comparatives & superlatives

COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES FORMING THE COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE Number of syllables Comparative Superlative one syllable + -er + -esttall taller tallest one syllable with the spelling consonant + single vowel + consonant: double the final consonant: fat fatter fattestbig bigger biggestsad sadder saddest Number of syllables Comparative Superlativetwo syllables + -er OR more + adj + -est OR most + adjending in: -y, -ly, -ow ending in: -le, -er or -ure these common adjectives - handsome, polite, pleasant, common, quiet happy happier/ more happy happiest/ most happyyellow yellower/ more yellow yellowest/ most yellowsimple simpler/ more simple simplest/ most simpletender tenderer/ more tender tenderest/ most tender If you are not sure, use MORE + OR MOST + Note: Adjectives ending in '-y' like happy, pretty, busy, sunny, lucky etc:. replace the -y with -ier or -iest in the comparative and superlative form busy busier busiest Number of syllables Comparative Superlativethree syllables or more more + adj most + adjimportant more important most importantexpensive more expensive most expensive Examples: a. A cat is fast, a tiger is faster but a cheetah is the fastest b. A car is heavy, a truck is heavier, but a train is the heaviest c. A park bench is comfortable, a restaurant chair is more comfortable, but a sofa is the most comfortable

COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES IRREGULAR COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES These adjectives have completely irregular comparative and superlative forms: Adjective Comparative Superlative good better bestbad worse worstlittle less leastmuch more mostfar further / farther furthest / farthest

COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVESTHE + SUPERLATIVE'the' is placed before the superlative:
For example:
He is the richest man in the world. That is the biggest crocodile I have ever seen. She is the tallest girl in her class.

COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVESCOMPARATIVE + THANTo compare the difference between two people, things or events.
Examples:
Mt. Everest is higher than Mt. Blanc. Thailand is sunnier than Norway. A car is more expensive than a bicycle. Albert is more intelligent than Arthur.
COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVESAS + ADJECTIVE + ASTo compare people, places, events or things, when there is no difference, use as + adjective + as:
Peter is 24 years old. John is 24 years old. Peter is as old as John. More examples:
Moscow is as cold as St. Petersburg in the winter. Ramona is as happy as Raphael. Einstein is as famous as Darwin. A tiger is as dangerous as a lion.

COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVESNOT AS + ADJECTIVE + ASDifference can also be shown by using not so/as ...as:
Mont Blanc is not as high as Mount Everest

Norway is not as sunny as

Thailand A bicycle is not as expensive as a car

Arthur is not as intelligent as Albert

COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVESCOMPARISONS OF QUANTITYTo show difference: more, less, fewer + thanTo show no difference: as much as , as many as, as few as, as little as

COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVESCOMPARISONS OF QUANTITYTo show difference: more, less, fewer + than
Examples:
With countable nouns: more / fewer
Eloise has more children than Chantal. Chantal has fewer children than Eloise. There are fewer dogs in Cardiff than in Bristol I have visited fewer countries than my friend has. He has read fewer books than she has. With uncountable nouns: more / less
Eloise has more money than Chantal. Chantal has less money than Eloise. I spend less time on homework than you do. Cats drink less water than dogs. This new dictionary gives more information than the old one. So, the rule is:
MORE + nouns that are countable or uncountableFEWER + countable nounsLESS + uncountable nouns