Comparative, Superlatives and other forms of comparison

1. +
Comparison

2. +
Comparative Form
 We use the comparative form to show the difference
or compare and contrast two objects or people and
we use THAN before what or who we are comparing
to:
Maria is taller than Juan.
Miami is more modern than Lima.

3. + RULES
TYPE OF ADJECTIVE SPELLING RULE COMPARTIVE
Most 1 syllable
adjectives.
Add -er
Older
Brighter
BUT! Dry Drier
1 syllable adjectives
ending in –e.
Add -r
Nicer
Safer
1 syllable adjectives
ending in consonant +
vowel + consonant.
Double the last
consonant and ad -er
Bigger
Fatter
BUT! New Newer
2 syllable adjectives
ending in –y.
Drop the –y and add –
ier.
Easier
Noisier
2 syllable adjectives
not ending in –y.
Put MORE before the
adjective.
More mature
More patient
Adjectives with 3
syllables or more
Put MORE before the
adjective.
More aggressive
More organised

4. +
Comparative than
John is older than Sue.
The pound is more expensive than the dollar.

5. +
Superlative Form
 The superlative is the form of an adjective or adverb
that shows which thing has that quality above or
below the level of the others:
Brian is the tallest student in the class
Paris in the most beautiful city in the world

6. + RULES
TYPE OF ADJECTIVE SPELLING RULE COMPARTIVE
Most 1 syllable
adjectives.
Add –est.
Richest
Oldest
BUT! Dry Driest
1 syllable adjectives
ending in –e.
Add –st.
Nicest
Safest
1 syllable adjectives
ending in consonant +
vowel + consonant.
Double the last
consonant and ad –
est.
Biggest
Thinnest
BUT! New Newest
2 syllable adjectives
ending in –y.
Drop the –y and add –
iest.
Happiest
Funniest
2 syllable adjectives
not ending in –y.
Put MOST before the
adjective.
Most boring
Most patient
Adjectives with 3
syllables or more
Put MOST before the
adjective.
Most popular
Most attractive

7. +
 Of adjectives or adverbs is used before superlatives
in sentences we use THE… (OF/IN) when we
compare one person, animal, thing, idea or situation
with several of the same kind.
That’s the most ridiculous idea I've ever Heard.
Peter is the tallest boy in his class.

8. +
of all / period of time.
The + Superlative +
in + place / group of
people.
Nick is the best student in his class.
Rudolf Nurejev was the most important dances of
the 20th century.

9. +
IRREGULAR FORMS
POSITIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE
Good/Well
Bad/Badly
Much/Many
Little
Far
Better
Worse
More
Less
Farther/Further
Best
Worst
Most
Least
Farthest/Furthest

10. +
NOTE

Some two syllable adjectives form comparative and
superlatives in both ways.
Adjective Comparative Superlative
Clever
Common
Narrow
Simple
Cleverer / More
Clever
Commoner / More
common
Narrower / More
narrow
Simpler / More
simpler
Cleverest / Most
Clever
Commonest /Most
common
Narrowest / Most
narrow
Simplest / Most
simple

Comparatives can be graded by using the word far, much, a
lot, a little, a bit, slightly.
This car is much more expensive than the one I bought.
The house we live in now is slightly bigger than the one we lived
before.

11. +
Other forms of comparison
TYPE USE EXAMPLE
As + adjective / adverb +
As
To show similarity
She is as tall as her
sister.
Not so/as +
adjective/adverb + as
To show difference
It isn’t so/as far as we
thought.
Less/least To show inferiority
The film I saw yesterday
was less interesting than
the one I saw last week
Comparative + and +
comparative
To indicate continual
increase or decrease
The car was going faster
and faster