Learning English

Meaning and Use

Comparatives

Meaning and use

We use comparatives to compare one person or thing with another person or thing.

My new phone is smaller than my old phone.

The film is more exciting than the book.

He’s better than me at tennis.

We use superlatives to compare one person or thing with several other people or things of the same kind. Superlatives tell us which thing or person is the greatest in some way.

It’s the smallest room in the house.

We’ve got the cutest dog in the world.

Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth.

Form

Comparatives

We make comparatives in two ways: by adding -er to an adjective or by putting more in front of the adjective. We often use the word than after the comparative, but not always.

David is older than Juan.

Who is more famous – Brad Pitt or Benedict Cumberbatch?

We add –er to adjectives with one syllable, but if the adjective ends in -e, just add

-r.

old – older             

small – smaller

nice – nicer            

wide – wider

If an adjective ends in one vowel and one consonant, double the consonant and add

-er (except when the final consonant is ‘w’).

hot­ –­­ hotter  

big – bigger 

new – newer             

few –fewer

If an adjective has two syllables and ends in -y, change the y to i and add -ier.

happy – happier               

noisy – noisier        

easy – easier

We put more before other adjectives with two or more syllables.

Sit in the chair – it’s more comfortable than the sofa.

A tablet is more useful than a desktop.

Take note: (not) as … as

To say that two things or people are similar in some way, use as + adjective + as.

I think that skiing is as dangerous as snowboarding.

We can use not as + adjective + as to say that two things or people are not equal in some way.

Isabel is not as successful as her sister.

Superlatives

We make superlatives in two ways: by adding -est to an adjective or by putting most in front of the adjective. We usually use the before the superlative.

Usain Bolt is probably the fastest man in the world.

It’s the cheapest restaurant in town.

If an adjective has one syllable, add -est to form the superlative, but if the adjective already ends in -e, just add –st.

high – highest                  

small – smallest

nice – nicest                    

wide – widest

If an adjective ends in one vowel and one consonant, double the consonant and add

-est (except when it ends in –w)

hot – hottest

big – biggest           

new – newest

If an adjective has two syllables and ends in -y, change the ‘y’ to ‘i’ and add -est

happy – happiest      funny – funniest

We put mostbefore adjectives with two or more syllables.

It’s the most beautiful painting I’ve ever seen.

Take note: superlative and present perfect

We often use the superlative with the present perfect.

It’s the most delicious meal I’ve ever had.

Anna is the friendliest girl he’s ever met.

Remember!

After superlative adjectives, we usually use in, not of.

He was the tallest person in his family.

Take note: irregular comparatives and superlatives

Some adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms.

good – better – best

bad – worse – worst

It’s the best film I’ve seen in a long time.

It’s the worst winter in history.