Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

What are Comparative and Superlative Adjectives and how to use them? Here we will review the rules and see how to form these adjectives the correct way.

A Comparative Adjective is a word that describes a specific noun by comparing it with another noun.

A Superlative Adjective is a word that describes a noun by comparing it to two or more nouns to the greatest, highest or least, lowest degree possible.

We use comparative and superlative adjectives extensively in our writing. Make sure your comparative and superlative adjectives are suitably structured for the amount of syllables in the adjective.

Comparative Adjectives

Comparative Adjectives are words that describe a noun by comparing it with another noun. The comparative form is used to compare two entities, indicating a higher or lower degree of a particular quality. Comparative adjectives are often have the word “than” after them. They end in “er” or have “more” to indicate it.

Examples:

• This car is faster than that one.
• This car is more expensive than that one.
• They are happier than yesterday.
• This exercise is more difficult than the the previous one.
• He is taller than his brother.
• She is more famous than her husband.

Superlative Adjectives

Superlative Adjectives are words that describe a noun by comparing it with two or more nouns to the greatest, highest or least, lowest degree possible. They usually have the word “the” before them, end in “est” or have “most” to indicate it.

Examples:

• This is the fastest car in the market today!
• This car is the most expensive car in the market today!
• I feel like I am the happiest person on earth.
• This exercise is the most difficult I have ever seen
• He is the tallest of his brothers.
• She is the most famous actress in Hollywood.

How to Form Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Comparative and superlative forms are essential for clear and precise communication, especially when expressing degrees of comparison in writing or speech.

Short or one-syllable words, we add “–er” and “–est”

• Comparative Adjective + “-er”
• Superlative Adjective + “-est”

Adjectives that end in “–e”, we add “–r” or “–st”

• Comparative Adjective + “-r”
• Superlative Adjective + “-st”

Adjectives that end in a vowel and a consonant, we double the consonant

• Comparative Adjective (double consonant) + “-er”
• Superlative Adjective (double consonant) + “-est”

Adjectives that end in a consonant and –y, we change –y to –i and add –er or –est

• Comparative Adjective (change “–y” to “–i”) + “–er”
• Superlative Adjective (change “–y” to “–i”) + “–est”

Long, most two syllable adjectives, and for all adjectives with three or more syllables, we use “more” and “most”

• More + Comparative Adjective
• Most + Superlative Adjective

Exceptions

With these common two-syllable adjectives, you can either add “–er” “–r” and “–est” “–st” or use “more” and “most”.

• common
• cruel
• gentle
• handsome
• likely
• narrow
• pleasant
• polite
• simple

Irregular Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

The adjectives good, bad and far have irregular comparatives and superlatives forms.

Table of Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Conclusion

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives are applicable in diverse contexts, from everyday conversations to academic writing and professional communication. Understanding and accurately using comparative and superlative forms improves language ability, allowing for more effective interaction and expression of comparison nuances.

Now test your knowledge with these exercises!

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