FORMING THE COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE
| Using the comparative of adjectives in English is quite easy once you have understood the few simple rules that govern them. Below you will find the rules with examples for each condition. If you are not sure what a syllable or a consonant is - have a look here. |  |
Rules
| Number of syllables | Comparative | Superlative (see rule) |
| one syllable | + -er | + -est |
| tall | taller | tallest |
| one syllable with the spelling consonant + single vowel + consonant: double the final consonant: | ||
| fat | fatter | fattest |
| big | bigger | biggest |
| sad | sadder | saddest |
| Number of syllables | Comparative | Superlative |
| two syllables | + -er OR more + adj | + -est OR most + adj |
| ending in: -y, -ly, -ow ending in: -le, -er or -ure these common adjectives - handsome, polite, pleasant, common, quiet | ||
| happy | happier/ more happy | happiest/ most happy |
| yellow | yellower/ more yellow | yellowest/ most yellow |
| simple | simpler/ more simple | simplest/ most simple |
| tender | tenderer/ more tender | tenderest/ most tender |
| If you are not sure, use MORE + OR MOST + Note: Adjectives ending in '-y' like happy, pretty, busy, sunny, lucky etc:. replace the -y with -ier or -iest in the comparative and superlative form | ||
| busy | busier | busiest |
| Number of syllables | Comparative | Superlative |
| three syllables or more | more + adj | most + adj |
| important | more important | most important |
| expensive | more expensive | most expensive |
Examples
- A cat is fast, a tiger is faster but a cheetah is the fastest
- A car is heavy, a truck is heavier, but a train is the heaviest
- A park bench is comfortable, a restaurant chair is more comfortable, but a sofa is the most comfortable
IRREGULAR COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES
These adjectives have completely irregular comparative and superlative forms:
Adjective Comparative Superlative goodbetter best badworse worst littleless least muchmore most farfurther / farther furthest / farthest NOT AS + ADJECTIVE + AS
Difference can also be shown by using not so/as ...as:
Examples
- Mont Blanc is not as high as Mount Everest
- Norway is not as sunny as Thailand
- A bicycle is not as expensive as a car
- Arthur is not as intelligent as Albert
COMPARISONS OF QUANTITY
To show difference: more, less, fewer + than
To show no difference: as much as , as many as, as few as, as little as
COMPARISONS OF QUANTITY
To show difference: more, less, fewer + than
Examples:
With countable nouns: more / fewer
- Eloise has more children than Chantal.
- Chantal has fewer children than Eloise.
- There are fewer dogs in Cardiff than in Bristol
- I have visited fewer countries than my friend has.
- He has read fewer books than she has.
- Eloise has more money than Chantal.
- Chantal has less money than Eloise.
- I spend less time on homework than you do.
- Cats drink less water than dogs.
- This new dictionary gives more information than the old one.
So, the rule is:
MORE + nouns that are countable or uncountable
FEWER + countable nouns
LESS + uncountable nouns
COMPARISONS OF QUANTITY
Rules
To show no difference: as much as , as many as, as few as, as little as
- as many as / as few as + countable nouns
- as much as / as little as + uncountable nouns
Examples:
With countable nouns:
- They have as many children as us.
- We have as many customers as them.
- Tom has as few books as Jane.
- There are as few houses in his village as in mine.
- You know as many people as I do.
- I have visited the States as many times as he has.
- John eats as much food as Peter.
- Jim has as little food as Sam.
- You've heard as much news as I have.
- He's had as much success as his brother has.
- They've got as little water as we have.
