Sometimes using just an adjective is not enough to describe an object or situation. We might want to compare what we are describing with something else, to make our description clearer. This is when we use comparatives and superlatives.
Comparative Adjectives
The comparative form is used compare two or more things using their differences in size, quantity, quality, or other characteristic. By comparing two things together in English helps make conversation more engaging and clear by adding depth and nuance to the information.
Below is a table of the grammar rules about when to use the comparative form with adjectives to compare two things in English.
Use comparative adjectives to compare two people, places, or things.
| Number of Syllables | Form | Example |
| One | Adjective + -er | tall (one syllable) tall + -er = taller |
| Two (ending in -y) | -y changes to -i +-er | happy (two syllables) happy + -er = happier |
| Two (NOT ending in -y) | more + Adjective | famous (two syllables, NO -y) more + famous = more famous |
| Three or more | more + Adjective | beautiful (four syllables) more + beautiful = more beautiful |
Jane is taller than Janet.
The height of Jane is more than the height of Janet. This sentence is using the adjective tall in its comparative form to compare the two women.
I feel happier when I work from home than at the office.
In this sentence, the speaker is comparing in English how they feel about where they work. They like to work from home more than to work at the office.
Superlative Adjectives
If you want to express that something is the greatest, or highest in quality, the superlative form is used. Superlatives allow us to compare things in English and highlight the absolute best of them.
Superlatives help convey our emotions or opinion about something, whether we’re trying to persuade others or simply revealing our honest thoughts.
Use superlative adjectives to compare more than two people, places, or things.
| Number of Syllables | Form | Example |
| One | the + Adjective + -est | tall (one syllable) the + tall + -est = the tallest |
| Two (ending in -y) | the + Adjective -y changes to -i +-er | happy (two syllables) the + happy + -est = the happiest |
| Two (NOT ending in -y) | the + most + Adjective | famous (two syllables, NO -y) the + most + famous = the most famous |
| Three or more | the + most+ Adjective | beautiful (four syllables) the + most + beautiful = the most beautiful |
The tallest kid in class is twice my size!
In this sentence, the superlative form of ‘tall’ is being used to compare the speaker with the person with the most length in height out of all the children in the class. The ‘tallest’ kid is the one that is more tall than everyone.
This is the most beautiful dress I have ever bought.
In this sentence, the speaker is comparing this dress with all the dresses they own and uses the superlative form to explain that no other dress is as beautiful as this one.
Comparative and superlative forms of adjectives are a great way to provide more context in conversations or explanations. As you can see from our discussion, understanding how to use them is essential for making clear comparisons and communicating effectively with others. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for new English practice techniques, become familiar with comparatives and superlatives as part of your fluency training.
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