Comparatives and Superlatives

Adjectives and Adverbs

Comparatives and superlatives are types of adjectives and adverbs that are used to compare two or more things or people.

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Comparative means to compare one thing to another.

Comparative adjectives and adverbs compare two things or people.

           




Superlative means to the highest degree or the most.

Superlative adjectives and adverbs compare three or more things or people.

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Word Form	Examples	Comparative Rule	Examples	Superlative Rule	Examples
One syllable adjectives ending in "e"	fine wise large	Add "r"	finer wiser larger	Add "st"	finest wisest largest
One syllable adjectives ending with one vowel and one consonant	big fat hot	Double the final consonant and add the suffix "er"	bigger fatter hotter	Double the final consonant and add the suffix "est"	biggest fattest hottest
One syllable adjectives with two vowels or ending with two consonants	tall smart neat loud	Add the suffix "er"	taller smarter neater louder	Add the suffix "est"	tallest smartest neatest loudest
Two syllable adjectives ending in "y"	pretty angry happy	Change the "y" to "i" and add the suffix "er"	prettier angrier happier	Change the "y" to "i" and add the suffix "est"	prettiest angriest happiest
Adjectives with two or more syllables not ending in "y"	beautiful important dangerous	Do not change the word Add the word "more" before the adjective	more beautiful more important more dangerous	Do not change the word Add the word "most" before the adjective	most beautiful most important most dangerous
Adjectives with two syllables ending in "er", "le", "ow"	gentle hollow yellow	Add the suffix "er" (If the word ends in "e", just ad "r")	gentler hollower yellower	Add the suffix "est" (If the words ends in "e", just add "st")	gentlest hollowest yellowest

Of course there are exceptions to the rules. (Exception means that they do not follow the rules.)

Here are just a few of the most common adjective exceptions.

Word	Comparative form	Superlative form
good	better	best
bad	worse	worst
far	farther	farthest
far	further	furthest
many	more	most
little	less	least
old	elder	eldest

Some two syllable adjectives can follow two rules. Both forms of these words are grammatically correct.

For example:

Word	Comparative forms	Superlative forms
friendly	friendlier more friendly	friendliest most friendly
quiet	quieter more quiet	quietest most quiet
simple	simpler more simple	simplest most simple

Comparative and Superlative Adverbs

Some adverbs can have comparative and superlative forms. 

They follow most of the same rules as adjectives.

Word Form	Examples	Comparative Rule	Examples	Superlative Rule	Examples
One syllable adverbs	late soon hard fast	Add "r" or "er"	later sooner harder faster	Add "st" or "est"	latest soonest hardest fastest
Adverbs with two or more syllables	often seldom	Do not change the word Add the word "more" before the adverb	more often more seldom	Do not change the word Add the word "most" before the adverb	most often most seldom
Some two syllable adverbs ending in "y"	early	Change the "y" to "i" and add the suffix "er"	earlier	Change the "y" to "i" and add the suffix "est"	earliest
Adverbs that end in "ly"	wisely quietly sweetly	Do not change the word Add the word "more" before the adverb	more wisely more    quietly more sweetly	Do not change the word Add the word "most" before the adverb	most wisely most quietly most sweetly

Most comparative and superlative adverbs use "more" and "most" because they end in "ly". Most adverbs end in "ly".

Here are some more "ly" adverbs that would use "more" and "most":

• easily
• boldly
• bravely
• fearlessly
• kindly
• lightly
• openly
• politely
• properly
• rudely
• safely
• softly
• silently
• tenderly
• weakly

Of course there are exceptions to the rules. Here are just a few of the most common adverb exceptions.

Word	Comparative form	Superlative form
badly	worse	worst
little	less	least
much	more	most
well	better	best
far	farther	farthest
far	further	furthest

Farther vs Further: What is the Difference?




These were the rules of forming Comparatives and Superlatives. Now that you know them, it is time to practice! Get our ESL Books!


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