Grammar: Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

1. Study: Comparing things in English
   • Introduction: comparative and superlative adjectives
2. Practice: Comparative or Superlative?
   • Choose the correct form of the adjective (JavaScript required.)
3. Study: Forming Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
   • Adjectives with one syllable
   • Adjectives with two syllables ending in a consonant sound
   • Adjectives with two syllables ending in a vowel sound
   • Adjectives with three syllables or more
   • Irregular forms
4. Practice: How many syllables? (JavaScript required.)
   • Choose the correct number of syllables for each adjective
5. Practice: Links to self-study practice exercises and quizzes (JavaScript required.)
   • Forming Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
   • Woman with Two Lovers
   • Conversation in a computer shop
   • General Knowledge Quiz with Superlative Adjectives - 2002
   • Who Wants to be a Virtual Millionaire?

Study: Comparing things in English TOP

In English, we often compare things.

When we go shopping, for example, we often compare:

• products - That one is better than this one.
• prices - Yes, but that one's cheaper.

When we talk about what we like or prefer and give our opinions, we often compare:

• things - Their car is newer than ours.
• people - She's much more intelligent than her sister.
• places - Oxford and Cambridge have the oldest universities.
• experiences - This is the most delicious meal I have ever eaten!

Comparative and superlative adjectives

Comparative adjectives

When we compare two things, we often use the comparative forms of adjectives or adverbs, for example:

• 5 + 5 is greater than 6 + 3.
• A Rolls Royce car is much less expensive than a Ford Focus.

Superlative adjectives

When we compare more than two things, we often use the superlative forms, for example:

• A Jumbo Jet (Boeing 747) is the largest passenger plane in the world.
• That was the best meal I've ever eaten.

Useful expressions

Comparing two things:

• ...much/far/a lot greater than....
• ...a bit/a little more/less expensive than...

Comparing more than two things:

• ... the (largest) in the world, in the class, in the group, of all
• ... the (best) that I have ever eaten/seen/drunk/tried ...

Practice: Comparative or Superlative? TOP

Now test yourself. Choose the most suitable form of the adjective - comparative or superlative. (JavaScript required.)

1. younger than Peter.
2. youngest than Peter

2. Frank's car = 20 kilometres per litre. Billy's motorbike = 80 kilometres per litre. Billy's motorbike is...

1. more economical than Frank's car.
2. most economical than Frank's car.

3. Frank's watch = £99.99. Sarah's watch = £49.99. Billy's watch = £9.99. Billy's watch is...

1. the less expensive of the three.
2. the least expensive of the three.

1. the more expensive of the two.
2. the most expensive of the two.

1. the shorter river of the three.
2. the shortest river of the three.

Instructions: If you have made more than 1 mistake, please read the notes above again. If you have made 1 mistake or less, please continue.

Study: Forming Comparative and Superlative Adjectives TOP

• newer but more intelligent
• oldest but most delicious

Are there any rules for forming comparative and superlative adjectives?

Answer: It depends on the number of syllables in the adjective.

Adjectives with one syllable

• Comparative: Adjective + er
• Superlative: Adjective + est
• Example (hold your mouse cursor over the word below to see the explanation)

• Spelling: Sometimes you need to double the last letter, for example: big --> bigger/biggest

Adjectives with two syllables ending in a consonant sound

Consonants in English are the letters b, c, d, f, g and so on. When we say adjectives like handsome and distant, they end in a consonant sound.

• Normal comparative: more (or less) + adjective
• Normal superlative: most (or least) + adjective
• Examples:
• handsome --> more handsome --> most handsome
• distant --> more distant --> most distant

Adjectives with two syllables ending in a vowel sound

• Normal comparative: Adjective + er
• Normal superlative: Adjective + est
• Examples:
• slow --> slower --> slowest
• busy --> busier --> busiest

Spelling: Sometimes an adjective ends in consonant + y, for example, busy:

• change the y to ier, for example: busy --> busier

Adjectives with three syllables or more

• Comparative: more (or less) + adjective
• Superlative: most (or least) + adjective
• Example (hold your mouse cursor over the word below to see the explanation)

Irregular forms

There are three common adjectives - good, bad and far - with irregular comparative and superlative forms:

• good --> better --> best
• bad --> worse --> worst
• far --> farther or further --> farthest or furthest

Practice: How many syllables? TOP

Choose the correct number of syllables. (JavaScript required.)

1. one syllable.
2. two syllables
3. more than two syllables

2. stupid

1. one syllable.
2. two syllables
3. more than two syllables

3. clear...

1. one syllable.
2. two syllables
3. more than two syllables

1. one syllable.
2. two syllables
3. more than two syllables

1. one syllable.
2. two syllables
3. more than two syllables

6. impossible...

1. one syllable.
2. two syllables
3. more than two syllables

7. clever...

1. one syllable.
2. two syllables
3. more than two syllables

8. new...

1. one syllable.
2. two syllables
3. more than two syllables

9. difficult...

1. one syllable.
2. two syllables
3. more than two syllables

10. young...

1. one syllable.
2. two syllables
3. more than two syllables

Practice: Links to more SCOOL self-study practice exercises and quizzes for comparative & superlative adjectives TOP

Mixed practice:

• Forming Comparative and Superlative Adjectives (Gap-filling exercise)

Comparative adjectives: Practice

• Woman with Two Lovers, Part 1 (Gap-filling exercise)
• Woman with Two Lovers, Part 2 (Gap-filling exercise)
• Conversation in a computer shop (Gap-filling exercise)

Superlative adjectives: Practice

• General Knowledge Quiz with Superlative Adjectives - 2002 (Multiple-choice)
  World Records Quiz with superlative adjectives

Also try this popular game:

• Who Wants to be a Virtual Millionaire? (Multiple-choice)
  World Records General Knowledge Quiz with superlative adjectives