Forming Comparative and superlative adjectives

FORMING THE COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE

Using the comparative of adjectives in English is quite easy once you have understood the few simple rules that govern them.

Below you will find the rules with examples for each condition.

big, bigger, biggest

 One syllable adjectives

Add -er for the comparative and -est for the superlative.
If the adjective has a consonant + single vowel + consonant spelling, the final consonant must be doubled before adding the ending.

Adjective Comparative Superlative
tall taller tallest
long    longer longest
strong stronger     strongest
young younger     youngest
fat fatter fattest
big bigger biggest
sad sadder saddest
 

Warning:  We do not use more or most together with an -er or -est ending:

  • They emigrate because they are looking for a better life.
  • Not: … a more better life
  • The beach at Marmaris is one of the biggest in Turkey.
  • Not: … the most biggest …

 

Two syllables

Adjectives with two syllables can form the comparative either by adding -er or by preceeding the adjective with more.
These adjectives form the superlative either by adding -est or by preceeding the adjective with most.
In many cases, both forms are used, although one usage will be more common than the other. If you are not sure whether a two-syllable adjective can take a comparative or superlative ending, play it safe and use more and most instead.
For adjectives ending in y, change the y to an i before adding the ending.
 

Adjective Comparative Superlative
happy happier happiest
simple simpler simplest
busy busier busiest
tilted more tilted most tilted
tangled more tangled most tangled

 

Warning: We don’t normally use the -er and -est endings with two-syllable adjectives ending in -ful, -less, -ing, -ed. Instead, we use more and most/least:

  • This dictionary is more useful than the one we had before.
  • Not: This dictionary is usefuller …
  • You’ll have to try to be more careful in future.
  • The most useful tool in the kitchen is a good sharp knife.
  • Not: The usefulest tool in the kitchen …
  • This is the least harmful chemical in terms of the environment.
  •  

Three or more syllables

Adjectives with three or more syllables form the comparative by putting more in front of the adjective, and the superlative by putting most in front.

Adjective Comparative Superlative
important more important most important
expensive more expensive most expensive
 

Examples

  • A cat is fast, a tiger is faster but a cheetah is the fastest
  • A car is heavy, a truck is heavier, but a train is the heaviest
  • A park bench is comfortable, a restaurant chair is more comfortable, but a sofa is the most comfortable

Irregular comparatives and superlatives

These very common adjectives have completely irregular comparative and superlative forms.

Adjective Comparative Superlative
good better best
bad worse worst
little less least
much more most
far further / farther furthest / farthest
 

Examples

  • Today is the worst day I've had in a long time.
  • You play tennis better than I do.
  • This is the least expensive sweater in the store.
  • This sweater is less expensive than that one.
  • I ran pretty far yesterday, but I ran even farther today.