Comparative and Superlative

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
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• IRREGULAR COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

  These adjectives have completely irregular comparative and superlative forms:
  

  Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
  good	better	best
  bad	worse	worst
  little	less	least
  much	more	most
  far	further / farther	furthest / farthest

   
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• 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.

  With uncountable nouns: more / less
  

  • 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.

  With uncountable nouns:
  

  • 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.