This unit offers a review of the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives for learners who have studied this grammar before.
When we compare two nouns, we use comparative adjectives. Depending on the number of syllables and the letter ending of the adjective, the ending changes accordingly. One-syllable adjectives typically take “-er”. To one-syllable adjectives that end in “-e”, we only add “-r”.
When directly comparing a noun to another noun, we use “than”. When we are comparing two nouns, and one of them is implied but not stated in the sentence, we do not use “than”.
Examples:
My car is nicer than yours/your car.
My car is nicer. (‘than yours’ is implied.)
His son is taller than mine/my son.
His son is taller. (‘than mine’ is implied.)
When a one-syllable adjective ends in a single vowel + a single consonant, we double the consonant and add “-er” (big – bigger, but cool – cooler). If the adjective ends in a consonant + y (this includes two-syllable adjectives such as happy and busy), we change the “y” to an “i” and add “-er”.
If the adjective has two or more syllables, we do not add “-er” to the ending, but we use the word “more”, before the adjective. Note, there are some two-syllable words that do use “-er”.
Examples:
I read two books. The second one was more interesting.
It is more likely to rain tomorrow than today.
This engine is more powerful than the previous one.
The Superlative
If we compare three or more objects, we use the superlative. The superlative is used for the entity or the object that is the most of its quality in the group of objects we are comparing. To form the superlative of a one-syllable adjective, we use “the” + adjective + “-est”, following the same spelling principles as the comparative (y -> i, consonant doubles).
Examples:
His car may be the fastest, but mine is the prettiest.
This is the biggest dog I have ever seen. (of all the dogs I have seen)
The new skyscraper is the tallest skyscraper in the world. (of all the skyscrapers)
To form multi-syllable superlative adjectives, we use “the most” + the adjective in its base form. Some common adjectives are irregular: good – better – the best, bad – worse – the worst, far – farther – the farthest.
Examples:
I have seen several interesting movies this past week, but the documentary was the most interesting.
This is the most powerful aircraft ever built.
She had the most interesting story to tell her friend.