COMPARATIVE + THAN

To compare the difference between two people, things or events. Examples:

Mt. Everest is higher than Mt. Blanc. Thailand is sunnier than Norway. A car is more expensive than a bicycle. Albert is more intelligent than Arthur.

IRREGULAR COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

These adjectives have completely irregular comparative and superlative forms: Adjective good bad little much far Comparative better worse less more further / farther Superlative best worst least most furthest / farthest

FORMING THE COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE

Number of syllables one syllable tall Comparative + -er taller Superlative + -est tallest

one syllable with the spelling consonant + single vowel + consonant: double the final consonant: fat fatter fattest big bigger biggest sad sadder saddest

Number of syllables Comparative Superlative two syllables + -er OR more + adj + -est OR most + adj ending in: -y, -ly, -ow ending in: -le, -er or -ure these common adjectives - handsome, polite, pleasant, common, quiet happy happier/ more happy happiest/ most happy yellow yellower/ more yellow yellowest/ most yellow simple simpler/ more simple simplest/ most simple tender tenderer/ more tender tenderest/ most tender

If you are not sure, use MORE + OR MOST + Note: Adjectives ending in '-y' like happy, pretty, busy, sunny, lucky etc:. replace the -y with -ier or -iest in the comparative and superlative form busy busier busiest Number of syllables Comparative three syllables or more more + adj important more important expensive Examples: a. A cat is fast, a tiger is faster but a cheetah is the fastest b. A car is heavy, a truck is heavier, but a train is the heaviest c. A park bench is comfortable, a restaurant chair is more comfortable, but a sofa is the most comfortable One Syllable Adjectives add '-er' to end of the adjective (Note: double the final consonant if preceded by a vowel) remove the 'y' from the adjective and add 'ier' Example: cheap - cheaper / hot - hotter / high - higher Example Sentences Yesterday was hotter than today. This book is cheaper than that book. Two Syllable Adjectives Ending in '-y' Example: happy - happier / funny - funnier more expensive Superlative most + adj most important most expensive

Example Sentences I am happier than you. That joke was funnier than his joke. Two, Three or More Syllable Adjectives place 'more' before the adjective Example: interesting - more interesting / difficult - more difficult Example Sentences London is more expensive than Madrid. This test is more difficult than the last test. Here is a chart showing how to construct the superlative form in English: One Syllable Adjectives place 'the' before the adjective and add '-est' to end of the adjective (Note: double the final consonant if preceded by a vowel) Example: cheap - the cheapest / hot - the hottest / high - the highest Example Sentences Today is the hottest day of the summer. This book is the cheapest I can find. Two, Three or More Syllable Adjectives place 'the most' before the adjective Example: interesting - the most interesting / difficult - the most difficult Example Sentences London is the most expensive city in England. That is the most beautiful painting here. Two Syllable Adjectives Ending in '-y' place 'the' before the adjective and remove the 'y' from the adjective and add 'iest' Example: happy - the happiest / funny - the funniest

Example Sentences New York is the noisiest city in the USA. He is the most important person I know. IMPORTANT EXCEPTIONS There are some important exceptions to these rules. Here are two of the most important exceptions: good

good - adjective better - comparative the best - superlative

Example Sentences This book is better than that one. This is the best school in the city. bad

bad - adjective worse - comparative the worst - superlative

Example Sentences His French is worse than mine. This is the worst day of my life.

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives Table

Comparatives and Superlatives Table Test each other in pairs on the forms below

Tall Small Large Slow Fast Old Cheap Long Short Safe High Big Hot Wet Sad Thin Pretty Easy Early Healthy Friendly Busy Sunny Dirty Dry Hungry Comfortable Boring Interesting Expensive Dangerous Popular Common Generous Difficult

Taller Smaller Larger Slower Faster Older Cheaper Longer Shorter Safer Higher Bigger Hotter Wetter Sadder Thinner Prettier Easier Earlier Healthier Friendlier Busier Sunnier Dirtier Drier Hungrier More comfortable More boring More interesting More expensive More dangerous More popular More common More generous More difficult

The tallest The smallest The largest The slowest The fastest The oldest The cheapest The longest The shortest The safest The highest The biggest The hottest The wettest The saddest The thinnest The prettiest The easiest The earliest The healthiest The friendliest The busiest The sunniest The dirtiest The driest The hungriest The most comfortable The most boring The most interesting The most expensive The most dangerous The most popular The most common The most generous The most difficult

What are the rules? How is each section different from the others?