Comparative & Superlative
Comparative and superlative forms let you compare people, animals, and things. You already know how to use -er and -est with short adjectives. Now you will learn how to compare using longer adjectives too.
What You'll Learn
- How to form comparatives and superlatives with longer adjectives using "more" and "most"
- How to decide whether to use -er/-est or more/most
- How to use comparatives and superlatives correctly in sentences
When to Use
- Comparing two things: "The MRT is faster than the bus."
- Comparing more than two things: "The cheetah is the fastest animal of all."
- Comparing with longer adjectives: "This book is more interesting than that one."
- Picking the top one from a group: "She is the most talented dancer in our school."
How to Form
Short Adjectives (1-2 syllables): Add -er / -est
| Spelling Rule | Base word | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most short adjectives: just add -er/-est | tall | taller | tallest |
| Ends in -e: add -r / -st | large | larger | largest |
| Ends in consonant + y: change y to i | happy | happier | happiest |
| Short vowel + consonant: double the last letter | big | bigger | biggest |
Long Adjectives (3 or more syllables): Use more / most
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| beautiful | more beautiful | most beautiful |
| interesting | more interesting | most interesting |
| colourful | more colourful | most colourful |
| comfortable | more comfortable | most comfortable |
| difficult | more difficult | most difficult |
Key Rules
- Count the syllables: If the adjective has 1 or 2 syllables, add -er or -est. If it has 3 or more syllables, use "more" or "most".
- Use "than" for comparatives: When comparing two things, always put "than" after the comparative form. "A durian is bigger than a mangosteen."
- Use "the" for superlatives: Always put "the" before the superlative form. "Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world."
- Never double up: Do not use "more" with -er, or "most" with -est. Say "taller", not "more taller".
- Two-syllable adjectives ending in -y: These follow the short adjective rule. Change the -y to -i and add -er or -est. "Happy" becomes "happier" and "happiest".
Common Mistakes
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| This puzzle is more easy than that one. | This puzzle is easier than that one. | "Easy" ends in -y, so use -er |
| She is more taller than her brother. | She is taller than her brother. | Do not use "more" with -er |
| He is most fastest runner in class. | He is the fastest runner in class. | Do not use "most" with -est; add "the" |
| This flower is beautifuler. | This flower is more beautiful. | "Beautiful" has 3 syllables, so use "more" |
| My bag is more heavy than yours. | My bag is heavier than yours. | "Heavy" ends in -y (2 syllables), so use -er |
Clue Words
Comparative clues (comparing two things)
than, compared to, between the two
Superlative clues (comparing three or more)
the, of all, in the class, in the world, in the group, among all
Tip: If you see "than", you need a comparative (-er or more). If you see "the _ of all" or "the _ in the ___", you need a superlative (-est or most).
Practice Tips
- Syllable count trick: Clap out the syllables of the adjective. One or two claps means use -er/-est. Three or more claps means use more/most.
- "Than" check: After writing a comparative, check that you used "than" to connect the two things you are comparing.
- "The" check: After writing a superlative, check that you put "the" before it.
- Say it out loud: If adding -er/-est sounds awkward (like "interestinger"), you probably need "more" or "most" instead.
Quick Reference
| Adjective Type | Comparative | Superlative | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short (1-2 syllables) | adjective + -er | the + adjective + -est | cold / colder / the coldest |
| Ends in -e | adjective + -r | the + adjective + -st | nice / nicer / the nicest |
| Ends in consonant + y | change y to -ier | the + change y to -iest | pretty / prettier / the prettiest |
| Short vowel + consonant | double + -er | the + double + -est | hot / hotter / the hottest |
| Long (3+ syllables) | more + adjective | the + most + adjective | colourful / more colourful / the most colourful |