We all know that adjectives are also known as ‘describing words’. However, they are further divided into sub-categories. In this article we are going to look at some comparative adjective examples.
Adjectives that are used to compare two people, objects, situations or concepts are known as comparative adjectives.
Let us look at a few comparative adjective examples to get a better understanding.
- She has better understanding of the philosophical concept than me.
- He is far worse than his brother when it comes to painting a simple wall.
- This chair is even uglier than the last one we saw.
- I consider tulips to be more beautiful than roses and sunflowers.
- The architect was asked to make a bigger model of the building structure.
- She has become much skinnier than she was before due to her illness.
- I think the Second World War was bloodier than the First World War.
- The ocean on the east coast is bluer than on the west coast.
- The actor made a comeback in a much bolder avatar.
- Cotton fabric is much softer than cheaply made polyester.
- This chocolate mousse is so much smoother in texture than I expected.
- My older sister is more studious and responsible than me.
- My current sports car is faster than my previous, mediocre car.
- She took a much slower approach to completing the task and somehow delivered very well on the quality of the result.
- The redder an apple, the juicier it is.
- We all have heard of the theory and phrase of grass being greener on the other side.
- The ink was blacker than the deep sea.
- She cannot stand people that are bossier than her.
- The weather is cooler now than it was three weeks ago.
- The climate of the world is getting hotter and we need to do something about it.
- I have never heard a more interesting take on this topic than yours.
- Sharks are not necessarily deadlier than whales.
- This batch of mashed potatoes is blander than the previous batch.
- These wafers were crispier before but got soft since nobody put a lid on the container they were kept in.
- My mother makes tastier food than this restaurant itself.
- I grew taller than my older brother and often tease him about it.
- I cannot purchase this car since it is shorter in size and will be uncomfortable for me to drive in.
- Never have I eaten a creamier ice-cream than the one you bought.
- She had a more exciting offer for me after I rejected the previous one.
- Their toddler is louder than their infant and is driving them mad.
- She is older than I am but definitely not as smart as I am.
- I have not met a person that is wiser than my grandmother.
- He is younger than his brother and therefore gets all his hand-me-down clothes.
- The street we are on right now is much quieter than the street we were on ten minutes ago.
- The marketplace is noisier during evenings than mornings.
- I went and exchanged your old shirt with a newer shirt since your birthday is coming up.
- He finished the project earlier than I did since he had more time than me.
- She became a much better writer during her later years.
- The dishes somehow got dirtier since they were kept in the sink for a very long time.
- This dress has a cleaner finish to it than the other one since the tailor had more time to make it.
- The milk is warmer now since I heated it up for everyone.
- Her sense of style is more basic than everyone around her but it looks quite comfortable.
- I cooked myself a healthier meal since I wanted to make major changes to my below average diet.
- My mother told me that I was more stubborn as a child than I am now.
Comparative Adjective Examples
1. She has better understanding of the philosophical concept than me.
The word ‘better’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
2. He is far worse than his brother when it comes to painting a simple wall.
The word ‘worse’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
3. This chair is even uglier than the last one we saw.
The word ‘uglier’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
4. I consider tulips to be more beautiful than roses and sunflowers.
The term ‘more beautiful’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
5. The architect was asked to make a bigger model of the building structure.
The word ‘bigger’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
6. She has become much skinnier than she was before due to her illness.
The word ‘skinnier’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
7. I think the Second World War was bloodier than the First World War.
The word ‘bloodier’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
8. The ocean on the east coast is bluer than on the west coast.
The word ‘bluer’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
9. The actor made a comeback in a much bolder avatar.
The word ‘bolder’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
10. Cotton fabric is much softer than cheaply made polyester.
The word ‘softer’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
11. This chocolate mousse is so much smoother in texture than I expected.
The word ‘smoother’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
12. My older sister is more studious and responsible than me.
The term ‘more studious’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
13. My current sports car is faster than my previous, mediocre car.
The word ‘faster’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
14. She took a much slower approach to completing the task and somehow delivered very well on the quality of the result.
The word ‘slower’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
15. The redder an apple, the juicier it is.
The words ‘redder’ and ‘juicier’ are comparative adjectives since it showcases a degree of comparison.
16. We all have heard of the theory and phrase of grass being greener on the other side.
The word ‘greener’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
17. The ink was blacker than the deep sea.
The word ‘blacker’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
18. She cannot stand people that are bossier than her.
The word ‘bossier’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
19. The weather is cooler now than it was three weeks ago.
The word ‘cooler’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
20. The climate of the world is getting hotter and we need to do something about it.
The word ‘hotter’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
21. I have never heard a more interesting take on this topic than yours.
The term ‘more interesting’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
22. Sharks are not necessarily deadlier than whales.
The word ‘deadlier’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
23. This batch of mashed potatoes is blander than the previous batch.
The word ‘blander’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
24. These wafers were crispier before but got soft since nobody put a lid on the container they were kept in.
The word ‘crispier’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
25. My mother makes tastier food than this restaurant itself.
The word ‘tastier’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
26. I grew taller than my older brother and often tease him about it.
The word ‘taller’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
27. I cannot purchase this car since it is shorter in size and will be uncomfortable for me to drive in.
The word ‘shorter’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
28. Never have I eaten a creamier ice-cream than the one you bought.
The word ‘creamier’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
29. She had a more exciting offer for me after I rejected the previous one.
The term ‘more exciting’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
30. Their toddler is louder than their infant and is driving them mad.
The word ‘louder’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
31. She is older than I am but definitely not as smart as I am.
The word ‘older’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
32. I have not met a person that is wiser than my grandmother.
The word ‘wiser’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
33. He is younger than his brother and therefore gets all his hand-me-down clothes.
The word ‘younger’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
34. The street we are on right now is much quieter than the street we were on ten minutes ago.
The word ‘quieter’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
35. The marketplace is noisier during evenings than mornings.
The word ‘noisier’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
36. I went and exchanged your old shirt with a newer shirt since your birthday is coming up.
The word ‘newer’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
37. He finished the project earlier than I did since he had more time than me.
The word ‘earlier’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
38. She became a much better writer during her later years.
The word ‘later’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
39. The dishes somehow got dirtier since they were kept in the sink for a very long time.
The word ‘dirtier’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
40. This dress has a cleaner finish to it than the other one since the tailor had more time to make it.
The word ‘cleaner’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
41. The milk is warmer now since I heated it up for everyone.
The word ‘warmer’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
42. Her sense of style is more basic than everyone around her but it looks quite comfortable.
The term ‘more basic’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
43. I cooked myself a healthier meal since I wanted to make major changes to my below average diet.
The word ‘healthier’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
44. My mother told me that I was more stubborn as a child than I am now.
The term ‘more stubborn’ is a comparative adjective since it showcases a degree of comparison.
Comparative Adjective Uses
Comparative adjectives help people understand the extent of difference between two things that are being compared.
Comparative adjectives usually end with ‘-er’ or precede the root adjective with the word ‘more’.
Read more: 20+ Comparative Adverb Examples: Sentences, Uses And Detailed Explanations.
Comparatives and superlatives are special types of adjectives used when comparing two or more things. The trickiest thing when using comparatives and superlatives is making sure we are writing them the correct way, but with a little practice, comparatives and superlatives can quickly be mastered.
In this post we’ll review what comparatives and superlatives are, the rules for how to form these adjectives the correct way, and how to use them effectively in a sentence.
After reviewing the information below, test yourself with a post-assessment quiz and practice with our high quality, standards-aligned questions here.
The Basics of Comparatives and Superlatives
What is a Comparative?
Comparative Adjectives are words used to describe a noun by comparing it to another noun. We usually think of ‘er’ words like bigger or smaller, but they can be a little trickier than that.
The way we form comparative adjectives is based on the number of syllables in the adjective and whether or not the adjective ends with the letter ‘y’.
What is a Superlative?
Superlative Adjectives are words used to describe a noun when comparing it to two or more nouns to the highest or lowest degree. Think: big, bigger, biggest, or small, smaller, smallest.
Like with comparative adjectives, it’s not always as simple as adding ‘est’. The number of syllables and whether or not the adjective ends with the letter ‘y’ also help us determine how to form a superlative adjective.
One Syllable Adjectives
Let’s look at a chart showing the comparative and superlative forms of the word for the most basic one syllable adjectives, where we add ‘er’ for the comparative and ‘est’ for the superlative. *Note: when the adjective follows the CVC, or consonant, vowel, consonant spelling, the final consonant is doubled.
|
ADJECTIVE |
COMPARATIVE |
SUPERLATIVE |
|
Big |
Bigger |
Biggest |
|
Tall |
Taller |
Tallest |
|
Small |
Smaller |
Smallest |
|
Hot |
Hotter |
Hottest |
Comparative Adjectives:
- I am faster than my friend.
- Arizona is hotter than Alaska.
Superlative Adjectives:
- She is the tallest student.
- That was the shortest movie in the series.
Notice the other words around the comparative and superlative adjectives. Most comparatives are followed by ‘than’, and most superlatives follow the word ‘the’.
Two Syllable Adjectives
Now let’s look at a chart showing the comparative and superlative forms of the word for adjectives with two syllables. Comparative adjectives with two syllables can be formed by making the ‘er’ ending or by adding the words ‘more’ or ‘less’ before the adjective.
For superlative adjectives, you make the ‘est’ ending but use the word ‘most’ or ‘least’ instead of ‘more’ or ‘less’.
|
ADJECTIVE |
COMPARATIVE |
SUPERLATIVE |
|
Happy |
Happier |
Happiest |
|
Crazy |
Crazier |
Craziest |
|
Nervous |
More/Less Nervous |
Most/Least Nervous |
|
Massive |
More/Less Massive |
Most/Least Massive |
|
Quiet |
Quieter or More/Less Quiet |
Quietest or Most/Least Quiet |
*Note: In many cases, either form of the comparative or superlative can be used, but there is generally a ‘most common’ usage. Additionally, the adjective does not need to end in ‘y’ in order to use the ‘er’ or ‘est’ usage, as the last example in the table shows. Your ear will often be able to recognize what sounds best.
Comparative Adjectives:
- She tends to be less passive than her brother.
- This quiz is simpler than the last one.
Superlative Adjectives:
- Fall is the busiest shopping season.
- This is the most rapid method of delivery.
Notice again how the comparative adjectives are followed by ‘than’, and superlative adjectives follow the word ‘the’.
Three or More Syllable Adjectives
The chart below shows the comparative and superlative forms of the word for adjectives that are three or more syllables long. In these cases, we always add ‘more’ or ‘less’ before a comparative adjective and ‘most’ or ‘least’ before a superlative adjective.
|
ADJECTIVE |
COMPARATIVE |
SUPERLATIVE |
|
Mysterious |
More/Less Mysterious |
Most/Least Mysterious |
|
Complicated |
More/Less Complicated |
Most/Least Complicated |
|
Wonderful |
More/Less Wonderful |
Most/Least Wonderful |
Comparative Adjectives:
- I tend to be more reluctant than my friends when trying new things.
- The noise at the pool was less bothersome than the noise on the beach.
Superlative Adjectives:
- Her second compilation was the most exceptional of them all.
- Those were the least comfortable couches I have ever sat on.
Irregular Adjectives
When using comparative and superlative adjectives, it is important to note that there are a handful of irregular adjectives that don’t follow the rules above. The chart below shows these irregular adjectives along with their comparative and superlative forms.
|
ADJECTIVE |
COMPARATIVE |
SUPERLATIVE |
|
Good |
Better |
Best |
|
Bad or Ill |
Worse |
Worst |
|
Little (Amount) |
Less |
Least |
|
Far (Distance) |
Farther |
Farthest |
|
Far (Extent) |
Further |
Furthest |
|
Many or Much |
More |
Most |
Comparative Adjectives:
- I did better than the rest of my class on the final.
- She ran farther in this race than she did in the last one.
Superlative Adjectives:
- That was the best birthday present ever!
- I bought the least expensive souvenir that I could find.
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2 Tips for Recognizing and Using Comparative & Superlative Adjectives
Tip #1: Rearrange your sentence to use different forms of the adjective
We can use different forms of the adjective if we adjust our sentence to fit the adjective.
Here are some examples we used for one syllable adjectives:
Comparative Example:
- I ran faster than my friend.
Now, let’s rearrange the sentence in a way that allows us to use the superlative form of the adjective.
- Between my friend and I, I ran the fastest.
Here, the comparison is still being made between two people; however, when we limit the nouns that we are comparing, we can use the superlative form of the adjective. Notice this sentence follows the other superlative characteristic of using the word ‘the’ before the adjective.
Superlative Example:
- That was the shortest movie in the series.
Now, let’s rearrange the sentence in a way that allows us to use the comparative form of the adjective.
- That was shorter than any other movie in the series.
Here, the comparison is still being made to two or more movies, and we are still describing it to the lowest degree. By adding ‘any other’ before ‘movie in the series’, we can use the comparative form of the adjective. Notice that this sentence also now follows the other comparative characteristic of using the word ‘than’ after the adjective.
Tip #2: Remember your spelling rules before making the comparative or superlative form of the adjective
Any time we change the ending of a word, we need to take into account how the word is normally spelled.
If the adjective already ends with an ‘e’, only add ‘r’ for the comparative and ‘st’ for the superlative.
- Wide becomes Wider or Widest.
- Brave becomes Braver or Bravest.
If the adjective ends with a consonant + short vowel + consonant (CVC), we typically double the last consonant.
- Big becomes Bigger or Biggest.
- Hot becomes Hotter or Hottest.
If the adjective ends with a ‘y’, we change the ‘y’ to and ‘i’.
- Early becomes Earlier or Earliest.
- Silly becomes Sillier or Silliest.
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Applying the Basics: Comparative and Superlative Adjective Review & Practice
Now that you understand what comparatives and superlatives are, and how to use them properly in a sentence, let’s practice identifying them and checking for proper usage.
Remember, comparative adjectives describe a noun by comparing it to another noun. Superlative adjectives describe a noun by comparing it to two or more nouns to the highest or lowest degree.
Comparative Adjectives Exercises & Review
Complete the quick exercise below to assess your mastery of comparative adjectives.
In the sentences below, select the option that accurately shows the comparative form of the adjective. Remember, a comparative adjective describes a noun by comparing it to another noun.
1. Lucas is (oldest/older) than Lily.
- older
2. Alaska is (colder/more cold) than Florida.
- colder
3. I am (more worried/worrieder) about this exam than the last one.
- more worried
4. This map is (more confusing/most confusing) than my calculus homework.
- more confusing
5. I ran (further/farther) than my best friend did yesterday.
- Farther
Superlative Adjectives Exercises & Review
Complete the quick exercise below to assess your mastery of superlative adjectives.
In the sentences below, select the option that accurately shows the superlative form of the adjective. Remember, a superlative adjective describes a noun by comparing it to two or more nouns to the highest or lowest degree.
1. Playing games with your family is the (funner/funnest) way to pass the time when you’re cooped up at home.
- funnest
2. My brother is the (most annoying/annoyingest) person to have around when looking for peace and quiet.
- most annoying
3. As soon as possible, we hope to go to the (beautifulest/most beautiful) tropical island.
- most beautiful
4. Reading a good book is the (most leisurely/more leisurely) way to relax.
- most leisurely
5. Multitasking is the (less efficient/least efficient) method of productivity.
- least efficient
Comparative & Superlative Exercises
Use your knowledge of both comparative and superlative adjectives in the exercise below.
Identify the comparative and superlative adjectives in the sentences below. There may be more than one in a sentence. Make sure you specify which are comparative and which are superlative.
1. I worked on the least complicated homework before starting the more challenging work.
- Comparative: more challenging
- Superlative: least complicated
2. She is taller than the other girls in her class, but she is not the tallest student in the class.
- Comparative: taller
- Superlative: tallest
3. I find direct instruction to be the most straightforward way learning new material.
- Superlative: most straightforward
4. I believe the most obvious answer is correct more often than not.
- Comparative: more often
- Superlative: most obvious
5. Finishing first in the finals was the most fulfilling accomplishment after a sectional performance that was harder than she expected.
- Comparative: harder
- Superlative: most fulfilling
For additional practice, check out the Comparative and Superlative content on Albert.
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Try for Yourself: Comparative and Superlative Adjectives Quiz
Feeling confident in your understanding of comparative and superlative adjectives?
Take this short quiz to see what you’ve learned:
1. Do comparative or superlative adjectives show the highest degree of a quality?
- Answer: Superlative Adjectives
- Correct Explanation: That’s right! Superlative adjectives describe a noun by comparing it to two or more nouns to the highest or lowest degree. Comparative adjectives describe a noun by comparing it to another noun.
- Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right. Remember, comparative adjectives describe a noun by comparing it to another noun. Superlative adjectives describe a noun by comparing it to two or more nouns to the highest or lowest degree.
2. Do comparative or superlative adjectives sometimes use the additional modifier ‘more’?
- Answer: Comparative Adjectives
- Correct Explanation: That’s right! Since comparative adjectives do not describe a noun by comparing it to two or more nouns to the highest or lowest degree, they can use modifiers such as ‘more’.
- Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right. Remember, superlative adjectives describe a noun by comparing it to two or more nouns to the highest or lowest degree, so they would use modifiers such as ‘most’ or ‘least’. Comparative adjectives do not describe a noun by comparing it to two or more nouns to the highest or lowest degree, they can use modifiers such as ‘more’.
3. Does the following sentence use a comparative or superlative adjective?
People from Chicago often agree that deep dish pizza is better than thin crust pizza.
- Answer: Comparative Adjective
- Correct Explanation: That’s right! In this sentence, deep dish pizza is being compared to thin crust pizza. The word ‘better’ is a comparative adjective since it is comparing one type of pizza to another.
- Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right. Remember, superlative adjectives describe a noun by comparing it to two or more nouns to the highest or lowest degree. In this sentence, deep dish pizza is being compared to thin crust pizza. The word ‘better’ is a comparative adjective since it is comparing one type of pizza to another.
4. Is the underlined section of the sentence below a comparative or superlative adjective?
The tree in front of my house is the tallest tree in the neighborhood.
- Answer: Superlative Adjective
- Correct Explanation: That’s right! Superlative adjectives describe a noun by comparing it to two or more nouns to the highest or lowest degree. The word ‘tallest’ describes the tree to the highest degree compared to the other trees in the neighborhood.
- Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right. Remember, Remember, comparative adjectives describe a noun by comparing it to another noun. Superlative adjectives describe a noun by comparing it to two or more nouns to the highest or lowest degree. The word ‘tallest’ describes the tree to the highest degree compared to the other trees in the neighborhood.
5. Which of the following sentences correctly uses a comparative adjective?
A. I thought your portion was the biggest than mine.
B. I thought your portion was bigger than mine.
- Answer: B
- Correct Explanation: That’s right! Comparative adjectives usually end with the letters ‘er’ because they are describing a comparison with one other noun.
- Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right. Superlative adjectives usually end with the letters ‘est’ because they are describing a comparison with two or more nouns to the highest or lowest degree. Additionally, superlative adjectives are not typically followed by the word ‘than’. Comparative adjectives usually end with the letters ‘er’ because they are describing a comparison with one other noun.
6. Which of the following sentences correctly uses a superlative adjective?
A. That was the least memorable movie I’ve seen in a long time.
B. That was the less memorable movie I’ve seen in a long time.
- Answer: A
- Correct Explanation: That’s right! Superlative adjectives with three syllables use the words ‘least’ or ‘most’ because they are describing a comparison with two or more nouns to the highest or lowest degree.
- Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right. Comparative adjectives with three syllables use the words ‘more’ or ‘less’ because they are describing a comparison with one other noun. Superlative adjectives with three syllables use the words ‘least’ or ‘most’ because they are describing a comparison with two or more nouns to the highest or lowest degree.
For additional practice with comparative and superlative adjectives, check out our practice on Albert.io: Comparatives and Superlatives.
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Teacher’s Corner for Comparatives and Superlatives
While it’s true that comparative and superlative adjectives are a foundational grammar skill, the Common Core English Language Progressive Skills Chart shows that even elementary-level skills “require continued attention in higher grades as they are applied to increasingly sophisticated writing and speaking.”
For specific standards addressing comparative and superlative adjectives, check out the Common Core State Standards site!
Albert’s Comparative and Superlative practice can be used for much more than homework!
Our assessments can be used as pre-and post-tests to measure student progress. Our pre-made quizzes can be used as bell-ringers, exit tickets, and more!
In addition to our pre-made assessments, you can also use our assignments feature to create your own quizzes and assessments.
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Summary on Comparative Adjectives and Superlative Adjectives
A Comparative Adjective is a word that describes a noun by comparing it to another noun. Comparative adjectives typically end in ‘er’ and are followed by the word ‘than’.
A Superlative Adjective is a word that describes a noun by comparing it to two or more nouns to the highest or lowest degree. Superlative adjectives typically end in ‘est’ and are preceded by the word ‘the’.
Comparative and Superlative Adjectives are words we often see and use in our writing. Make sure you are structuring your comparative and superlative adjectives appropriately for the number of syllables in the adjective.
Practice makes perfect! Use our Comparative and Superlative practice on Albert’s grammar course!
Need help preparing for your Grammar exam?
Albert has hundreds of grammar practice questions with detailed explanations to help you master concepts.
Look at these examples:
How shall we travel? By car or by train? (not by a car or by a train)
Let’s go by car. It’s cheaper.
Don’t go by train. It’s more expensive.
Cheaper and more expensive are comparative forms.
After comparatives you can use than:
* It’s cheaper to go by car than by train.
* Going by train is more expensive than going by car.
The comparative form is ~er or more …
We use ~er for short words (one syllable):
cheap -> cheaper, fast-> faster, large -> larger, thin -> thinner
We also use ~er for two-syllable words that end in -y (-y -> -ier):
lucky -> luckier, early -> earlier, easy -> easier, pretty -> prettier
Compare these examples:
* You’re older than me.
* The exam was quite easy — easier than we expected.
* Can you walk a bit faster?
* I’d like to have a bigger car.
* Last night I went to bed earlier than usual.
We use more… for longer words (two syllables or more):
more modern, more serious, more expensive, more comfortable
We use more… for adverbs that end in -1y:
more slowly, more seriously, more quietly, more carefully
Also: more often but: earlier (not ‘more early’)
* You’re more patient than me.
* The exam was quite difficult — more difficult than we expected.
* Can you walk a bit more slowly?
* I’d like to have a more reliable car.
* 1 don’t play tennis much these days. I used to play more often.
You can use ~er or more… with some two-syllable adjectives, especially:
quiet, clever, narrow, shallow, simple
* It’s too noisy here. Can we go somewhere quieter/more quiet?
These adjectives and adverbs have irregular comparative forms:
good/well -> better:
* The garden looks better since you tidied it up.
* I know him well — probably better than anybody else.
bad/badly -> worse:
* ‘Is your headache better?’ ‘No, it’s worse.’
* He did very badly in the exam — worse than expected.
far —> further (or farther):
* It’s a long walk from here to the station — further than I thought. (or …farther than…) Further
(but not ‘farther’) can also mean ‘more’ or ‘additional’:
* Let me know if you hear any further news. (= any more news)
EXERCISES
104.1 Complete the sentences using a comparative form (older/more important etc.).
1. It’s too noisy here. Can we go somewhere _quieter?_
2. This coffee is very weak. I like it a bit —.
3. The hotel was surprisingly big. I expected it to be —.
4. The hotel was surprisingly cheap. I expected it to be —.
5. The weather is too cold in this country. I’d like to live somewhere —.
6. My job is a bit boring sometimes. I’d like to do something —.
7. 1 was surprised how easy it was to use the computer. I thought it would be —.
8. Your work isn’t very good. I’m sure you can do —.
9. Don’t worry. The situation isn’t so bad. It could be —.
10. 1 was surprised we got here so quickly. I expected the journey to take —.
11. You’re talking very loudly. Can you speak a bit —.
12. You hardly ever phone me. Why don’t you phone me —.
13. You’re standing too near the camera. Can you move a bit — away?
14. You were a bit depressed yesterday but you look — today.
104.2 Complete the sentences. Each time use the comparative form of one of the words in the list. Use than where necessary.
big crowded early easily high important interested peaceful reliable serious simple thin
1. I was feeling tired last night, so I went to bed _earlier than_ usual.
2. I’d like to have a _more reliable_ car. The one I’ve got keeps breaking down.
3. Unfortunately her illness was — we thought at first.
4. You look — Have you lost weight?
5. I want a — flat. We don’t have enough space here.
6. He doesn’t study very hard. He’s — in having a good time.
7. Health and happiness are — money.
8. The instructions were very complicated. They could have been —.
9. There were a lot of people on the bus. It was — usual.
10. I like living in the countryside. It’s — living in a town.
11. You’ll find your way around the town — if you have a good map.
12. In some parts of the country, prices are — in others.
104.3 Read the situations and complete the sentences. Use a comparative form (~er or more …).
1. Yesterday the temperature was nine degrees. Today it’s only six degrees.
It’s colder today than it was yesterday._
2. The journey takes four hours by car and five hours by train.
It takes —.
3. Dave and I went for a run. I ran ten kilometres. Dave stopped after eight kilometres.
I ran —.
4. Chris and Joe both did badly in the exam. Chris got 20 % but Joe only got 15 %.
Joe did —.
5. I expected my friends to arrive at about 4 o’clock. In fact they arrived at 2.30.
My friends —.
6. You can go by bus or by train. The buses run every 30 minutes. The trains run every hour.
The buses —.
7. We were very busy at work today. We’re not usually as busy as that.
We —.
104.1
2 stronger 3 smaller
4 more expensive
5 warmer
6 more interesting
7 more difficult
8 better 9 worse
10 longer
11 more quietly
12 more often
13 further
14 happier/more cheerful
104.2
3 more serious than
4 thinner 5 bigger
6 more interested
7 more important than
8 simpler/more simple
9 more crowded than
10 more peaceful than
11 more easily
12 higher than
104.3
2 It takes longer by train than by car.
3 I ran further than Dave.
4 Joe did worse than Chris.
5 My friends arrived earlier than I expected.
6 The buses run more often than the trains. or … run more frequently than the trains. or The buses are more frequent than the trains.
7 We were busier than usual at work today. or We were busier at work today than usual.
Basic comparative forms:
1. We use more or most before nouns, adverbs, two-syllable adjectives ending in -ful, -less and -ing, two-syllable adjectives where the second syllable is stressed, and longer adjectives.
She works more effectively than anyone I know.
She is the most useful member of the team.
2. We add -er and -est to one-syllable adjectives and two-syllable adjectives where the second syllable is unstressed.
Birmingham is smaller than London.
Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the world.
3. To compare two things we can also use the structure as + adjective/adverb +as.
I don’t go out as often as I’d like to.
To show a big difference, we use nothing like, or nowhere near.
She’s nowhere near as good as me at chess.
To show a small difference, we use almost or nearly.
He’s almost as good as me.
To emphasis no difference we use equally, just or every bit.
I’m just as good as you.
Both girls are equally beautiful.
Modifying comparisons
| big difference | small difference | |
| formal | significantly, infinitely,decidedly,considerably | fractionally, marginally |
| neutral | much, a good deal, a great deal, (by) far, a lot, easily, not nearly, nothing like, nowhere near as… as |
barely (any), a bit, hardly (any), a little, scarcely (any), slightly, somewhat, nearly, not quite as… as, rather, much the same as… |
| informal | miles, way, loads |
I earn a great deal more now than I did ten years ago.
This is easily the best film I’ve ever seen.
I’m way better than you at English.
You’re nowhere near as good as me at English.
The city is much the same as it was 20 years ago.
He’s just about the nicest person I know.
I see loads more people than I used to.
Double comparatives
We use double comparatives with the to say that one situation leads to another.
The more you read, the more you’ll learn.
The more I see him, the more I like him.
Progressive comparative
We use progressive comparative form to say something is escalating. If we want to emphasise the adjective we use the compative word twice.
House prices are getting higher and higher.
We use comparison to contrast two similar qualities:
His behaviour was more strange than suspicious.
I’m not so much angry as relieved.
So/such; too/enough:
so + adjective + that-clause
The demonstration was so peaceful that most of police left.
such a + adjective + noun + that-clause
It was such a peaceful demonstration that most of the police left.
too + adjective (+for infinitive) + to-infinitive
It was too dangerous (for us) to go out at night.
adjective + enough (+for) + to-infinitive
It wasn’t safe enough (for us) to go out at night.
As and like
Like + noun = similar to
He looks like a criminal (but he’s not).
As + name of job, etc = role, function
He works as a postman (That’s his job)
Ways of expressing preferences
We can use comparative forms when expressing preferences:
I’d want/prefer to pay an on-the spot fine rather than go to court.
I’d (far) sooner/rather live in Paris than London.
Adjectives are often used to compare nouns or pronouns. These comparative adjectives have three forms that show greater or lesser degrees of quality, quantity, or manner: positive, comparative, and superlative. Below are examples of comparative and superlative adjectives.
|
POSITIVE small |
COMPARATIVE smaller |
SUPERLATIVE smallest |
Positive Form
The positive degree, or basic form, describes a noun or pronoun without comparing it to any other. (Do not confuse positive with good. In this context, positive simply means «possessing the quality.» The quality itself may be good, bad, or neutral.)
- Dan is tall.
- Bananas are tasty.
- Ms. Hoo is busy.
- Zeus is strong.
- Athena is smart.
- Bacchus is lazy.
- James is silly.
- The soldier is brave.
- Oliver Ellsworth is eloquent.
Comparative Form
The comparative form compares two persons, places, or things.
- Dan is taller than Tina.
- Are bananas tastier than apples?
- Ms. Hoo is busier than Ms. Lu.
- Zeus is stronger than Athena.
- Is Athena smarter than Zeus?
- Bacchus is lazier than Pan.
- James is sillier than John.
- The soldier is braver than I am.
- Is Oliver Ellsworth more eloquent than Mr. Johnson?
Superlative Form
The superlative form compares three or more persons, places, or things.
- Of all the students, Dan is the tallest.
- Are bananas the tastiest of all the fruits?
- Ms. Hoo is the busiest of the four teachers.
- Of Zeus, Athena, and Bacchus, Zeus is the strongest.
- Athena is the smartest of the three.
- Bacchus is the laziest of all the Greek gods.
- James is the silliest of the four brothers.
- That soldier is the bravest in the army.
- Is Oliver Ellsworth the most eloquent of all?
Examples 1
We practice using comparative and superlative adjectives correctly Choose the correct adjective for each sentence.
- My cat is (fat, fatter, fattest) than yours.
- Of the three, Krystal is the (wise, wiser, wisest).
- Jo is the (fast, faster, fastest) of the two runners.
- Of all the characters, Tim was the (funny, funnier, funniest).
- Samantha is the (tall, taller, tallest) of the two players.
- My house is (old, older, oldest) than yours.
- Scamp, the Siamese cat, is (spunky, spunkier, spunkiest) than Kit Kat, the Himalayan.
- Jaime seems (perky, perkier, perkiest) than Hector.
Solutions
Here we show the correct use of comparative and superlative adjectives:
- My cat is fatter than yours. We use the comparative form because we are comparing cats.
- Of the three, Krystal is the wisest. We use the superlative form because we are comparing three or more people.
- Jo is the faster of the two runners. We use the comparative form because we are comparing only two.
- Of all the characters, Tim was the funniest. We use the superlative form because we are comparing three or more characters.
- Samantha is the taller of the two players. We use the comparative form because we are comparing two players.
- My house is older than yours. We use the comparative form because we are comparing two houses.
- Scamp, the Siamese cat, is spunkier than Kit Kat, the Himalayan. We use the comparative form because we are comparing only two cats.
- Jaime seems perkier than Hector. We use the comparative form because we are comparing only two people.
Forming Comparison Adjectives
How we create the comparative and superlative adjective depends on how the adjective appears in its positive form. There are three main categories to remember.
One-Syllable Adjectives
We create the comparative form of most one-syllable adjectives by adding er to the end of the word. The superlative form is created by adding est.
|
POSITIVE red |
COMPARATIVE redder |
SUPERLATIVE reddest |
Two-Syllable Adjectives
Most adjectives with two or more syllables do not have comparative or superlative forms. Instead, we use the word «more» (or «less») before the adjective to form the comparative, and the word «most» (or «least») to form the superlative.
|
POSITIVE genteel timid reliable loyal valuable trustworthy diligent responsible bellicose explicit stoic |
COMPARATIVE more genteel more timid more reliable more loyal more valuable more trustworthy more diligent more responsible more bellicose more explicit more stoic |
SUPERLATIVE most genteel most timid most reliable most loyal most valuable most trustworthy most diligent most responsible most bellicose most explicit most stoic |
Two-Syllable Adjectives that end in y
When a two-syllable adjective ends in y, we create the comparative and superlative adjective forms by changing the y to i and adding er or est.
|
POSITIVE crazy |
COMPARATIVE crazier |
SUPERLATIVE craziest |
Exceptions
There are exceptions to these guidelines. Below are a few examples of two-syllable adjectives whose comparative and superlative adjective forms are created by adding er or est.
|
POSITIVE little (size, not amount) |
COMPARATIVE littler |
SUPERLATIVE littlest |
Spelling Reminders
When adding er or est to create comparative and superlative adjectives, we often must alter the word’s original spelling. We apply the same rules we use when adding ed to form a past-tense verb.
Examples 2
Complete the comparison chart by adding the comparative and superlative adjectives for each positive form.
|
POSITIVE
|
COMPARATIVE ____________ |
SUPERLATIVE ____________ |
Solutions
|
POSITIVE
|
COMPARATIVE longer |
SUPERLATIVE longest |
We often describe things by comparing them to other things. So it’s very helpful to know just how to use comparatives and superlatives in English. They’ll help you to accurately describe the differences between things and people.
What is a Comparative Adjective?
Comparative adjectives help us to show differences or show change.
You can use comparative adjectives to compare two things or people to each other.
What is a Superlative Adjective?
Superlatives adjectives are used to compare three or more things to each other.
Superlative adjectives are used to show something has a trait to the greatest or least degree.
How to Change Form for Comparatives and Superlatives
How to change a base adjective into a comparative or superlative adjective depends on how many syllables are in the adjective and the spelling of the word.
Note: With longer adjectives and with adverbs ending in —ly, add more and most. less and least are used with adjectives of any length.
One-Syllable Adjectives
One-syllable adjectives are turned into the comparative form by adding “er.”
If the adjective has a consonant + single vowel + consonant spelling, the final consonant must be doubled before adding the ending.
Two-Syllable Adjectives
Adjectives with two syllables can form the comparative either by adding “er” or by putting more or less in front of the adjective. Words ending in “y”, will lose the “y” and add “ier.”
Adjectives with an “ed” ending, will be preceded by “more” to make the comparative form and “most» for the superlative form.
To make the superlative form, add “est” to the end. Similar to the comparative form, adjectives ending in “y”, will lose the “y” and add “iest.”
Three or More Syllable Adjectives
Adjectives with three or more syllables form the comparative by putting more or less in front of the adjective. The superlative is formed by putting “most” or “least” in front of the adjective.
Irregular comparatives and superlatives
These irregular adjectives don’t follow specific rules for changing form to comparatives and superlatives.
Example Sentences Using Comparative Adjectives
Comparing Two Things or People (comparatives underlined)
Structure: Comparative + than + other thing
The Burj Khalifa is 322 meters taller than Taipei 101.
Coffee is better than tea.
California is bigger than Hawaii.
The sun is brighter than the moon.
Showing Change with Comparatives
When we want to describe how something or someone changes over time, we can use two comparatives connected by “and.”
Structure: comparative + and + comparative
His violin playing gets better and better.
Her dog is getting bigger and bigger.
The kitchen is smelling more and more delicious.
New cars can go faster and faster.
Using comparative adjectives to show that one thing depends on another
When you’re showing that one thing depends on another using comparatives, you’ll have a phrase opening the sentence followed by a comma. The opening phrase will start with “the” and a comparative adjective.
The older you get, the more difficult your schoolwork is.
ie. Schoolwork gets more difficult as you get older.
The better your ingredients, the better your food will be.
ie. Your food is better when you have better ingredients.
The further you go, the more time it takes to get there.
ie. It takes longer to go further.
The more responsibilities you have, the more you get paid.
ie. You get paid for having more responsibilities.
Example Sentences Using Superlative Adjectives
Using superlatives to compare things or people
Grammar Note: In these sentences, “the” goes in front of the superlative adjective. This is because only one person or object in the group has the most of a trait.
This is the best fried chicken.
Lavender flowers are the most fragrant flowers.
That TV is the biggest one.
The hamburger is the least expensive dish here.
Using Superlatives to specify possessions
Grammar Note: When you the superlative adjective follows a possessive, it doesn’t need “the.” This is because it’s not being compared against a group of objects or people.
My best effort wasn’t enough.
That is my sharpest knife.
This is Ford’s biggest truck.
Those are her most comfortable jeans.
Describing when a trait applies most to a person or thing
Grammar Note: You also don’t need to use “the” in front of the superlative adjective when or where you are describing the time a trait applies most to a person or thing. However, it is just as correct in these cases if you put “the” in front of the superlative adjectives.
I’m most tired at night.
The weather is hottest in summer.
My parents are most generous at Christmas.
The sun is brightest mid-day.
I’m the most comfortable at home.
My mom is the angriest when there’s traffic.
Now, we have covered what comparative adjectives and superlative adjectives are, how to change form and how to use them in sentences. If you would like more help with English, check out our programs. FLS offers English classes for all levels and every purpose including business English, essential English and SAT Prep.
When we describe the things around us, we often make comparisons. For example, a lion is a big cat. When we see a rhino sitting next to a lion, we might say that the rhino is bigger than the lion due to its size. Later on during our safari, we see an elephant, and we know that it is the biggest animal we are likely to see due to its massive size.
If you’re the king of the grammar jungle, you already know that we use adjectives like the words big, bigger, and biggest to modify and describe nouns and pronouns. When we make comparisons, we use special types of adjectives called comparative adjectives and superlative adjectives. But what is the difference between these two? Is one better than the other? And which kind of adjective is best to use in our sentences? We can’t settle this adjective popularity contest right now but we can compare these two types of adjectives to learn when and how to use them.
Comparative adjective vs. superlative adjective
Both comparative adjectives and superlative adjectives are formed from the positive form of an adjective (the “basic” form you’ll see if you look up an adjective in our amazing dictionary). In general, comparative adjectives end in -er or use the words more or less, while superlative adjectives end in -est or use the words most and least. For example, smaller is a comparative adjective and smallest is a superlative adjective. As another example, more determined is a comparative adjective and most determined is a superlative adjective.
Both of these types of adjectives are used in comparisons of people and/or things. Comparative adjectives are used to compare two people or things and superlative adjectives are used to compare more than two people or things. For example:
- My house is bigger than her house. (comparing two things)
- Out of the 30 houses in the neighborhood, Reginald’s is the biggest. (comparing more than two things)
- Maya is younger than Ben. (comparing two people)
- Maya is the youngest student in the class of 20. (comparing more than two people)
We will explore more specific ways that we use comparative and superlative adjectives later, but this is the main difference to keep in mind between these two types of adjectives.
Comparative adjective
Let’s first take a look at examples of comparative adjectives and how we use them in sentences.
List of comparative adjectives
As long as it makes sense to compare a certain quality, almost any positive form adjective can become a comparative adjective. Listed below are just some examples of comparative adjectives:
- angstier, more beautiful, less careful, darker, easier, faster, grumpier, hotter, icier, more jumbled, less knowledgeable, looser, messier, nicer, odder, more pleasing, less questionable, redder, spookier, tinier, uglier, vaster, wobblier, younger, zestier
Examples of comparative adjectives in a sentence
In the following sentences, the comparative adjective is in bold.
- The weather is cloudier today than it was yesterday.
- My car is nice, but hers is much nicer.
- For many students, learning calculus is significantly harder than learning algebra.
- Ishan is my younger brother.
- A feather is lighter than a bowling ball.
Learn everything you need to know about comparative adjectives here.
Superlative adjective
Now, let’s look at examples of superlative adjectives and how we use them in sentences.
List of superlative adjectives
Just like comparative adjectives, superlative adjectives can be formed from almost any positive form adjective as long as it makes sense to compare the quality that the adjective is referring to. You can see this is in the following examples that are based on the same positive form adjectives that we used to form comparative adjectives earlier:
- angstiest, most beautiful, least careful, darkest, easiest, fastest, grumpiest, hottest, iciest, most jumbled, least knowledgeable, loosest, messiest, nicest, oddest, most pleasing, least questionable, reddest, spookiest, tiniest, ugliest, vastest, wobbliest, youngest, zestiest
Examples of superlative adjectives in a sentence
In the following sentences, the superlative adjective is written in bold.
- When you compare cheetahs, lions, and tigers, the cheetahs are clearly the fastest.
- Out of the 50 books I own, this one is the longest.
- In my opinion, George Washington was America’s greatest president.
- My yard is big, Mike’s is bigger, and Felicia’s is the biggest of the three.
- I have had a lot of dumb ideas, but my plan to open a shark nursery was by far the dumbest.
Become the best at understanding superlative adjectives by reviewing this article.
Irregular adjectives
There are some adjectives that act differently when it comes to using them as comparative and superlative adjectives.
Some adjectives can use either the -er or -est ending or the words more/most/less/least. Some examples include the adjectives quiet, narrow, clever, and yellow. When using these adjectives, either method is acceptable but you must not use both at the same time. For example, a motor can be said to be quieter or more quiet but not “more quieter.”
A few adjectives just don’t follow the rules at all. These include the words good, well, bad, old, and far. Listed below are the comparative and superlative forms of these irregular adjectives:
- good and well → better (comparative) and best (superlative)
- bad → worse (comparative) and worst (superlative). Sometimes, the words badder and baddest are used as slang or nonstandard comparative and superlative forms of bad.
- old → For the most part, the words older and oldest are used as the comparative and superlative forms of old. However, some style guides may prefer to use the words elder and eldest when comparing the ages of people. In general speech and writing, though, the words older and oldest are commonly used even when referring to people.
- far → farther/further (comparative) and farthest/furthest (superlative). Style guides will often state that it is preferred to use farther/farthest when referring to physical distances and further/furthest when referring to figurative distances. However, this distinction is usually ignored in everyday speech and writing, and these words are commonly used interchangeably.
When to use comparative and superlative adjectives?
As stated earlier, the general rule is that we use comparative adjectives to compare two people or things and superlative adjectives to compare more than two peopler things:
- A husky is larger than a Chihuahua. (comparing two things)
- The husky was the largest of the 10 dogs at the park. (comparing more than two things)
If something or someone is generally being compared to every other member of their group, we use a superlative adjective:
- The tower was the largest building that the company ever built.
- Out of all of the meats, I think pepperoni is the yummiest.
You need to be careful with plural nouns or words/phrases that are collectively referring to a group as a single entity. Even if a word is referring to multiple people or things, we still use a comparative adjective if we are comparing exactly two distinct items, groups, or categories. For example:
- I think that apples are tastier than oranges. (In this sentence, the words apples and oranges are used to refer to types of fruit. Because we are still comparing exactly two things, we use a comparative adjective.)
- Alaska is larger than many European countries. (In this sentence, the phrase many European countries is treated as one single collective group. Even though Alaska is being compared to multiple countries, we are still grammatically only comparing two distinct things and so we use a comparative adjective.)
You also need to watch out for sentences that use conjunctions. Often, conjunctions are used to link multiple comparisons together. Even in this case, we often still use a comparative conjunction. For example,
- Angela is shorter than Bob, Clint, and Hana.
Why do we use a comparative adjective in the above sentence even though we are clearly talking about more than two people? Take a second to read the sentence again and look closely at what it is actually saying. This sentence uses the conjunction and to link three different comparisons together: rather than comparing the four people to each other, we are actually comparing Angela to one other person three times. If we wanted to use a superlative adjective instead, we could rewrite the sentence without using a conjunction so that we compare all four people to each other:
- Angela is the shortest person out of her circle of friends, which includes herself, Bob, Clint, and Hana.
One last thing to keep in mind is that you might see comparative and superlative adjectives used interchangeably in idiomatic expressions. For example, look at the following two sentences:
- A hippo is one of the largest animals you will find in the savannah.
- A hippo is one of the larger animals you will find in the savannah.
Do they sound right to you? Probably! And yet, grammatically, the first is considered a nonstandard use because it isn’t possible for there to be multiple “largest animals.” Either a group of animals is the largest or it isn’t. However, you are likely to see sentences similar to the first example used both in writing and speech. It has the exact same meaning as the second sentence, but it stylistically places a greater emphasis on the size and bulk of a hippo than the second sentence does.
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We are all acquainted with the basic elements and parts of speech in English grammar that help us convey our complete thoughts. The most common amongst them are nouns, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, etc. However, today we will discuss another important element that relates to using the two parts of speech, adjectives, and adverbs, the degrees of comparison.
Degrees of comparison are commonly used in most sentences without one’s awareness of the term. In a general sense, the degree of comparison can be understood as the grammatical concept that is used to modify, describe, or quantify adjectives and adverbs in a sentence.
There are different types of degrees of comparison, and each has unique ways of relating to an adjective. So, let us get into a quick discussion below and gain a better understanding of them.
Degrees of comparison – Definition
By definition, we can state that degree of comparison is a concept that is used in a sentence to describe the relational value of one thing with another that is present in a different clause. It is basically used to modify the adjective of a sentence and offer a change in its form to show some kind of comparison. Hence, the degree of comparison is also known as the comparison of adjectives.
In simple words, the degree of comparison is a concept used when we compare one person or a thing to another. Since adjectives are used to show the quality and modify the nouns and pronouns in a sentence, when these adjectives are modified into different forms to compare their quality, we use the degrees of comparison. However, this is also applicable to adverbs in a sentence. That means degrees of comparison are applicable to only adjectives and adverbs and not to verbs or nouns.
Now, the degree of comparison comes in three forms. They are:
- Positive degree
- Comparative degree
- Superlative degree
So, every adjective or adverb can be presented in one of the three degrees. But before going into a detailed discussion about the three types, let us look at some simple examples to gain a basic idea.
- Positive degree: angry (adjective), Angrily (adverb)
- Comparative degree: angrier (adjective), more angrily (adverb)
- Superlative degree: angriest (adjective), most angrily (adverb)
As we can notice, the different degrees of comparison are modifying the adjectives and adverbs in three different ways. To bring such a change of form and offer a comparison, we use the concept of degree of comparison.
Understanding the three types of degree of comparison
So, we have learned the meaning and definition of degrees of comparison. Now, we need to take a closer look at the three variant forms of degrees of comparison and their specific uses. Let us get into it one by one.
1. Positive degree of comparison
The first type of degree of comparison, the positive degree of comparison, is basically the adjective in its simple form. That means it just tells us about the presence or existence of a quality of a particular thing. This type of degree of comparison offers no comparison at all.
For example;
Adjectives:
- Hot: This cup of tea is hot.
- Tall: My neighbour is so tall.
- Fast: Your cat runs fast.
Adverbs:
- Slowly: The girl danced slowly.
- Happily: He sang the song happily.
Formation of a positive degree of comparison: There is no rule regarding its formation. It simply takes up the base form of an adjective or an adverb. Considering the above examples, we can see that the adjectives tall, hot, fast are used in their original state. So, they are said to be in a positive degree of comparison.
2. Comparative degree of comparison
As the name already suggests, this is a type of degree of comparison that shows a comparison between two things. That means a comparative degree of comparison shows a higher degree of quality than the positive degree type. It is basically used when the quality of two sets of things or two individual things are compared to one another.
For example:
Adjectives:
- Slower: Your cat runs slower than mine.
- Faster: Cheetahs run faster than most animals.
- Lazier: Cows are lazier than dogs.
Adverbs:
- More happily: She was acting more happily than the lead actor.
- More beautifully: He drew the man more beautifully than the painter.
Formation of a comparative degree of comparison: To form a comparative degree, we simply add the letters –er at the end of an adjective word. And in terms of adverbs, we add more before the adverbs. However, if the adjective is a two-syllable word ending with y, we replace it with –ier. And in case the adjectives end with a vowel and a consonant, we double the ending letter.
As we can notice, the comparative degree of comparison tries to show which object has a greater or lesser quality by offering a comparison, unlike the positive degree.
3. Superlative degree of comparison
This is the final type of degree of comparison. And unlike the others, the superlative degree of comparison offers a comparison of quality of more than two things. They aim at denoting the highest quality of a person or a thing. That means the superlative degree of comparison compares more than two things and shows which has the greatest or least degree of quality.
For example:
Adjective:
- Slowest: Tortoise is the slowest animal of all.
- Largest: The blue whale is the largest animal.
- Hottest: The sun is the hottest.
Adverbs:
- Most beautifully: She performed most beautifully among all.
- Most calmly: He passed the test most calmly.
Formation of a superlative degree of comparison: It is very easy to form a superlative degree of comparison. We just need to add the letters –est at the end of the adjectives. And in the case of adverbs, we add the word most in front of the main adverb word.
As we can see in the above examples, the words hottest, slowest, largest are all in their highest degree of quality. That means they are in a state of superlative degree of comparison.
So, these are the three types of degree of comparison and their three variant formation and usage in a sentence. Each modifies an adjective and an adverb in a sentence to show different comparisons.