Comparative Superlative Forms
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3COMPA RA TIVE & SUPERLATIVE FORM S • GR AM MA R
BA CHILLERA TO 2
COMPA RA TIVE & SUPERLATIVE FORM S • GR AM MA R
BA CHILLERA TO 2
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The PATTERNS in which adjectives and adverbs appear when you are
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USES
making comparisons are usually:
a
To say that something has the same of a quality as another, more of a
quality than another, or the most of a quality:
A = B
A is as big as B
It is more interesting to visit a place than simply to read about it.
B < A
B is not as/ so good as A
b
To express the idea that (B) < (A) instead of (A) > (B), you can do it in one
B > C
B is better than C
of three ways:
A > B & C A is the best of all the letters in the group.
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with the construction 'not so/ as … as':
*Use 'of' when the thing/ person being compared belongs to the same category
Mars is not so/ as distant as Pluto.
as the object of the comparison, otherwise use 'in'.
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with an adjective of opposite meaning:
Mars is nearer than Pluto.
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FORM
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with the construction 'less … than':
a
Add -(e)r/ -(e)st to one-syllable adjectives and to two-syllable adjectives
Neptune is less distant than Pluto.
in '-y' (and '-ow', '-le', '-er', '-ure'.)
Only use this construction when you want to say that both objects
are [adjective], but one is less [adjective] than the other.
adjective
comparative
superlative
c
To say how something is increasing (more and more) or decreasing
old
older
oldest
(less and less):
brave
braver
bravest
The weather is getting colder and colder.
sad
sadder
saddest
He became more and more/ less and less interested.
happy
happier
happiest
d
To say how one thing increases or decreases in relation to another:
yellow
yellower
yellowest
The older I get, the happier I am.
simple
simpler/ more simple
simplest/ most simple
The more I learn, the less I know.
clever
cleverer
cleverest
e
In a relative clause, especially with a perfect tense:
mature
maturer
maturest
This is the best beer (that) I have ever drunk.
(=I have never drunk better beer.)
b
Use more/ most with all other adjectives and with most adverbs, eg.:
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(adjectives) more/ most useful/ interesting…
Notes:
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(adverbs) more/ most carefully, quietly…, but a few adverbs have
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People usually say
'Which do you like best?'
when they are asking or
comparative and superlative forms with -er, -est: fast, hard, late,
talking about preferences, even if there are only two objects.
long, near, soon, early, and in informal English loud, quick and slow.
'Most + adjective', without 'the', means 'extremely':
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She is most helpful.
c
Remember the irregular forms of the following adjectives and adverbs:
adjective
adverb comparative
superlative
good
well
better
best
bad
badly
worse
worst
little
less
least
many/ much much
more
most
far
further/farther
furthest/farthest
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