Comparative and superlative adjectives

Comparative and superlative adjectives

1. Examples

   • he cat is faster than the mouse, but the cheetah is the fastest. The dolphin is more intelligent than the dog, but the chimpanzee is the most intelligent.

2. We use comparatives and superlatives to compare things and to say which thing is top in a group. Add ‘-er’ and ‘-est’ for one syllable adjectives. Add ‘-ier’ and ‘-iest’ for two syllable adjectives which end in ‘y’ (and take away the ‘y’). Use ‘more’ and ‘the most’ with other two syllable (or more) adjectives.

   • one syllable: small – smaller – the smallest
     • two syllables with ‘y’: happy – happier – the happiest
       • two+ syllables: beautiful – more beautiful – the most beautiful

3. Be careful!

   • The adjectives ‘good’, ‘bad’ and ‘far’ have special forms.
     • good – better – the best
       • bad – worse – the worst
         • far – further – the furthest

4. Here are some examples:

   • I think you're taller than me. (tall) She's the tallest in the group. (tall) The pizzas in La Bella Napoli are better than the ones in Pietro's. (good) It was the best pizza I've ever had! (good) People say Bioshock is a more exciting game than Skyrim. (exciting) Grand Theft Auto is the most exciting video game. (exciting)

5. With most one-syllable adjectives, we add –er or –est, and with most adjectives with two syllables or more, we add more or (the) most. In comparatives, we also use than before the second thing which is compared, if it is mentioned.

   • La Bella Napoli is nearer than Pietro's. (near) It's not the cheapest restaurant though. (cheap)
     • With one-syllable adjectives ending in vowel + consonant, remember to double the final consonant before –er/–est.
       • big → bigger → biggest If the adjective ends in –e, just add –r or –st. large → larger → largest