How to form comparatives and superlatives
The form depends on the length of the adjective. Count the syllables, the beats in the word: tall has one, happy has two, expensive has three.
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| tall, cheap, fast | taller, cheaper, faster | the tallest, the cheapest, the fastest | One syllable: add -er and -est. |
| nice, safe, large | nicer, safer, larger | the nicest, the safest, the largest | Ends in e: add -r and -st. |
| big, hot, thin | bigger, hotter, thinner | the biggest, the hottest, the thinnest | One vowel + one consonant: double the consonant. |
| easy, happy, busy | easier, happier, busier | the easiest, the happiest, the busiest | Ends in consonant + y: change y to i. |
| modern, famous, expensive | more modern, more famous, more expensive | the most modern, the most famous, the most expensive | Most adjectives with two or more syllables: use more and the most. |
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| good | better | the best |
| bad | worse | the worst |
| far | farther or further | the farthest or the furthest |
Use a comparative to compare two things
Put than after the comparative. Than introduces the second thing.
- My brother is taller than me.
- This phone is cheaper than that one.
- The train is faster than the bus.
- Is history more difficult than maths?
Use the and a superlative for the top of a group
A superlative compares one thing with all the others in a group. Put the before it.
- Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
- She is the best student in our class.
- This is the most expensive hotel in the city.
- It was the worst day of my life.
Use in with places and groups: in the world, in the class, in my family. Use of with time and numbers: of my life, of the year, of the three.
As ... as and not as ... as
Use as + adjective + as when two things are the same. Use not as ... as when they are different. The adjective does not change.
- My bag is as heavy as yours. They weigh the same.
- The bus is not as fast as the train. The train is faster.
Make a comparison stronger or softer
Put much, a lot or far before a comparative to make the difference big. Put a bit, a little or slightly before it to make the difference small. Do not use very with a comparative.
- This flat is much bigger than our old one.
- The blue shirt is a bit cheaper than the red one.
- The second test was less difficult than the first. Less is the opposite of more.
Mistakes Chinese speakers often make
In Chinese, the adjective does not change after 比 or 最. In English, the adjective itself changes. That is why these mistakes are common.
My phone is cheap than yours.
My phone is cheaper than yours.
Use the comparative form before than.
中文说“我的手机比你的便宜”，形容词不变；英语要把 cheap 变成 cheaper。
He is more tall than his father.
He is taller than his father.
Tall has one syllable. Add -er. Do not use more.
单音节形容词加 -er，不用 more。
This book is more better.
This book is better.
Better is already a comparative. Do not add more.
better 已经是比较级，前面不要再加 more。
She is tallest girl in the class.
She is the tallest girl in the class.
Put the before a superlative.
最高级前面要加 the。“最高的”要说 the tallest。
Today is very hotter than yesterday.
Today is much hotter than yesterday.
Do not use very with a comparative. Use much or a lot.
比较级前不能用 very，要用 much 或 a lot。“热多了”就是 much hotter。
Superlatives use the article the. For more about the, read articles in English.
Try the quiz
Write the correct form of the word in brackets.
- A car is ___ (fast) than a bicycle.
- Today is ___ (hot) than yesterday.
- This is the ___ (big) room in the house.
- This exercise is ___ (easy) than the last one.
- My new job is ___ (interesting) than my old one. I enjoy it a lot more.
- This is the ___ (expensive) hotel in the city. No other hotel costs more.
- Who is the ___ (good) singer in your family?
- It was the ___ (bad) film I have ever seen.
- My bag is as ___ (heavy) as yours. They weigh the same.
- Lisa is ___ (young) than her brother, but she is the ___ (tall) person in the family.
Check one question at a time
Try the same ten questions here. Check each answer and read the explanation.
Your result
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- faster. Fast has one syllable, so add -er. Use than after it.
- hotter. One vowel + one consonant at the end: double the t and add -er.
- biggest. Double the g and add -est. The room is the top of the group.
- easier. Easy ends in a consonant + y. Change y to i and add -er.
- more interesting. Interesting is a long adjective, so use more.
- most expensive. Expensive is a long adjective. No other hotel costs more, so it is the top of the group.
- best. Good, better, the best is irregular.
- worst. Bad, worse, the worst is irregular.
- heavy. After as, the adjective does not change.
- younger, tallest. Lisa and her brother are two people, so use younger than. She is the top of the family, so use the tallest.
Questions learners ask
Is it "taller than me" or "taller than I"?
Both are correct. In speech, most people say She is taller than me. A little more formal: She is taller than I am. "Taller than I" alone sounds very formal.
Do I always need "the" before a superlative?
Usually, yes: the best, the most popular. After my, your, his or her, do not add the: She is my best friend.
Which two-syllable adjectives take -er?
Adjectives that end in -y take -ier: happy, happier. A few others, such as quiet, clever and narrow, can take -er or more. Most other two-syllable adjectives take more: more careful, more famous, more modern.
What is the difference between "farther" and "further"?
For distance, both are correct: The station is further than I thought. Only further can also mean "more" or "extra": Please contact us for further information.