Grammar Guide

Comparatives and superlatives are forms of adjectives used to compare people, things, places, or ideas.

A comparative compares two people or things.

Tom is taller than Ben.

A superlative compares three or more people or things and shows which has the highest or lowest quality.

Tom is the tallest student in the class.

The form of the adjective depends on its length.

When to use

Use comparatives when comparing two people or things.

Examples:

This book is better than that one.
My car is faster than yours.

Use superlatives when talking about one person or thing that stands out from a group.

Examples:

She is the youngest player.
This is the most interesting film.
Structure
Comparative adjectives
Adjective type Comparative Example
short adjective adjective + -er + than taller than me
adjective ending in -e adjective + -r + than nicer than before
adjective ending in consonant + y -y → -ier + than happier than Tom
one vowel + one consonant double final consonant + -er bigger than mine
long adjective more + adjective + than more expensive than this
Superlative adjectives
Adjective type Superlative Example
short adjective the + adjective + -est the tallest building
adjective ending in -e the + adjective + -st the nicest hotel
adjective ending in consonant + y the + -iest the happiest child
one vowel + one consonant double final consonant + -est the biggest room
long adjective the most + adjective the most comfortable chair
Irregular adjectives
Base Comparative Superlative
good better the best
bad worse the worst
far farther / further the farthest / the furthest
little less the least
many / much more the most
Examples
My brother is taller than me.
This exercise is easier than the last one.
Today is colder than yesterday.
Her house is bigger than ours.
This is the most beautiful beach.
Emma is the youngest student.
That was the best meal I've ever had.
Winter is the coldest season here.
This computer is more powerful than mine.
He bought the least expensive option.
Exceptions

Some common adjectives have irregular forms and do not follow the usual rules.

Examples:

good → better → the best
bad → worse → the worst
little → less → the least
many/much → more → the most

Some adjectives can use either farther or further when talking about distance.

Examples:

My school is farther from home.
My school is further from home.

When talking about additional ideas rather than physical distance, further is more common.

Example:

We need further information.
Common mistakes
1. Using "more" with a short adjective

Incorrect: She is more tall than her sister.

Correct: She is taller than her sister.

Explanation: Most short adjectives form the comparative by adding -er.

2. Forgetting "than"

Incorrect: This book is better the other one.

Correct: This book is better than the other one.

Explanation: Comparatives are usually followed by than.

3. Forgetting "the" with a superlative

Incorrect: He is tallest student in the class.

Correct: He is the tallest student in the class.

Explanation: Superlatives normally use the.

4. Using the wrong irregular form

Incorrect: This test is gooder than the last one.

Correct: This test is better than the last one.

Explanation: Some adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms.

5. Mixing comparative and superlative forms

Incorrect: She is the more intelligent student.

Correct: She is the most intelligent student.

Explanation: Use more for comparisons between two things and the most when comparing one with a group.