –est to the adjective’ or ‘placing the word the most before the adjective’.

Structure: Subject + Verb + the + Superlative Adjective + Object

 

Examples:

Asia is the biggest continent in the world.

Sarin is one of the most dangerous gases.

This is the best birthday gift ever!

 

Read: The Complete Guide of English Numbers (Up to 10^100)

 

Regular Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

In general, forming comparative and superlative adjectives depend on the number of the syllable of the adjective.

 

One-Syllable

For adjectives with one-syllable, we form the comparative and superlative by attaching the suffixes –er and -est, respectively.

Positive Comparative Superlative
new newer newest
cold colder coldest

 

If the adjective ends: consonant-vowel-consonant, doubled the last consonant.

Positive Comparative Superlative
big bigger biggest
thin thinner thinnest

 

If the adjective ends with -e, we only add the suffixes -r or -st.

Positive Comparative Superlative
Wise wiser wisest
nice nicer nicest

 

Two-Syllable

For most of the two-syllable adjectives, including those with ending in -ful, -ed, -less, -ing, we form the comparative with more and superlative with the most.

Positive Comparative Superlative
skillful more skillful the most skillful
crowded more crowded the most crowded
hopeless more hopeless the most hopeless
dazzling more dazzling the most dazzling

 

If the adjective ends with -y, we change the -y into -i, and then add the suffixes -er or -est.

Positive Comparative Superlative
happy happier the happiest
busy busier the busiest

 

If the adjective ends with -er or -ow¸ attach the suffixes -er for comparatives and -est for superlatives.

Positive Comparative Superlative
clever cleverer the cleverest
narrow narrower the narrowest

 

A few two-syllable adjectives can form comparatives and superlatives using either -er/-est or more/the most forms. If you are not sure which one to use, you can always check on the dictionary. Using online dictionary will only cost you one minute!

Positive Comparative Superlative
gentle gentler/more gentle the gentlest/the most gentle
simple simpler/more simple the simplest/the most simple

 

Three or More Syllables

Adjective with three or more syllables always forms the comparative with more and superlative with the most.

Positive Comparative Superlative
important more important the most important
exciting more exciting the most exciting

 

Irregular Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Some adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms.

Positive Comparative Superlative
good better the best
bad worse the worst
much/many more the most
little less the least
far farther/further farthest/furthest
old older/elder oldest/eldest

 

Read: Which One Should You Use? “Good” or “Well”?

 

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