Comparatives and Superlatives

Comparatives and superlatives allow us to compare people, things, or situations.

1. Revisiting the basics (quick reminder)

• Comparatives: compare two things.
  • Form: short adjectives → adjective + -er (big → bigger); longer adjectives → more + adjective (interesting → more interesting). (Some adjectives are irregular: good → better.)
  • Example: This book is more interesting than that one.

Reminder: We usually use than when we mention the second thing: This bag is bigger than that one. If the second thing is clear from the situation, we can omit it: These shoes are too small. I need a bigger size. (bigger = bigger than my current size).

• Superlatives: compare three or more things.
  • Form: the + short adjective + -est / the most + adjective
  • Example: This is the most interesting book I’ve ever read.

Reminder: Use the with an adjective superlative that identifies someone or something in a group. With a superlative adverb after a verb, the can often be omitted. Compare: Leo is the fastest runner in the class. / Leo runs fastest on this track.

1.1 Spelling Changes

In some short adjectives, double the final consonant after one vowel: big → bigger → biggest. Change -y to -i: easy → easier → easiest. Add -r or -st to adjectives ending in -e: nice → nicer → nicest.

1.2 Equality with as ... as

Use as … as to say that one person or thing has the same level or degree as another.

• My bag is as heavy as yours.
• This room is just as big as the other one.
• The new model is nearly as fast as the old one.
• My new journey is twice as long as my old one.

1.3 Inequality with not as ... as

In negative sentences, use not as ... as. Not so ... as is dated or formal, so it is less common in modern everyday English.

• This exam isn’t as difficult as the last one.
• Dated/formal: This exam isn’t so difficult as the last one.

1.4 Modifying Comparatives

Use much, far, a lot, slightly, a bit, no, even, any, or rather before a comparative to show a bigger, smaller, or surprising difference. Use any especially in questions and negative sentences.

• This route is much shorter.
• The new phone is far more expensive.
• This flat is a lot bigger.
• This road is slightly longer.
• It’s a bit more expensive.
• He’s no better than before.
• This film is even more interesting than the last one.
• Is this jacket any cheaper?
• This option is rather more expensive.

Do not use very before a comparative. Say much/far/a lot bigger, not very bigger.

2. Irregular comparatives and superlatives

Some adjectives have irregular forms:

• Good → better → best
• Bad → worse → worst
• Far → farther/further → farthest/furthest
• Little → less → least (for quantity: less time, the least time)
• Many/much → more → most

Examples:

• Her cooking is better than mine. (Comparative)
• This is the worst movie I’ve seen. (Superlative)

Note: Often, farther is used for physical distance and further for abstract meaning (further information).

For quantity, use less/least: less time, the least time. For physical size, use small → smaller → smallest. We do not normally use littler/littlest with this meaning.

3. Correlative comparatives (the ..., the ...)

Sometimes we want to emphasize that one change depends on another. We use the + comparative …, the + comparative …

Meaning: “When X increases or changes, Y also increases or changes.”

Structure: The + comparative clause, the + comparative clause.

Examples:

• The harder she works, the more successful she will be.
• The colder it gets, the fewer people go outside.

Tip: This correlative comparative pattern shows a cause-and-effect relationship.

4. Comparatives and superlatives in sentences

4.1 Comparatives in Conditional Sentences (with if)

• If you study harder, you will get better results.
• If you exercise more, you will get faster.

4.2 Superlatives with I’ve ever / of all / I know

• This is the most exciting movie I’ve ever seen.
• She is the kindest person I know, even though she’s very busy.
• It is one of the best films of the year.
• It is the second largest city in the country.
• This is by far the best option.
• This is the least expensive hotel.

Use one of the + superlative + plural noun: one of the best films, not one of the best film.

To show the group or experience you are comparing, use in for a place or larger group (the tallest building in the city), of for a stated number or set (the tallest of the three), and a present perfect relative clause for experience (the best film I’ve ever seen).

4.3 Comparatives with Adverbs

With many adverbs, we use more/most (more carefully, most quickly). But some short adverbs use -er/-est: fast → faster → fastest; hard → harder → hardest; early → earlier → earliest.

• He speaks English more fluently than his brother.
• She sings better than anyone in her class.

4.4 Superlatives with Adverbs

With superlative adverbs, the is often omitted: He ran fastest. We usually use the when we mention a group: He ran the fastest of all the students.

• He ran the fastest of all the students.
• Out of everyone at the party, she danced the most beautifully.

4.5 Quantity Comparisons

Use more with both uncountable and plural countable nouns: more money, more books, and more people. To compare a smaller quantity, use less with uncountable nouns and fewer with plural countable nouns.

• I have less time than last month.
• There are fewer people on the train today.

4.6 Comparatives Joined with and

Use a comparative twice with and to show that a change continues over time.

• It is getting colder and colder.
• Houses are becoming more and more expensive.

This is different from joining two different comparatives to describe two qualities of the same person, thing, or situation.

• This route is easier and shorter than the other one.
• The new library is larger and quieter than the old one.
• Travelling by train is more comfortable and less stressful than driving.

4.7 Common Mistakes

5. Key takeaways

• Use much, far, a lot, any, or rather with comparatives; never very.
• Use more with uncountable and plural countable nouns; use less with uncountable nouns and fewer with plural countable nouns.
• Use repeated comparatives for a continuing change: colder and colder / more and more expensive.
• Use the + -est or the most + adjective for superlatives, and remember one of the + superlative + plural noun: one of the best films.
• Remember than for comparisons; then is about time.