Pt 9 Basic English – Essential Lessons for Beginning English Learners

Lesson 15: Comparative Forms in English

We use the comparative and superlative form to compare and contrast different objects in English. Use the comparative form to show the difference between two objects. Example: New York is more exciting than Seattle. Use the superlative form when speaking about three or more objects to show which object is ‘the most’ of something. Example: New York is the most exciting city in the USA.

Here is how to construct the comparative form in English. Notice in the example sentences that you use ‘than’ to compare the two objects:

One-Syllable Adjectives

add ‘-er’ to end of the adjective (Note: double the final consonant if preceded by a vowel) remove the ‘y’ from the adjective and add ‘ier’

Example: cheap – cheaper / hot – hotter / high – higher

• Yesterday was hotter than today.
• This book is cheaper than that book.

Two-Syllable Adjectives Ending in ‘-y’

Example: happy – happier / funny – funnier

• I am happier than you.
• That joke was funnier than his joke.

Adjectives With Two, Three, or More Syllables 

place ‘more’ before the adjective

Example: interesting – more interesting / difficult – more difficult

• London is more expensive than Madrid.
• This test is more difficult than the last test.

Important Exceptions

There are some important exceptions to these rules. Here are two of the most important exceptions:

Good

• good – adjective
• better – comparative

Example:

• This book is better than that one.
• I am better at tennis than my sister.

Bad

• bad – adjective
• worse – comparative

Example:

• His French is worse than mine.
• His singing is worse than Tom’s.

Lesson 16:  Superlative Forms – Understanding the English Superlative Form

Here is how to construct the superlative form in English.

One-Syllable Adjectives

Place ‘the’ before the adjective and add ‘-est’ to end of the adjective (Note: double the final consonant if preceded by a vowel).

Example: cheap – the cheapest / hot – the hottest / high – the highest

• Today is the hottest day of the summer.
• This book is the cheapest I can find.

Two, Three or More Syllable Adjectives

Place ‘the most’ before the adjective.

Example: interesting – the most interesting/difficult – the most difficult

• London is the most expensive city in England.
• That is the most beautiful painting here.

Two-Syllable Adjectives Ending in ‘-y’ Place ‘the’ before the adjective and remove the ‘y’ from the adjective and add ‘iest’.

Example: happy – the happiest / funny – the funniest

• New York is the noisiest city in the USA.
• He is the most important person I know.

Important Exceptions

There are some important exceptions to these rules. Here are two of the most important exceptions:

Good

• good – adjective
• the best – superlative

Example:

• Peter is the best golf player in the school.
• This is the best school in the city.

Bad

• bad – adjective
• the worst – superlative

Example:

• Jane is the worst student in the class.
• This is the worst day of my life.

Source:  thoughtco.com©