COMPARATIVE/SUPERLATIVE

Comparative and superlative forms with -er/-est and more/most are always used to talk about a quality which is greater in amount relative to others

1. One syllable adjectives generally form the comparative by adding -er and the superlative by adding -est

Note that if a one-syllable adjective ends in a single vowel letter followed by a single consonant letter, the consonant letter is doubled, e.g. thin - thinner/thinnest, big - bigger/biggest.

If an adjective ends in -e, this is removed when adding -er/-est, e.g. wide - wider/widest

If an adjective ends in a consonant followed by -y, -yis replaced by -iwhen adding -er/-est, e.g. dry - drier/driest.

2.More and most are sometimes used with one-syllable adjectives as an alternative to the -er/-est form when we particularly want to emphasize the comparison, or if the adjective occurs with another adjective which has more than one syllable

The icing was supposed to be pink and white, but it looked more red than pink.

That sofa might look nice, but this one is more soft and comfortable.

3. Two-syllable adjectives which end in -y usually form the comparative by adding -er and the superlative by adding -est, (note the change of -y to-i in the comparative/superlative).

adjetive comparative Superlative
Lucky luckier The luciest
Pretty prettier The prettiest
tidy tidier Tthe tidies

4. Two-syllable adjectives ending in -ed, -ing, -ful, or -less always form the comparative with more and the superlative with most

Adjective Comparative Superlative
worried more worried the most worried
boring more boring the most boring
careful more careful the most careful
useless more useless the most useless

5. Adjectives which have three or more syllables always form the comparative and superlative with more and most.

Adjective Comparative Superlative
dangerous more dangerous the most dangerous
difficult more difficult the most difficult
exciting more exciting the most exciting
ridiculous more ridiculous the most ridiculous

6. The following adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms:

Adjective Comparative Superlative
good better the best
bad worse the worst
far farther/further the farthest/furthest

7. Comparatives and superlatives of compound adjectives are generally formed by using more andmost, e.g.

Going skiing was the most nerve-wracking experience I’ve had.

She’s more intelligent than her sister.

This is a bigger piece of cake.

Just like other adjectives, comparatives can be placed before nouns in the attributive position

a more intelligent child
the bigger piece of cake

Comparatives can also occur after be and other link verbs

The street has become quieter since they left.

You should be more sensible.

Comparatives are very commonly followed by than and a pronoun or noun group, in order to describe who the other person or thing involved in the comparison is

John is taller than me.

I think that she’s more intelligent than her sister.

As well as pronouns and noun groups, than is often followed by other kinds of clause

I think the portions were bigger than they were last time.
They had given a better performance than in previous years.

Comparatives are often qualified by using words and phrases such as much, a lot,far, a bit/little, slightly, e.g.

You should go by train, it would be much cheaper.
Could you be a bit quieter?

I’m feeling a lot better.

Do you have one that’s slightly bigger?

Two comparatives can be contrasted by placing the before them, indicating that a change in one quality is linked to a change in another

The smaller the gift, the easier it is to send.
The more stressed you are, the worse it is for your health.

Two comparatives can also be linked with and to show a continuing increase in a particular quality

The sea was getting rougher and rougher.

Her illness was becoming worse and worse.

He became more and more tired as the weeks went by.

superlatives can be placed before nouns in the attributive position, or occur after be and other link verbs

It is the most delicious chocolate cake I’ve ever eaten.
Annabel was the youngest.
This restaurant is the best.

superlatives are often used on their own if it is clear what or who is being compared.

Annabel was the youngest child.
Annabel was the youngest of the children.

Another way of being specific is by placing a relative clause after the superlative

This offer is the best I’m going to get.

Although the usually occurs before a superlative, it is sometimes left out in informal speech or writing

This one seems to be cheapest.