C7: COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES
LANGUAGE FOCUS
Comparatives and Superlatives are special forms of adjectives. They are used to compare
two or more things. Generally, comparatives are formed using -er and superlatives are
formed using -est. This sheet will explain the rules for forming regular comparatives and
superlatives, and also show some basic ways of using them.
COMPARATIVE
When we talk about two things, we can "compare" them. We can see if they are the same or
different. Perhaps they are the same in some ways and different in other ways. We can use
comparative adjectives to describe the differences.
We can use comparative adjectives when talking about two things (not three or more
things).
In the example below, "bigger" is
the comparative form of the
adjective "big":
A1A2
A1 is bigger than A2.
. Forming comparatives and superlatives
How these forms are created depends on how many syllables there are in the adjective.
Syllables are like “sound beats”. For instance, “sing” contains one syllable, but “singing”
contains two — sing and ing. Here are the rules:
Adjective form Comparative
Only one syllable, ending in E. Examples: Add -r: wider, finer, cuter
wide, fine, cute
Only one syllable, with one vowel and Double the consonant, and add -er:
one consonant at the end. Examples: hot, hotter, bigger, fatter
big, fat
Only one syllable, with more than one Add -er: lighter, neater, faster
vowel or more than one consonant at the
end. Examples: light, neat, fast
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ADJECTIVES THAT DO NOT FOLLOW THE NORMAL RULES
Not all adjectives follow the normal rules. Some adjectives have completely irregular forms. The
most common ones are:
adjective comparative superlative
good- better
bad - worse
little - less
COMPARING TWO THINGS WHICH ARE THE SAME
If you want to say that two things are the same size, the same height etc, you can say that one
thing is as big as the other, as tall as the other etc.
She’s as tall as her sister.
Do you think this summer will be as hot as
last summer?
COMPARING TWO THINGS WHICH
ARE NOT THE SAME
If you want to say that two things are not
the same size, the same height etc, you can
say that one thing is not as big as the other,
not as tall as the other etc.
The meal wasn’t as good as the last meal I
had there.
I’m not as fat as him. OR I’m not as fat as he is.
London is not as expensive as some other European cities.
You can use less … than to mean the same thing as not as … as, but you usually use it with
adjectives that have two or more syllables, for example less expensive, less important.
Value for money is less important than quality and reliability.
Don’t use less with short adjectives such as good, old etc.
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The superlative is used to say what thing or person has the most of a particular quality within a
group or of its kind. Superlative adjectives normally come before any other adjectives.
Forming the superlative
The following adjectives are exceptions:
Form Rule For example
Words of one syllable Add -st to the end of the wide - widest
ending in 'e'. word.
Words of one syllable, Double the consonant and big - biggest
with one vowel and one add -est to the end of the
consonant at the end. word.
Words of one syllable, Add - est to the end of the high - highest
with more than one word.
vowel or more than one
consonant at the end.
Words of two syllables, Change 'y' to 'i', and add - happy - happiest
ending in 'y'. est to the end of the word.
Words of two syllables Place 'the most' before the beautiful - the most
or more, not ending in adjective. beautiful
'y'.
'good' becomes 'the best'
'bad' becomes 'the worst'
'far' becomes 'the furthest'
For example:
"Jill is the best student in the class ."
"Jack is the worst student in the class."
"In our solar system the planet Pluto is the
furthest planet from the Sun."
!Note - superlatives are usually preceded by 'the'.
For example:
"The Rio de la Plata river, on the southeast coastline of South America, is the widest
river in the world."
According to the List of World records Carol Yager (1960-1994), from Michigan, is
the fattest person ever to live, weighing 725 kg (1,600 lb).
"Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world."
"I think that Castle Combe is the prettiest village in England."
"Arguably, Rome is the most beautiful city in the world."
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PRACTICE
1. Write the adjectives in brackets in the Comparative form.
a) John Lennon was (OLD) __________ Paul McCartney.
b) Some people think the Met is (GOOD) ___________ the Louvre.
c) Eric was (AFRAID) ______________ in Harlem _____ in the Subway.
d) Cats are (NICE) ___________ dogs.
e) Cartoons are (GOOD) _____________ music programmes.
f) The Empire State is (BIG) _____________ the Chrysler Building.
g) Barcelona is (SMALL) ________________ Madrid, but (BIG) ___________ Valencia.
2. Write the adjectives in brackets in the Superaltive form.
a) Samantha is the (PRETTY) __________ girl that Paul has ever met.
b) I think that King Kong was the (BAD) _____________ film ever!
c) Mounth Everest is the (HIGH) ____________ mountain in the world.
d) Our English teacher is the (GOOD) _____________ teacher ever!
e) My room is the (CLEAN) ______________ room in my house.
f) Ron is the (CLEVER) _______________ person I’ve ever met.
g) The Millenium Star is one of the (EXPENSIVE) _______________ diamonds in the
world.
3. Write the sentences in the correct order.
a) are / than / faster / Cars / bikes.
b) interesting / is / than /more / History / Maths.
c) than / is / exciting / New York / Albany.
d) than / funnier / Comics / magazines / are
e) Japan / expensive / the / country. / is /most
4. Complete the table. Pay attention and don’t forget than or the.
ADJECTIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE
Good
Nicer than
The most annoying
Cheaper than
Expensive
Bad
Bigger
The tallest
Prettier
Fast
Happier
The smallest
Sadier
Boring
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