Adjectives in comparative degree

The comparative is used in English

to compare differences between the
two objects it modifies (larger,
smaller, faster, higher). It is used in
sentences where we compare two
names, as follows:
Structure:
Subject + verb + Adjectives in
comparative + than + object
Example:
My house is larger than hers.
This box is smaller than the one I
lost.
Your dog runs faster than Jim's dog.
The rock flew higher than the roof.
Jim and Jack are both my friends,
but I like Jack better.
Adjectives in the superlative degree
The superlative is used to describe an
object that is at the upper or lower end
of a quality (the tallest, the smallest, the
fastest, the highest). It is used in
sentences where we are comparing a
subject to a group of objects, like here:
Structure:
Subject + verb + the + Adjectives
in the superlative + object
Examples:
My house is the largest one in our
neighborhood.
This is the smallest box I've ever
seen.
Your dog ran the fastest of any dog
in the race.
We all threw our rocks at the same
time. My rock flew the highest.
Formation of regular comparatives
and superlatives
In English, it is simple to form
the comparative and
superlative of most
adjectives. The form will
depend on the number of
syllables in the adjective.
One syllable adjectives
Add -er for the comparative
and -est for the superlative. If
the adjective ends in a
consonant + vowel +
consonant, the last
consonant must be repeated
before adding the ending.
Adjective Comparative Superlative

tall taller tallest

fat fatter fattest

big bigger biggest

sad sadder saddest

Two-syllable adjectives
Two-syllable adjectives can form the comparative
by adding -er, like one-syllable adjectives, or by
placing more in front of the adjective, like three-
syllable adjectives. Similarly, these adjectives can
form the superlative by adding the ending -est or
putting most before the adjective. In many cases,
both forms are used, although one of the uses
will be more common than the other. If we are not
sure if an adjective can take the comparative or
superlative endings, it is better to use more and
most. When a two-syllable adjective ends in y,
change it to i before adding the ending.
Adjective Comparative Superlative

happy happier happiest

simple simpler simplest

busy busier busiest

tilted more tilted most tilted

tangled more tangled most tangled

Adjectives of three syllables or more
Adjectives of three syllables or more
form the comparative by placing more
before the adjective and the superlative
by placing most.
Adjective Comparative Superlative

important more important most important

expensive more expensive most expensive

Irregular comparatives and superlatives
Some very common adjectives
have irregular forms in the
comparative and superlative
degrees.
Adjective Comparative Superlative
good better best
bad worse worst
little less least
much more most
Examples:
Today is the worst day I've had in a
long time.
You play tennis better than I do.
This is the least expensive sweater
in the store.
This sweater is less expensive than
that one.
I ran pretty far yesterday, but I ran
even farther today.