Comparative and Superlative Adjectives | Comparison of Adjectives

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Comparative and Superlative Adjectives! Comparison of Adjectives in English! Learn comparatives and superlatives in English with ESL printable infographics, useful grammar rules and examples.

When we want to compare two or more nouns using adjectives, we use the comparative and superlative forms of the adjective to show the comparison between the nouns.

E.g. Honey is sweet, sugar is sweeter but victory is the sweetest.

In this sentence, we are comparing the three nouns using the positive, comparative and superlative forms of the word ‘sweet’.

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Positive Form

These are the simple adjectives that describe the noun without comparing it to another – big, sweet, clean, etc.

• She has a big black dog.
• He is a sweet boy.
• The cupboard is clean.

Comparative Adjective

These are used when we compare two nouns and need to show which noun possesses the adjective or characteristic in a greater or lesser amount – bigger, sweeter, cleaner, etc.

• I have a big dog but hers is bigger.
• He is sweeter than the other boys.
• The cupboard is cleaner than before.

Superlative Adjective

Superlative adjectives are used when three or more nouns are being compared and we need to show that one or more of the nouns possess the adjective or characteristic to the highest degree. We usually add the before the superlative form – biggest, sweetest, cleanest, etc.

• She has the biggest dog in the colony.
• He is the sweetest boy in his class.
• The cupboard is the cleanest thing in the house.

How to Make Comparative and Superlative

There are certain rules that must be followed when forming comparatives and superlatives. Not all adjectives form their comparative and superlative forms in the same way, and some adjectives are irregular.

Comparison of Adjectives Rule #1

Single-syllable words and two-syllable words ending with -y, -er, -ow, -le

• We use ‘-er’ to make the comparative and ‘-est’ to make the superlative.

Type of Adjective	Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Normal	Black	Blacker	Blackest
Normal	Fair	Fairer	Fairest
Ends in -er	Clever	Cleverer	Cleverest

• When there is a silent ‘e’ at the end of the positive form, remove it and add ‘-er’ and ‘-est’.

Type of Adjective	Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Ends in ‘e’	Nice	Nicer	Nicest
Ends in ‘e’	Late	Later	Latest

• When the adjective ends with a ‘y’, change ‘y’ to ‘i’ before adding ‘-er’ and ‘-est’.

Type of Adjective	Positive	Comparative	Superlative
Ends in ‘y’	Pretty	Prettier	Prettiest
Ends in ‘y’	Lazy	Lazier	Laziest

• If the adjective ends with one vowel and one consonant (CVC), double the last consonant before adding ‘-er’ and ‘-est’.

Type of Adjective	Positive	Comparative	Superlative
CVC (Double consonant)	Hot	Hotter	Hottest
CVC (Double consonant)	Wet	Wetter	Wettest

Comparison of Adjectives Rule #2

Other words with two or more syllables

For other two-syllable adjectives that do not end with -y, -er, -ow, -le, and for adjectives with more than two syllables, we use more and most to form the comparative and superlative.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
difficult	more difficult	most difficult
careful	more careful	most careful
handsome	more handsome	most handsome
interesting	more interesting	most interesting

Comparison of Adjectives Rule #3 (Special Adjectives)

Some adjectives can use both ‘-er/-est’ and ‘more/most’. The -er/-est form is common in everyday comparisons (one thing vs another). The more/most form is also possible and is often used in formal writing or to compare emphasis.

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative	Example
Clever	cleverer / more clever	cleverest / most clever	He is cleverer than her. He is the most clever student in the class.
Quiet	quieter / more quiet	quietest / most quiet	It is quieter in the library than on the street. This is the quietest place.
Brave	braver / more brave	bravest / most brave	She is braver than other girls. She is the bravest person I know.
Sure	surer / more sure	surest / most sure	He was surer of the result than others. He was the surest of all the candidates.

Comparison of Adjectives Rule #4 (Irregular Comparisons)

Some adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms. These do not follow the usual rules.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
bad	worse	worst
good	better	best
far (place & time)	further	furthest
far (place)	farther	farthest
old	older	oldest
little (amount)	less	least
late (order)	latter	last

Note: We usually use older/oldest for people and things. Elder/eldest is mainly used for family relationships (e.g. my elder sister) and is not used with than (NOT: elder than).