Comparatives and

Superlatives
We use comparative adjectives two compare two (or more) things/people.
And we use superlatives adjectives to distinguish one thing or person
from a number of others.
• Comparatives:
- When the adjective is SHORT we add “-er” + THAN.
- Ex. cheap – cheaper than // big – bigger than.

- When the adjective is LONG (more than 2 syllables) we use “more +

adjective + than”.
- Ex. intelligent – more intelligent than – less inteligent than

- We use “less” as the opposite of “more”.

- This sofa is less comfortable than the chair.
Superlatives: When we want to say that something or someone has a
quality of the greater or least degree.

• When the adjective is SHORT, we add “-est”

Ex. fast – the fastest
• When the adjective is LONG, we use “the most” (positive)
Ex. expensive – the most expensive
• We use LESS (comparative) and LEAST (superlative) for decreasing
comparison:
Ex: It is less cold in the north of the country than in the south.
Ex: Bill is the least confident.
Exceptions:
• Spelling rules:
• When the adjective ends in “y” we change it to “i”
Ex. Dry – drier – driest / lively – livelier – liveliest / shy – shier - shiest

• When the adjective ends in a single vowel + a single consonant we DOUBLE de

consonant.
Ex. Big – bigger – biggest / hot – hotter – hottest.

• If the adjective end in “e” with only add “r” and “st”
Example: nice – nicer - nicest

• We can find IRREGULAR adjectives. They change completely.

• For example: Good – better – the best / Bad – worse – the worst.
 Adject ive Comparat ive ( +) Comparat ive ( -)
t wo-syllable adject ive kind kind e r than le ss kind than
t wo-syllable adject ive ending in -y lazy lazie r le ss lazy than
t wo or more syllable adject ives hard -wo rking m o re hard -wo rking than le ss hard -wo rking than

Adject ive Superlat ive ( +) Superlat ive ( -)

t wo-syllable adject ive kind the kind e st the le ast kind
t wo-syllable adject ive ending in -y naug hty the naug htie st the le ast naug hty
t wo or more syllable adject ives inte re sting the m o st inte re sting the le ast inte re sting
 Adjectives with “as” and “enough”.

• We can say that two things are equal by using “as + adjective + as”
Ex: The burger is as expensive as the pizza.
My brother is as clever as me.
• We make a negative comparison with “NOT + as + adjective + as”.
Ex. The hot dog is not as expensive as the cheeseburger.
• --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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• We use “adjective + enough” when we want to say something is
sufficient or insufficient (not).
Ex. It wasn’t light enough for me to see her face.
She was tall enough to reach the top shelf.
• We use a “comparative + comparative” to talk about situations that
are increasing.
• It’s getting harder and harder to work for this company.

• We use “the + comparative, the + comparative” to talk about two

things that happen together.
• The faster the car is, the more dangerous it is to drive.
• The crazier the idea is, the funnier it is to try.
IRREGULAR ADJECTIVES