Comparative and superlative

Hello there !

In this post, I'll tell you about comparative and superlative in English.

First, the comparative.

-> short adjectives ( one syllable, two syllables with -er, -y, -ow or -le at the end )

Pay attention. If the adjective ends with one vowel and one consonant, you have to double the consonant ( big -> bigger than ). If it's an adjective with two syllables ending in y, you have to change y to i and add -er ( happy -> happier than ).

egality -> as + adjective + as

Example : John is as tall as Jack.

superiority -> adjective + -er + than

Example : He is funnier than you.

inferiority -> less + adjective + than

Example : She is less pretty than her sister.

-> long adjectives ( two syllables or more )

egality -> as + adjective + than ( same as short adjectives )

Example : You are as interesting as your brother.

superiority -> more + adjective + than

Example : You are more serious than your co-workers.

inferiority -> less + adjective + than ( same as short adjectives )

Examples : I am less hardworking than him.

Pay attention ! There are exceptions.

GOOD becomes BETTER ( than )

BAD becomes WORSE ( than )

FAR becomes FARTHER or FURTHER ( than )

Now, the superlative.

-> short adjectives

Here again, pay attention. If the adjective ends with one vowel and one consonant, you have to double the consonant ( big -> the biggest ). If it's an adjective with two syllables ending in y, you have to change y to i and add -(e)st ( happy -> the happiest ).

superiority -> the + adjective + (e)st

Example : You are the nicest friend I have.

inferiority -> the least + adjective

Example : She is the least tall.

-> long adjectives

superiority -> the most + adjective

Example : He is the most serious person I know.

inferiority -> the least + adjective ( same as short adjectives )

Example : You are the least rational among us.

There are ( again ) exceptions.

GOOD becomes THE BEST

BAD becomes THE WORST

FAR becomes THE FARTHEST or THE FURTHEST

End note : There is a difference between farther and further or the farthest and the furthest. We use farther / the farthest in the proper sense. We use further / the furthest in the figurative sense.