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
By the end of this lesson, you can…
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
See the pattern
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| quiet | quieter | the quietest |
| happy | happier | the happiest |
| useful | more useful | the most useful |
| good / bad | better / worse | the best / the worst |
Three mistakes to avoid
Do not use both more and -er.
Use -est with most short adjectives.
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.
Mastery test
Target: 8/10