Adjectives and adverbs comparative superlative

Comparatives and superlatives are types of adjectives and adverbs that are used to compare two or more things or people.

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Comparative means to compare one thing to another.

Comparative adjectives and adverbs compare two things or people.

Comparative Adjectives:
Jan is taller than Sally.
Sally's blue uniform is more colorful than Jan's pink uniform.

Comparative Adverbs:
Sally jumps higher than Jan.

Jan is cheering more quietly than Sally.

Superlative means to the highest degree or the most.

Superlative adjectives and adverbs compare three or more things or people.

Superlative Adjectives:
Mrs. Smith is the shortest person in the group.
Kate is wearing the most colorful outfit.

Superlative Adverbs:

Mrs. Smith talks most quietly.
Bob and Sam laugh loudest at Mary's joke.

In this lesson, you will learn how to form and use comparative and superlative adjectives and adverbs.

Word Form	Examples	Comparative Rule	Examples	Superlative Rule	Examples
One syllable adjectives ending in "e"	fin wis large	Add "r"	finer wiser larger	Add "st"	finest wisest largest
One syllable adjectives ending with one vowel and one consonant	b f hot	Double the final consonant and add the suffix "er"	bigger fatter hotter	Double the final consonant and add the suffix "est"	biggest fattest hottest
One syllable adjectives with two vowels or ending with two consonants	ta sma neat loud	Add the suffix "er"	taller smarter neater louder	Add the suffix "est"	tallest smartest neatest loudest
Two syllable adjectives ending in "y"	prett angr happy	Change the "y" to "i" and add the suffix "er"	prettier angrier happier	Change the "y" to "i" and add the suffix "est"	prettiest angriest happiest
Adjectives with two or more syllables not ending in "y"	beautiful important dangerous	Do not change the word Add the word "more" before the adjective	more beautiful more important more dangerous	Do not change the word Add the word "most" before the adjective	most beautiful most important most dangerous
Adjectives with two syllables ending in "er", "le", "ow"	gent holl yellow	Add the suffix "er" (If the word ends in "e", just ad "r")		Add the suffix "est" (If the words ends in "e", just add "st")	gentlest hollowest yellowest

Of course there are exceptions to the rules. (Exception means that they do not follow the rules.)

Here are just a few of the most common adjective exceptions.

Word	Comparative form	Superlative form
good	better	best
bad	worse	worst
far	farther	farthest
far	further	furthest
many	more	most
little	less	least
old	elder	eldest

Some two syllable adjectives can follow two rules. Both forms of these words are grammatically correct.

For example:

Word	Comparative forms	Superlative forms
friendly	friendlier more friendly	friendliest most friendly
quiet	quieter more quiet	quietest most quiet
simple	simpler more simple	simplest most simple

The elephants are the loudest animals on the boat.
The giraffes are taller than the penguins.
The most gentle animal is the dove.
The elephant is bigger than the monkey.

Some adverbs can have comparative and superlative forms. They follow most of the same rules as adjectives.

Word Form	Examples	Comparative Rule	Examples	Superlative Rule	Examples
One syllable adverbs	latesoonhard fast	Add "r" or "er"	latersoonerharderfaster	Add "st" or "est"	latestsoonesthardestfastest
Adverbs with two or more syllables	oftenseldom	Do not change the word Add the word "more" before the adverb	more oftenmore seldom	Do not change the word Add the word "most" before the adverb	most oftenmost seldom
Some two syllable adverbs ending in "y"	early	Change the "y" to "i" and add the suffix "er"	earlier	Change the "y" to "i" and add the suffix "est"	earliest
Adverbs that end in "ly"	wisely quiet sweetly	Do not change the word Add the word "more" before the adverb	more wisely more quietly more sweetly	Do not change the word Add the word "most" before the adverb	most wisely most quietly most sweetly

Most comparative and superlative adverbs use "more" and "most" because they end in "ly". Most adverbs end in "ly". Here are some more "ly" adverbs that would use "more" and "most":

easily
boldly
bravely
fearlessly
kindly
lightly
openly
politely
properly
rudely
safely
softly
silently
tenderly
weakly

The bird sings more tenderly than the penguin.
The lion roars most boldly of all the animals.

Of course there are exceptions to the rules. Here are just a few of the most common adverb exceptions.

Word	Comparative form	Superlative form
badly	worse	worst
little	less	least
much	more	most
well	better	best
far	farther	farthest
far	further	furthest

Farther vs Further: What is the Difference?

The first bear feels better than the second bear.
The third bear feels the best of all three bears!
The bear in the middle feels the worst.

These were the rules of forming Comparatives and Superlatives. Now that you know them, it is time to practice! Get our ESL Books!

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Adjectives and adverbs comparative superlative

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