What is comparing?
An adjective tells us about a noun (a tall boy). An adverb tells us about an action (he runs fast). When we compare, we change the word a little to show "more" or "most".
There are three levels: plain (tall), comparative (taller), superlative (the tallest).
The comparative: two things
Use the comparative to compare two things, and say than.
- Short word: add -er. tall โ taller, fast โ faster.
- Ends in -e: add -r. nice โ nicer.
- Ends in consonant + y: change y to i, add -er. happy โ happier.
- One vowel + one consonant: double the last letter. big โ bigger.
- Long word (3 or more syllables, or most 2-syllable words ending in -ful, -ous): put more in front. careful โ more careful. Adverbs ending in -ly: more carefully.
Example: "My bag is heavier than yours." "She speaks more clearly than I do."
The superlative: three or more
Use the superlative when one thing is at the top out of three or more. Put the in front.
- Short word: the -est. tall โ the tallest, nice โ the nicest, big โ the biggest, happy โ the happiest.
- Long word: the most. the most careful, the most beautiful.
Example: "Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world." "Of all my friends, Riya sings the most sweetly."
As ... as: equal things
When two things are the same, put the plain word between two as: "Ben is as tall as Ann."
For "not equal" we say not as ... as: "This test was not as hard as the last one." This means the test was easier.
Odd words you must remember
| Plain | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| good / well | better | the best |
| bad / badly | worse | the worst |
| far | farther / further | the farthest / furthest |
| much / many | more | the most |
Never say "more better" or "the most best". The word is already changed.
Key formulas and definitions
- Comparative (short): adjective + -er + than
- Comparative (long): more + adjective + than
- Superlative (short): the + adjective + -est
- Superlative (long): the most + adjective
- Equal: as + plain word + as
- Odd: good, better, best; bad, worse, worst
Worked examples
1. Make a comparison: "The red rope is 3 m. The blue rope is 5 m." (long)
Use the comparative for two things: "The blue rope is longer than the red rope." Or: "The red rope is shorter than the blue rope."
2. Fill in: "Of the three runners, Meera is the ____ (fast)."
Three runners means superlative. fast is short, so "the fastest": "Meera is the fastest."
3. Choose: "This puzzle is ____ than that one." (difficult)
difficult is a long word, so use more: "more difficult than".
4. Correct this: "Ravi is more taller than Sam."
tall is short, so only -er is needed. "Ravi is taller than Sam." Never use more and -er together.
5. Write the three forms of "happy".
happy (plain), happier (change y to i, add -er), the happiest (the + -iest).
6. Join: "Tea costs Rs 20. Coffee costs Rs 20." with as ... as.
Both are equal, so: "Tea is as expensive as coffee." Or "Tea costs as much as coffee."
Common mistakes
- Using both more and -er: "more taller".
- Forgetting than after the comparative, or writing "then" instead of "than".
- Forgetting the before the superlative: "Cara is tallest" should be "the tallest".
- Using the superlative for only two things. Two things need the comparative.