Are you trying to figure out if learning English is more difficult than calculus? Or maybe you’re the biggest Taylor Swift fan? Either way, understanding how to use comparatives and superlatives is essential in English. These are forms of adjectives that we use to make comparisons, highlighting whether something is more of a quality or the most of a quality, like more interesting or most exciting.
What are Comparatives and Superlatives?
Comparatives and superlatives are types of adjectives. Adjectives describe nouns, and in this case, comparatives and superlatives describe how nouns compare to one another.
- Comparatives indicate that one person or thing is more [adjective] than another. They are used to compare two items.
- Superlatives indicate that one person or thing is the most [adjective] out of a group. They are used to compare three or more items and identify the extreme.
Think about it like this: if you’re comparing two cars, you might say one is faster. “Faster” is the comparative form of “fast.” If you’re looking at a group of cars and want to point out the one that outspeeds them all, you’d say it’s the fastest. “Fastest” is the superlative form.
In English, forming comparatives and superlatives depends on the length of the adjective. Let’s break down the rules.
How to Form Comparatives and Superlatives in English
There are generally two main ways to form comparatives and superlatives in English, depending on the adjective.
Category 1: Adding -er and -est
For most short adjectives (typically one syllable, and some two-syllable adjectives), we add -er to make the comparative form and -est to make the superlative form.
| Adjective | Comparative (more + adjective) | Superlative (the most + adjective) |
|---|---|---|
| new | newer | newest |
| nice | nicer | nicest |
| cool | cooler | coolest |
| happy | happier | happiest |
Notice some spelling changes:
- If the adjective ends in -e, just add -r or -st (e.g., nice → nicer, nicest).
- If the adjective ends in -y, change the y to i and then add -er or -est (e.g., happy → happier, happiest).
Category 2: Using more and most
For longer adjectives (usually two or more syllables), we use more before the adjective to form the comparative, and most before the adjective for the superlative. This is often simpler than remembering spelling changes!
| 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 |
Alt text: A smiling man and woman are engaged in conversation, speech bubbles above them suggest they are discussing comparative and superlative adjectives.
Irregular Comparatives and Superlatives in English: Exceptions to the Rules
Of course, English wouldn’t be English without some exceptions! Some common adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms. Luckily, these are frequently used words, so you’ll get lots of practice with them.
| Adjective | Comparative (more + adjective) | Superlative (the most + adjective) |
|---|---|---|
| good | better | best |
| bad | worse | worst |
| far | farther / further | farthest / furthest |
| old | older / elder | oldest / eldest |
A note about elder and eldest: While older and oldest are generally used for age in all contexts, elder and eldest are typically reserved for talking about family relationships (e.g., my elder brother) and in formal contexts. You’ll often hear oldest sibling and eldest sibling used interchangeably to mean the oldest brother or sister.
Examples of Comparatives and Superlatives in Sentences
Now that you know how to form them, let’s see comparatives and superlatives in action!
Keep these tips in mind when using them:
- Remember the endings or the use of more and most to signal comparative and superlative forms.
- Adjectives in English come before the noun they describe, and this holds true for comparatives and superlatives.
- Use than when comparing two things with a comparative adjective.
- Use the before a superlative adjective because you are referring to the most extreme example within a group.
Comparative Adjective Examples
| English Sentence | 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. |
Alt text: A woman is joyfully looking at her phone and laughing, possibly reacting to content on social media which could be considered “more professional” or “more silly” than other content.
Superlative Adjective Examples
| English Sentence | 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. |
Alt text: A diverse group of students collaborates on a project at a table, their smiles and engagement suggesting they are “the most organized” and efficient group.
Learning is Most Effective When It’s Fun!
If you’re just starting to learn English, focus on understanding a few key adjectives and their comparative and superlative forms. Pick adjectives that describe you and the people around you! Look out for comparatives and superlatives in your English lessons and in real-world English content like movies and music. As you learn more adjectives, using these patterns will become second nature. The best way to learn is by having fun and practicing!
