A2–B1 grammar lesson

Comparatives and Superlatives

Comparisons help us describe differences precisely. Move beyond simply adding -er and learn the patterns that make comparisons accurate and natural.

About 20 minutes · Guided practice · 10-question mastery test

Created by , British English teacher.

Try the activities, then check your answers.

Try the activities, then check your answers.

Compare options for a real priority. A grammatically correct comparison also needs a clear comparison group.

By the end of this lesson, you can…

UnderstandBuild regular and irregular comparative forms.
ChooseUse superlatives, as…as and less accurately.
UseStrengthen or soften comparisons with natural modifiers.
Lesson scene for The train is more expensive than the bus, but it is faster. People and essential props on white.
The train is more expensive than the bus, but it is faster.More expensive and faster compare the same two travel options on different features.

The essential rules

Short adjectives

Most one-syllable adjectives take -er/-est. Double a final consonant after one vowel; change final y to i.

small → smaller → smallest · big → bigger → biggest

Long adjectives

Use more/most with most adjectives of two or more syllables. Use than after a comparative.

more reliable than · the most convenient option

Equality and degree

Use as…as for equality and modifiers such as much, far, a little before comparatives.

as fast as · far better · a little more expensive

Equal in the feature being compared

Maya isasorganisedasLee.
MayaEqually organised
LeeEqually organised

Use as + adjective + as. This compares their organisation; it does not say they are identical in every way.

Choose a journey

Bus
£6 · 50 minutes

Train
£14 · 25 minutes

Taxi
£30 · 20 minutes

Short adjectives often take -er/-est. For a short adjective ending in one vowel letter + one final consonant, double that consonant: big → bigger. Do not double w, x or y. Consonant + y changes to -ier/-iest: busy → busier. Many longer adjectives use more/most.

See the pattern

AdjectiveComparativeSuperlative
quietquieterthe quietest
happyhappierthe happiest
usefulmore usefulthe most useful
good / badbetter / worsethe best / the worst
Teacher tip: A comparative connects two things; a superlative identifies one member at the extreme of a group. That is why superlatives normally need the.

Compare price and time separately

PriceThe train is more expensive than the bus.

Bus: £6Train: £14

Journey timeThe train is faster than the bus.

Bus: 50 minutesTrain: 25 minutes

Each chart has its own scale. A shorter price bar means cheaper; a shorter journey-time bar means faster.

A £10 budget changes the choice

Bus: within budget£6, 50 minutes

The cheapest and slowest of these three options.

Train: over budget£14, 25 minutes

Faster than the bus, but £4 above the budget.

Taxi: over budget£30, 20 minutes

The fastest and most expensive of these three options.

With £10 and plenty of time, the bus fits the stated needs. The superlatives compare only these three choices.

Three mistakes to avoid

✕ more easier
✓ easier
Do not use both more and -er.
✕ the most cheap
✓ the cheapest
Use -est with most short adjectives.
✕ My car is faster that yours.
✓ My car is faster than yours.
Comparatives use than.

Guided practice

Try each item before opening the answer.

1. This route is ___ (short) than the motorway.

shorter: a one-syllable adjective takes -er.

2. It is the ___ (busy) day of the year.

busiest: change final y to i before -est.

3. The train is ___ expensive than flying.

less: use less + adjective + than for a lower degree.

4. Maya is ___ organised as Lee.

as: equality uses as + adjective + as.

Lesson scene for I’d choose the bus. It’s the cheapest of the three, although it’s the slowest. People and essential props on white.
I’d choose the bus. It’s the cheapest of the three, although it’s the slowest.The cheapest compares all three stated options; the caption gives the budget-based choice.

Final check

Check your understanding

Choose one answer for each question. Read the context carefully: a question may ask for a particular form, meaning or register. The explanations show why that answer fits.

0 of 10 questions answered

1. Use the usual -er form: “My new apartment is ___ than my old one.”
2. This is ___ café in the neighbourhood.
3. Today is ___ yesterday.
4. The second task was ___ difficult than the first.
5. Which is correct?
6. Her explanation was ___ than mine.
7. Leo is not ___ his brother.
8. It was ___ meal I have ever had.
9. This version is ___ faster than the previous one.
10. Choose the standard -iest superlative of happy.