A comparative adjective does what it says: it compares two things, or groups of things. We need to form a comparative adjective to show what is most or what tops a category.
Form
We form a comparative adjective for a one-syllable adjective by adding -er (for the comparative) and -est (for the superlative) to the adjective, for example:
Normal Adjective: Big
Comparative Adjective: Bigger
Superlative Adjective: Biggest
Normal Adjective: Small
Comparative Adjective: Smaller
Superlative Adjective: Smallest
NOTE: when a one-syllable adjecive ends in a vowel and a consonant, then remember to double the consonant (see the example below).
| Noun (subject) | + verb | + comparative adjective | + than | + noun (object) |
| My dog | is | bigger (big + g +er) | than | your dog. |
Form a comparative adjective for a two-syllable adjective by adding -ier and -iest to the adjective:
Pretty : prettier : prettiest
Happy: happier : happiest
Finally, form the comparative adjective for two or more syllables by adding the word ‘more’ and ‘the most’.
Beautiful : more beautiful : most beautiful
Delicate : more delicate : most delicate
Be careful when making irregular adjectives comparative or superlative: good, bad, and far take special forms:
Good : better : the best
- Those bottles of wine are good.
- That vintage is better.
- In my opinion, this one is the best.
Bad : worse : the worst
- Her injuries are bad.
- Their injuries are worse.
- His injuries are the worst.
Far : further : the furthest
- Kristof had to travel far to get here.
- Anfal had to travel further than Kristof did.
- Gian had to travel the furthest of all of us.
Be careful!
We don’t say: That muffin is more bigger than this one.
We say: That muffin is bigger than this one.
We don’t say: She is the most tall in the choir.
We say: She is the tallest in the choir.
We don’t say: I found that book to be interestinger than his first book.
We say: I found that book to be more interesting than his first book.