This document provides information on forming comparatives and superlatives in English. It discusses how to form comparatives using -er or more for short adjectives and adverbs, and more + adjective/adverb + than for long adjectives and adverbs. It also covers using less + adjective/adverb and as + adjective/adverb + as in comparatives. For superlatives, it explains using -est for short adjectives and the most + adjective for long adjectives, as well as using in/of and ever in superlative constructions. Examples are provided to illustrate each comparative and superlative pattern.

1. COMPARATIVES &
SUPERLATIVES
Mónica Redondo Arias

2. 1. COMPARATIVE
ADJECTIVES
My brother is older than me.

3. 1. COMPARATIVE
ADJECTIVES
• It’s more dangerous to cycle than to drive.

4. 2. COMPARATIVE
ADVERBS (for actions)
• People walk more quickly than in the past.

5. 3. LESS + ADJECTIVE OR
ADVERB
I’m less relaxed this year than I was last year.

6. 4. AS + ADJECTIVE /
ADVERB + AS
• He drives as fast as his father .

7. 4. (NOT) AS + ADJECTIVE /
ADVERB + AS
• Enrique doesn’t sing as well as his father.

8. SHORT ADJECTIVES
Adjective Comparative
-ER
Short Shorter 1 syllable: + -ER
Big Bigger 1 syllable,
consonant+ + vowel
+ consonant=
DOUBLE
CONSONANT
Happy happier 2 syllables ending in
cons -y
Final –y = i + ER

9. LONG ADJECTIVES
Adjective Comparative
MORE …
THAN
Serious More serious
than…
2 syllables: + -
MORE … THAN.
Expensive More
expensive
than…
3 syllables: +
MORE … THAN.

10. IRREGULAR ADJECTIVES
ADJECTIVE COMPARATIVE
GOOD BETTER THAN…
BAD WORSE THAN…
FAR FURTHER THAN …. FARTHER THAN ….

11. ADVERBS
Adverbs talk about how we do things
• He speaks faster than his sister
Adverbs ending in -ly More …. Than More quickly
than….
Rest of adverbs -er Faster
• People walk more quickly than in the past.

12. COMPARATIVE WITH
“LESS”
LESS + ADJECTIVE OR ADVERB
• I’m less relaxed this year than I was last year.
• This Picasso’s painting is less old than this Van Gogh’s.
• She plays less beautifully than her brother.

13. LET’S PRACTICE!

14. MAKE THE COMPARATIVE
Modern computers are much _______ the early ones (fast)FASTER THAN
I’m _________ this week ________ last week. (busy)BUSIER THAN
Newcatsle is _______ from London ______ Leeds (far)FURTHER THAN
I thought the 3rd Men in Black was ________________the first two. (bad)WORSE THAN
I’m not lazy – I just work _______________ you! (slowly)MORE SLOWLY THAN
Your bag is nicer than mine. My bag isn’t ___________________ (as…. as)AS NICE AS YOURS.
Tokyio is bigger than London. London isn’t _____________________ (as…as)AS BIG AS TOKYO

16. SHORT ADJECTIVES
Adjective Comparative
-EST
Short The Shortest 1 syllable: + THE …-
EST
Big The biggest 1 syllable,
consonant+ + vowel
+ consonant=
DOUBLE
CONSONANT
Happy The happiest 2 syllables ending in
-y
Final –y = i + EST

17. LONG ADJECTIVES
Adjective Comparative
THE
MOST…
Serious The most
serious.
2 syllables: THE
MOST + adj.
Expensive The most
expensive.
3 syllables: THE
MOST + adj.

18. SUPERLATIVES
We use IN + names of places.
This is the noisiest city in the world.
This is the noisiest city OF the world.

19. EVER
We often use THE + superlative with the PRESENT PERFECT + EVER.
This is the most romantic dinner I’ve ever had.
This is the most romantic dinner I’ve never had

20. LET’S PRACTICE!

21. MAKE THE SUPERLATIVE
Thais are _____________ people I’ve ever met. (polite)
Yesterday was _______________ day of the year. (hot)
This is ______________ time to drive to the city. (bad)
This is ___________________ part of the exam (important)
_____________ I’ve ever flown is to Bali (far)
That’s definitely ___________ film I’ve ever seen (funny)
Rob’s daughters are all pretty, but I think Emily is _________ (pretty)
THE MOST POLITE
THE HOTTEST
THE WORST
THE MOST IMPORTANT
THE FURTHEST
THE FUNNIEST
THE PRETTIEST