Everything you need to use comparatives & superlatives correctly: the formula, when to use it, signal words, common mistakes and exercises with answers.
Comparisons weigh a quality of one person, thing or event against another. The comparative: S + be + adj-er / more adj + than + ...; The superlative: S + be + the adj-est / the most adj + ...; Comparisons of equality: S + be + as + adj + as + ... Signal words: than, the ...est / the most (superlative), as...as (equal), not as...as (less than), much / far + comparative (a lot more), a little / slightly + comparative (a bit more).
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| The comparative | S + be + adj-er / more adj + than + ... Short adjectives (1-2 syllables): tall→taller | Long adjectives (3+ syllables): beautiful→more beautiful | She is taller than her sister. Two-syllable adjectives ending in -y: happy→happier, easy→easier |
| The superlative | S + be + the adj-est / the most adj + ... Short adjectives: tallest | Long adjectives: the most beautiful | She is the tallest in her class. Always put 'the' before a superlative |
| Comparisons of equality | S + be + as + adj + as + ... Negative: not as...as means less than | He is as tall as his father. Negative: She is not as tall as her brother. |
Use a comparative + than to compare two people or things
Use a superlative for the highest degree in a group of three or more
as...as is for two things that are equal
| Word | Example | Note |
|---|---|---|
| than | This book is better than that one. | Comes after the comparative adjective |
| the most | She is the most intelligent student. | Used with long adjectives |
| as...as | He runs as fast as his brother. | Comparison of equality: the same as |
| much + comparative | This is much cheaper than that. | Stresses how big the difference is |
| a little + comparative | She is a little older than me. | A small difference |
Fill in the blank, then open the answer to check it.
Options: as interesting · interestinger · more interesting · most interesting
more interesting. 'interesting' has four syllables, so it takes 'more interesting than'.
Options: taller · tallest · the most tall · the tallest
the tallest. 'tall' has one syllable, so 'the tallest'. A superlative always takes 'the'.
Options: as big than · bigger than · biggest than · more big than
bigger than. 'big' has one syllable and doubles its consonant: big → bigger than.
Options: best than · better than · gooder than · more good than
better than. good → better is irregular; 'gooder' and 'more good' do not exist.
Options: the baddest · the most bad · the worst · worse
the worst. bad → worse → the worst, an irregular set.
Options: elder · old · older · oldest
old. Comparison of equality: as + the plain adjective + as.
Options: hoter · hotter · hottest · more hot
hotter. 'hot' has one syllable and doubles the t: hot → hotter.
Options: fluenter · fluently · more fluently · most fluently
more fluently. 'fluent' becomes the adverb 'fluently', which is long, so 'more fluently than'.
Options: not as young as · not as young than · not young than · not younger as
not as young as. To say less than: not as + adjective + as.
Options: easier · easiest · more easier · more easy
easier. 'easy' has two syllables and ends in -y, so y becomes i and takes -er: easier.
Options: fewer · least · less · littler
less. little → less → least is irregular, and is used with uncountable nouns.
Options: more intelligent · most intelligent · the intelligentest · the most intelligent
the most intelligent. 'intelligent' has four syllables, so 'the most intelligent'. The 'the' is required.
Quizzes, spaced repetition (SRS), listening and games · Free · No sign-up
Open the app →