Are you finding that learning English is more challenging than you initially thought? Or perhaps you consider yourself the biggest Taylor Swift fan? Either way, understanding how to use comparatives and superlatives is essential in English. These grammatical forms allow us to make comparisons, expressing ideas like most exciting and more interesting.
What are Comparatives and Superlatives?
Comparatives and superlatives are types of adjectives. Adjectives describe nouns, and in this case, comparatives and superlatives specify degrees of comparison. Comparatives indicate that one thing is more adjective than another. Superlatives, on the other hand, show that something is the most adjective out of a group.
In Spanish, you might express this using structures like:
| Comparatives | – | más | adjective |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superlatives | el/la/los/las | más | adjective |
Spanish uses a similar adjective form for both comparative and superlative sentences, like “Este libro es más interesante que el otro” (comparative) and “Este libro es el más interesante de todos” (superlative).
However, English takes a slightly different approach, especially with certain adjectives that change form. So, how do we form comparatives and superlatives in English?
Forming Comparatives and Superlatives in English
There are generally two main ways to form comparatives and superlatives in English. Adjectives typically fall into one of two categories:
- Category 1: Adding suffixes (-er or -est). Many shorter adjectives fall into this category, such as new, hot, or sweet.
- Category 2: Adding words before the adjective: more or most. This is often used with longer adjectives.
Traditionally, English adjectives strictly adhered to these categories. However, as the language evolves, you’ll increasingly hear native speakers using more and most even with shorter adjectives that traditionally took -er and -est endings. While grammatical purists might disagree, in everyday conversation, flexibility is key! Don’t worry too much about rigidly categorizing every word; focus on understanding the general patterns.
Category 1: Comparatives and Superlatives with -er and -est Endings
Most shorter adjectives in English use the -er suffix for the comparative form (meaning “more adjective”) and the -est suffix for the superlative form (meaning “the most adjective”):
| Adjective | Comparative (more + adjective) | Superlative (the most + adjective) |
|---|---|---|
| new | newer | newest |
| nice | nicer | nicest |
| cool | cooler | coolest |
| happy | happier | happiest |
There are a few spelling adjustments to keep in mind when adding these suffixes:
- If the adjective ends in -e, simply add -r or -st to avoid double ee.
- If the adjective ends in -y, change the y to -i- and then add the suffix.
Category 2: Comparatives and Superlatives with More and Most
For most longer adjectives in English, we use more before the adjective to form the comparative, and most for the superlative. No suffixes needed! Many find this method simpler than memorizing suffix rules.
| Adjective | Comparative (more + adjective) | Superlative (the most + adjective) |
|---|---|---|
| interesting | more interesting | most interesting |
| difficult | more difficult | most difficult |
| casual | more casual | most casual |
| annoying | more annoying | most annoying |
Exceptions: Irregular Comparatives and Superlatives
As with many grammar rules, there are exceptions! Thankfully, in English comparatives and superlatives, these exceptions are some of the most common adjectives, making them frequent in everyday language and easier to learn through exposure.
| Adjective | Comparative (more + adjective) | Superlative (the most + adjective) |
|---|---|---|
| good | better | best |
| bad | worse | worst |
| far | farther / further | farthest / furthest |
| old | older / elder | oldest / eldest |
Note that elder and eldest are somewhat more formal and less commonly used than older and oldest in general conversation. Elder and eldest are primarily used to describe the age order within families, especially siblings. You might hear someone refer to their oldest sibling or eldest sibling interchangeably, both meaning the same thing.
Examples of Comparatives and Superlatives in Sentences
Once you understand the forms, using comparatives and superlatives in sentences becomes straightforward!
Keep these tips in mind when constructing your sentences:
- Remember that many English adjectives change form by adding a suffix to indicate comparative or superlative degree.
- Adjectives in English come before the noun they describe. This rule applies to comparatives and superlatives as well.
- Use than to introduce the second element you are comparing something to.
- Just like in Spanish, use the before a superlative adjective.
Examples of Comparative Adjectives in English
| English | Adjective | Spanish Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Our dog is sillier than our cat. | silly | Nuestro perro es más tonto que nuestro gato. |
| Apples are harder than bananas. | hard | Las manzanas son más duras que las bananas. |
| This weekend will be more exciting because my brother is visiting! | exciting | Este fin de semana será más emocionante porque mi hermano viene de visita. |
| His Instagram is more professional than his TikTok. | professional | Su Instagram es más profesional que su TikTok. |
Examples of Superlative Adjectives in English
| English | Adjective | Spanish Translation |
|---|---|---|
| This is the strangest movie I’ve ever seen! | strange | ¡Esta es la película más rara que he visto! |
| The newest book she has read is from 1998. | new | El libro más nuevo que ella ha leído es de 1998. |
| Our roommate cooks the most delicious curry. | delicious | Nuestro compañero de cuarto cocina el más delicioso curry. |
| We’re the most organized group in class. | organized | Somos el grupo más organizado en la clase. |
The Best Way to Learn is By Having Fun!
If you’re just beginning your English learning journey, focus on understanding the comparative and superlative forms of a few adjectives first – perhaps those that describe yourself or people you know. Look for them in your lessons and in authentic English content like movies and music. As your vocabulary grows, recognizing and using these patterns will become increasingly natural!
