Superlative and Comparative Adjectives (2024)

Download this explanation in PDF here.

To make the comparative form of adjectives (like 'bigger' or 'more expensive') and the superlative form (like 'biggest' or 'most expensive'), first we need to know how many syllables are in the adjective.

Adjectives with one syllable

Usually if an adjective has only one syllable, we add 'er' to make the comparative form. We add 'est' to make the superlative form.

  • clean → cleaner / cleanest
  • cold → colder / coldest
  • small → smaller / smallest
  • young → younger / youngest
  • tall → taller / tallest
There are some spelling changes. If there is one vowel followed by one consonant at the end of the adjective, we often double the consonant.
  • wet → wetter / wettest
  • big → bigger / biggest
  • hot → hotter / hottest
  • thin → thinner / thinnest
If the adjective ends in 'y', this often changes to 'i'.
  • dry → drier / driest
If the adjective ends in 'e', we don't add another 'e', just 'r'.
  • nice → nicer / nicest
  • large → larger / largest
Even when the adjective has only one syllable, it's still not wrong to use 'more' or 'most'. It's possible to say 'more wet' or 'most tall'. This isn't incorrect.

There are a few adjectives that we have to use 'more' or 'most' with, even though they only have one syllable. We CAN'T add 'er' or 'est'.

  • fun → more fun / most fun (NOT funner / funnest)
  • real → more real / most real (NOT realer / realest)
  • right → more right / most right (NOT righter / rightest)
  • wrong → more wrong / most wrong (NOT wronger / wrongest)
Adjectives with two syllables

For adjectives with two syllables we generally use 'more' or 'most'.

  • careful → more careful / most careful
  • normal → more normal / most normal
But some two syllable adjectives can take 'er' or 'est'. It's also fine to use 'more' (for the comparative) or 'most' (for the superlative).
  • clever → cleverer / cleverest
  • simple → simpler / simplest
  • narrow → narrower / narrowest
  • quiet → quieter / quietest
Adjectives with two syllables that end in 'y' usually can add 'er' or 'est' (y generally changes to i). It's also fine to use 'more' or 'most'.
  • dirty → dirtier / dirtiest
  • pretty → prettier / prettiest
  • happy → happier / happiest
  • ugly → uglier / ugliest
Adjectives with more than two syllables

Adjectives with more than two syllables can only make their comparative by using 'more' and their superlative by using 'most'.

  • beautiful → more beautiful / most beautiful
  • intelligent → more intelligent / most intelligent
  • interesting → more interesting / most interesting
  • expensive → more expensive / most expensive
Irregular adjectives

There are also some irregular adjectives. We just need to learn these forms.

  • good → better → best
  • bad → worse → worst
  • far → further → furthest
  • little → less → least
  • much → more → most
Try an exercise about making the comparative here.
Read about how to use comparative adjectives here.
Read about how to use superlative adjectives here.
Superlative and Comparative Adjectives (1)
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Superlative and Comparative Adjectives (2024)

FAQs

Superlative and Comparative Adjectives? ›

For comparative adjectives, the suffix -er will be added, or it will be preceded by more. For superlative adjectives, the suffix -est will be added, or it will be preceded by most. Occasionally, both forms are used, but one will be more common.

What are comparative and superlative adjectives examples? ›

The comparative of ill is worse, and the comparative of well is better, (e.g. She's feeling much better/worse today). The usual comparative and superlative forms of the adjective old are older and oldest. However, the alternative forms elder and eldest are sometimes used.

What is the rule for comparative and superlative? ›

Add -er for the comparative and -est for the superlative. If the adjective has a consonant + single vowel + consonant spelling, the final consonant must be doubled before adding the ending.

What is an example of a superlative? ›

Examples of superlative in a Sentence

Adjective The superlative form of “nice” is “nicest”; the superlative form of “bad” is “worst”; the superlative form of “interesting” is “most interesting.” the New England town meeting is a superlative example of grassroots democracy Noun “Simplest” is the superlative of “simple.”

What is a comparative and superlative adjective word? ›

To form the comparative of an adjective, English adds -er to shorter words ("prettier") or places more in front of more complicated ones ("more beautiful"). To form the superlative of an adjective, English adds -est ("prettiest") or uses most ("most beautiful").

What are 5 sentences using comparative adjectives? ›

Examples of comparing adjectives

This flower is more beautiful than that. He is taller than Mr. Hulas. He is more intelligent than this boy. Jonathan is the most handsome man on campus.

What are comparative adjectives? ›

Comparative adjectives are used to compare differences between the two objects they modify (larger, smaller, faster, higher). They are used in sentences where two nouns are compared, in this pattern: Noun (subject) + verb + comparative adjective + than + noun (object).

What is the rule for comparative adjectives? ›

Comparative adjectives are a form adjectives take when comparing two (and only two) things, such as “she is older than him” or “he is more serious than her.” For most short adjectives, we simply add the suffix -er at the end of the word, while for longer adjectives we usually add the adverb more directly before the ...

What is the rule for superlative adjectives? ›

If you want to make a superlative adjective, you only need to follow the same rule, but instead of adding '-er' or 'more', you add '-est' or 'most'.

What is the comparative and superlative form of simple? ›

The comparative form and superlative form of simple are Simpler and Simpliest.

How to make a superlative sentence? ›

For words with two or more syllables, we use the word “most” before the adjective. For example, “beautiful” becomes “most beautiful”. Superlative adjectives are mostly used to describe people, places, and things. For example, “He is the smartest person in the room,” or “This is the most beautiful place I've ever seen.”

How do you put superlative in a sentence? ›

We use the with superlative adjectives: It was the happiest day of my life. Everest is the highest mountain in the world. That's the best film I have seen this year.

What does superlative look like? ›

For superlative adjectives, the suffix -est will be added, or it will be preceded by most. Occasionally, both forms are used, but one will be more common.

How do you use comparative in a sentence? ›

To form comparative sentences, use the comparative with the word "than." Here are some examples: Fewer participants volunteered for the study than I had anticipated. Business school was less expensive than law school. His application was processed more quickly than he thought.

What is the comparative and superlative of sad? ›

Answer: The 'comparative' and 'superlative' degree of Sad is Sadder and Saddest. Explanation: An adjective is a 'part of speech' that tells us more about a noun and gives attributes to it.

What is the superlative form of friendly? ›

friendliest

What is a 10 sentence on a superlative degree? ›

Alex is the youngest player in the team. Math is the most boring class that I take at school. Michael is the tallest of the three brother. Paul gets the highest marks in Chemistry exams.

What is comparative degree and 10 examples? ›

Examples of Comparative Degree of Comparison

Billie Eilish is more liked than Taylor Swift among youngsters nowadays. This is less than what we got yesterday. My grades are better than my last semester. These video games are easier than what we used to play when we were kids.

What is an example of a comparative sentence? ›

To form comparative sentences, use the comparative with the word "than." Here are some examples: Fewer participants volunteered for the study than I had anticipated. Business school was less expensive than law school. His application was processed more quickly than he thought.

What are comparative and superlative adverbs explain with examples? ›

Comparative adverbs are used to compare the degree or intensity of an action or state between two things. Superlative adverbs, on the other hand, are used to compare the degree or intensity of an action or state among three or more things, expressing the highest or lowest degree.

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