By: Ferney Ortiz Cardona

COMPARATIVE
AND
SUPERLATIVE

ADJECTIVES
 Comparatives
Comparatives are used to show the difference
between two objects. Let’s say that I have two
cars. I have a little Toyota and a big Ford. A
comparative is used to show the difference
between the two. The Ford is big so we can say
“the Ford is bigger than the Toyota”. Because
the Toyota is small, we can say “The Toyota is
smaller than the Ford”. To learn to use these we
need to learn five basic rules.
 COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES

We use the comparative to compare two people,

places or things.

small smaller
• Rule 1. If an adjective has 1
syllable we add the ending –er to
the adjective.

– i.e. small + er = smaller than

– i.e. hard + er = harder than

The ant is smaller

than the hippo.
• Rule 2. If a one syllable adjective
ends with a consonant + a vowel
+ a consonant you must double
the last consonant and then ad –
er.

i.e. big + er = bigger than

i.e. fat + er = fatter than
The elephant is fatter
than the giraffe.
• Rule 3. If an adjective ends with
a “y”, remove the “y” and add –
ier.

i.e. happy –y + ier = happier than

i.e. funny –y + ier = funnier than

The girl is happier

than the duck.
• Rule 4. If an adjective has two
syllables or more without a “y”
then add the word “more” before
the word. If the adjective ends
with a “y”, you will only add the
word “more” if it has three
syllables or more.
i.e. beautiful + more = more
beautiful than

i.e. expensive + more = more

expensive than
The butterfly is
i.e. satisfactory + more = more more beautiful than
satisfactory than the frog.
•Rule 5. There are a few exceptions.

good = better than

bad = worse than
far = farther than
•Remember, when using a comparative you usually, follow it with the
word “than”.

The Toyota is smaller than the Ford.

The Ford is bigger than the Toyota.
The ant is smaller than the hippo.
The elephant is fatter than the giraffe.
The girl is happier than the duck.
The butterfly is more beautiful than the frog.

Juan is short, but Carlos is shorter.

Maria is beautiful, but Patricia is more beatuiful.
•Remember, when using a comparative you usually, follow it with the
word “than”.

The Toyota is smaller than the Ford.

The Ford is bigger than the Toyota.
The ant is smaller than the hippo.
The elephant is fatter than the giraffe.
The girl is happier than the duck.
The butterfly is more beautiful than the frog.

Juan is short, but Carlos is shorter.

Maria is beautiful, but Patricia is more beatuiful.
When things being compared have equal
characteristics, the comparison of equality is
used.

The book is as good as the movie.

The boy is as tall as the girl.
He’s as tall as his father

The team is still as good as it was five years

ago. (
 Superlatives
Superlatives are used to show the
difference between more than two objects.
Let’s say that I have three cars. I have a
little Toyota, a medium size Jeep and a big
Ford. A superlative is used to show the
differences that exist in the group. The
Ford is big so we can say “the Ford is the
biggest”. Because the Toyota is small, we
can say “The Toyota is the smallest”. To
learn to use these we need to learn five
basic rules.
 SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES

We use the superlative to compare more than

two people, places or things.
big – bigger – the biggest
• Rule 1. If an adjective has 1
syllable we add the ending –est to
the adjective.

i.e. small + est = the smallest

i.e. hard + est = the hardest

The ant is the

smallest.
• Rule 2. If a one syllable adjective
ends with a consonant + a vowel
+ a consonant you must double
the last consonant and ad –est.

i.e. big + est = the biggest

i.e. fat + est = the fattest

The hippo is the

fattest.
• Rule 3. If an adjective ends with
a “y”, remove the “y” and add –
iest.

i.e. happy –y + iest = the happiest

i.e. funny –y + iest = the funniest

The elephant is the

heaviest.
• Rule 4. If an adjective has two
syllables or more without a “y”
then add the word “most” before
the word. If the adjective ends
with a “y”, you will only add the
word “most” if it has three
syllables or more.
i.e. beautiful + most = the most
beautiful
i.e. expensive + most = the most
expensive
i.e. satisfactory + most = the most
satisfactory
The airplane is
the most
expensive.
• Rule 5. There are a few exceptions.

good = the best

bad = the worst
far = the farthest
• Remember, when using a superlative you must always precede it with the
word “the”.

The Toyota is the smallest.

The Ford is the biggest.
Brad Pitt is the most handsome.
The airplane is the most expensive.
Jim Carrey is the funniest.
 Less and least:

• Rewrite the following sentences by using ‘less’ or ‘least‘ without changing

the meaning.
• 1. The mango is sweeter than the apple.
• 2. Iron is more useful than copper.
• 3. Gold is more precious than silver.
• Rewrite the following sentences by using ‘less’ or ‘least‘ without changing
the meaning.
• 1. The mango is sweeter than the apple.
• 2. Iron is more useful than copper.
• 3. Gold is more precious than silver.

• 1. The apple is less sweet than the mango. (NOT The apple is less sweeter
than the mango.)
• 2. Copper is less useful than iron.
• 3. Silver is less precious than gold.

• IMPORTANTE: busque, refuerce, vea videos, busqye páginas para

practicar más los comparativos y superlativos.