1. 1
COMPARATIVES
We use the comparative forms of adjectives when we compare two things or people. There are two
types of adjectives:
Short adjectives (1 – 2 syllables):
With these adjectives, we form the comparative with the suffix –er: adjective + - er + than.
ADJECTIVE COMPARATIVE
a) One syllable adjective: old, fast, clean,
long
Older, faster, cleaner, longer
b) One syllable adjectives ending in –e:
wide, nice, safe, cute, large
Wider, nicer, safer, cuter, larger
c) Two syllable adjectives ending in –y, -er,
-ow ,-le: dirty, simple, clever, narrow
Dirtier, simpler, cleverer, narrower
d) Other adjectives with two or more
syllables: honest, modern, comfortable
More honest, more modern, more
comfortable
e) Adjectives ending in
consonant+vowel+consonant: big, hot,
thin, fat
Bigger, hotter, thinner, fatter
f) Adjectives ending in –y >ier: happy,
funny, easy, noisy
Happier, funnier, easier, noisier
But we also have to have in mind that there are irregular adjectives in English as well.
Irregular Adjective Comparative Form Superlative Form
good better the best
bad worse the worst
far farther/further the farthest/the furthest
little less the least
many more the most
Italian food is better than American food.
My dog is the best dog in the world.
My mother's cooking is worse than your mother's cooking.
Of all the students in the class, Max is the worst.
2. 2
Long adjectives (2 or more syllables)
With these adjectives, you form the comparative using more + adjective + than.
Adjective Comparative Form
peaceful Less / more peaceful than
pleasant more pleasant than
careful more careful
thoughtful more thoughtful
expensive more expensive
intelligent more intelligent
This morning is less peaceful than yesterday morning.
Max's house in the mountains is the most peaceful in the world.
Max is more careful than Mike.
SUPERLATIVES
When we compare more than two things, we often use the superlative forms, we generally use the
with the superlative, for example:
A Jumbo Jet (Boeing 747) is the largest passenger plane in the world.
That was the best meal I've ever eaten.
Short adjectives: the adjective + -est
ADJECTIVE SUPERLATIVE
a) One syllable adjective: old, fast,
clean, long
The oldest, the fastest, the cleanest, the longest
b) One syllable adjectives ending in –e:
wide, nice, safe, cute, large
The widest, the nicest, the safest, the cutest, the largest
c) Two syllable adjectives ending in –y,
-er, -ow ,-le: dirty, simple, clever,
narrow
The dirtiest, the simplest, the cleverest, the narrowest
d) Other adjectives with two or more
syllables: honest, modern, comfortable
The most honest, the most modern, the most
comfortable
e) Adjectives ending in
consonant+vowel+consonant: big, hot,
thin, fat
The biggest, the hottest, the thinnest, the fattest
f) Adjectives ending in –y >ier: happy,
funny, easy, noisy
The happiest, the funniest, the easiest, the noisiest
3. 3
Long adjectives: the most + adjective
Adjective Superlative Form
peaceful The least /the most peaceful
pleasant The least/the most pleasant
careful The least/the most careful
thoughtful The least/the most thoughtful
expensive The least/the most expensive
intelligent The least/the most intelligent
