Everything you need to compare people, places and things correctly in English, short and long adjectives, irregular forms, equal comparisons, common mistakes and exam practice.
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Comparatives and superlatives let you compare people, places and things in English. A comparative compares two things ("bigger than"), while a superlative identifies the extreme within a group of three or more ("the biggest").
This is one of the most frequently used grammar points in everyday English, describing, comparing, giving opinions and making recommendations all rely on it. It's also deceptively tricky because the form (whether to add -er/-est or use more/most) depends on how many syllables the adjective has, and a handful of very common adjectives are irregular.
2. Quick Summary
⚡ Comparatives & Superlatives at a Glance
ComparativeCompares two things: adjective + -er / more + adjective + than
SuperlativeCompares 3+ things: the + adjective + -est / the most + adjective
Short adjectives1 syllable (or 2 ending in -y): add -er / -est
Long adjectives2+ syllables: use more / the most
Example"This city is bigger than mine, but Tokyo is the biggest."
Common Mistake"more bigger", never combine -er with "more"
3. The Grammar Rule, Short Adjectives
Rule
Comparative
Superlative
1-syllable adjectives: add -er / -est
tall → taller
tall → the tallest
Ends in -e: add -r / -st only
large → larger
large → the largest
Ends in consonant-vowel-consonant: double final consonant
big → bigger
big → the biggest
Ends in consonant + y: change y to i
happy → happier
happy → the happiest
2-syllable adjectives ending -y, -er, -ow, -le
narrow → narrower
narrow → the narrowest
4. Long Adjectives, more / most
Adjectives with 2+ syllables (that don't follow the pattern above) use more for the comparative and the most for the superlative, the adjective itself doesn't change.
Adjective
Comparative
Superlative
beautiful
more beautiful
the most beautiful
expensive
more expensive
the most expensive
interesting
more interesting
the most interesting
difficult
more difficult
the most difficult
⚠️
Never combine both forms
"More bigger" and "most biggest" are always incorrect, never combine -er/-est with more/most. Choose one system only.
5. Irregular Forms
Adjective
Comparative
Superlative
good
better
the best
bad
worse
the worst
far
further / farther
the furthest / farthest
little (quantity)
less
the least
much/many
more
the most
old (people, formal)
elder
the eldest
6. Sentence Structure & Patterns
Pattern
Example
A + verb + comparative + than + B
London is bigger than Manchester.
A + verb + the + superlative + (in/of...)
London is the biggest city in the UK.
Comparative + and + comparative (increasing trend)
The exam is getting harder and harder.
The + comparative..., the + comparative... (cause and effect)
The more you practise, the better you get.
7. as...as, Equal Comparisons
Use as + adjective + as to say two things are equal, and not as...as to say one is less than the other.
This test is as difficult as the last one. (equal)
My flat isn't as big as yours. (unequal, mine is smaller)
She is just as talented as her sister.
8. Modifying Comparatives (much, a bit, far)
Adverbs of degree can strengthen or soften a comparative.
Strength
Modifier
Example
Strong difference
much, far, a lot
She is much taller than me.
Small difference
a bit, slightly, a little
This one is a bit cheaper.
Note
"very" is never used before a comparative
❌ very bigger → ✅ much bigger
9. Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect
✅ Correct
Why
This is more easier.
This is easier.
Never combine "more" with an -er ending.
She is the most tall in the class.
She is the tallest in the class.
Short adjectives take -est, not "the most."
This is the goodest film ever.
This is the best film ever.
"Good" is irregular, best, not goodest.
He is very taller than me.
He is much taller than me.
"Very" doesn't modify comparatives, use "much/far."
My city is bigger than her city's.
My city is bigger than hers.
Use possessive pronouns, not double possessives, in comparisons.
10. Exercises
A. Gap Fill, Complete with the correct comparative/superlative form (25 questions)
1. This bag is ___ (cheap) than that one.
2. She is the ___ (intelligent) student in the class.
3. Today is ___ (hot) than yesterday.
4. This is the ___ (bad) film I've ever seen.
5. My brother is ___ (old) than me.
6. This exercise is ___ (easy) than the last one.
7. It's the ___ (far) city on the map.
8. This restaurant is ___ (good) than the one we tried last week.
9. She sings ___ (beautiful) than anyone else in the choir.
10. This is by far the ___ (interesting) book I've read this year.
11. The traffic is getting ___ and ___ (bad).
12. The ___ you practise, the ___ you get. (much / good)
13. He is ___ (thin) than his brother.
14. This is the ___ (expensive) hotel in the city.
15. My English is ___ (good) than it was last year.
16. This is the ___ (funny) joke I've heard all week.
17. She is ___ (ambitious) than her colleagues.
18. That was the ___ (bad) decision of my career.
19. This road is ___ (narrow) than the motorway.
20. He is the ___ (young) member of the team.
21. This dress is ___ (elegant) than the other one.
22. Life in the countryside is ___ (peaceful) than life in the city.
23. This is the ___ (little) expensive option on the menu.
24. Their new house is ___ (far) from the office than their old one.
25. She's the ___ (talented) singer I've ever heard.
Show Answers (A)
1. cheaper 2. most intelligent 3. hotter 4. worst 5. older 6. easier 7. farthest/furthest 8. better 9. more beautifully 10. most interesting 11. worse, worse 12. more, better 13. thinner 14. most expensive 15. better 16. funniest 17. more ambitious 18. worst 19. narrower 20. youngest 21. more elegant 22. more peaceful 23. least 24. farther/further 25. most talented
B. Multiple Choice (15 questions)
1. This car is ___ than mine. (a) more fast (b) faster
2. She's the ___ person I know. (a) most kind (b) kindest
3. It's ___ today than yesterday. (a) more cold (b) colder
4. This is the ___ hotel in town. (a) most expensive (b) expensivest
5. He's ___ than his sister. (a) tall (b) taller
6. This is by far the ___ exam I've taken. (a) hardest (b) more hard
7. My phone is ___ than yours. (a) more good (b) better
8. It's ___ far from here. (a) not as (b) not so as
9. The film was ___ boring than the book. (a) far more (b) very more
10. She's ___ tall as her mother. (a) as (b) so
11. He is ___ generous person I know. (a) the most (b) most
12. This bag is ___ than that one. (a) heavier (b) more heavy
13. It's getting ___ outside every winter. (a) colder and colder (b) more cold and cold
14. This is ___ difficult exercise in the book. (a) the most (b) most
15. My new job is ___ than my old one. (a) far better (b) very better
1. This is bigger than that one. 2. She is the tallest girl in school. 3. This film is the best I've seen. 4. He is much taller than his brother. 5. This is easier than I thought. 6. It's the farthest shop from here. 7. My car is faster than yours. 8. She sings better than me. 9. This is the worst day of my life. 10. This bag is more expensive than that one. 11. She is older than me. 12. This is the easiest question. 13. He plays tennis better than his coach. 14. This road is narrower than I remembered.
D. Freer Practice, Write Your Own Sentences (5 tasks)
1. Write a sentence comparing your hometown to London, using a comparative.
2. Write a sentence about the best meal you've ever eaten, using a superlative.
3. Write a sentence using 'the more..., the more...' about learning a language.
4. Write a sentence using 'as...as' to compare two friends.
5. Write a sentence describing a trend using a repeated comparative (e.g. 'busier and busier').
Show Answers (D)
Model answers will vary. Examples: 1. "My hometown is much quieter than London." 2. "That was the best meal I've ever eaten." 3. "The more you practise, the more confident you become." 4. "My friend is just as funny as I am." 5. "The city gets busier and busier every year."
11. Mini Quiz
12. Exam Focus, Cambridge, IELTS, SELT
Exam
How Comparatives Are Tested
Sample Question
Cambridge A2 Key / B1 Preliminary
Basic comparative/superlative forms in Reading and Use of English.
"This bag is ___ (cheap) than that one." (cheaper)
Cambridge B2 First
Key word transformations involving comparatives, "as...as," and "the...the..." patterns.
"No other city in the UK is as big as London." → "London is ___ city in the UK." (the biggest)
IELTS Writing Task 1
Comparatives are essential for describing trends and comparing data in charts and graphs.
"Sales were significantly higher in 2020 than in 2019."
Trinity GESE/ISE (SELT)
Comparing personal experiences, places and preferences in conversation.
"Is your hometown bigger or smaller than London?"
13. Frequently Asked Questions
A comparative compares two things (bigger than), while a superlative identifies the extreme within three or more (the biggest).
For one-syllable adjectives, and most two-syllable adjectives ending in -y, -er, -ow or -le. Longer adjectives use more/most.
No, combining them (more bigger, most biggest) is always incorrect. Choose one system only.
'Better', 'good' is irregular. The superlative is 'the best.'
Use as + adjective + as: 'This test is as difficult as the last one.'
Use not as/so + adjective + as: 'This isn't as expensive as I thought.'
No, use much, far or a lot instead: 'much taller,' not 'very taller.'
It shows cause and effect between two changing things: 'The more you practise, the better you get.'
Repeat the comparative with 'and': 'It's getting harder and harder.'
'The furthest' or 'the farthest', both are correct, with 'furthest' more common in British English.
Yes, comparing places, experiences and preferences is a common conversational topic in the Trinity GESE/ISE speaking tests.
Compare things around you out loud, your hometown vs London, your old job vs your new one, then book a free consultation for personalised speaking practice.
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