The comparative and the superlative

The comparative and the superlative

1. Comparative adjectives

   • Comparative adjectives are used to compare differences between the two objects they modify (larger, smaller, faster, higher). They are used in sentences where two nouns are compared, in this pattern:
     • Noun (subject) + verb + comparative adjective + THAN + noun (object).
     • Examples
       • Your dog runs faster than Jim's dog.
       • My house is larger than hers.
       • The rock flew higher than the roof.

2. Superlative adjectives

   • Superlative adjectives are used to describe an object which is at the upper or lower limit of a quality (the tallest, the smallest, the fastest, the highest). They are used in sentences where a subject is compared to a group of objects.
     • Noun (subject) + verb + THE + superlative adjective + noun (object).
     • Examples
       • My house is the largest one in our neighborhood.
       • This is the smallest box I've ever seen.
       • Your dog ran the fastest of any dog in the race.

3. Forming regular comparatives

   • One syllable adjectives
     • Add -er for the comparative. If the adjective has a consonant + single vowel + consonant, spelling, the final consonant must be doubled before adding the ending.
       • tall
         • taller
       • fat
         • fatter
       • big
         • bigger
       • sad
         • sadder