Adjectives – Comparatives and Superlatives
Adjectives – Comparatives and Superlatives
Using adjectives, comparatives and superlatives can be confusing sometimes. How do we know when to use the adjective, comparative or superlative? Hopefully, we can answer these questions in the information below.
How to use Comparatives
Comparatives are used when you have only 2 objects or people and one is different to the other. The difference might be the colour, size or length for example.
Noun (subject) + verb + comparative adjective + than + noun (object)
– My cat is smaller than my dog.
– My house is larger than hers.
– Your horse runs faster than Jim’s horse.
– The plane flew higher than the bird.
– Jim and Johnny are both my friends, but I like Jim better.
How to use Superlatives
Superlatives are used to compare the differences between somebody or something with the everything, in the whole group.
Noun (subject) + verb + the + superlative adjective + noun (object)
– My house is the largest on our street.
– This is the smallest box I have ever seen.
– She is the happiest person I know.
– He is the tallest person in this classroom.
1 SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES
-We add -er for the comparative and -est for the superlative. If the adjective has a consonant + single vowel + consonant spelling e.g. big, the final consonant must be doubled before adding -er or -est.
Cheap – Cheaper – Cheapest
Small – Smaller – Smallest
Big – Bigger – Biggest
Hot – Hotter – Hottest
2 OR MORE SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES
-We generally use more…than to make comparatives and the most to make superlatives.
Polite – more polite than – the most polite
Careful – more careful than – the most careful
Expensive – more expensive than – the most expensive
Boring – more boring than – the most boring
ADJECTIVES WITH –Y
-If an adjective ends in a -y we change it to an –i
Dry – Drier – Driest
Funny – Funnier – Funniest
Early – Earlier – Earliest
Heavy – Heavier – Heaviest
IRREGULAR ADJECTIVES
-There are some adjectives that don’t use the rules above.
Good – Better – Best
Bad – Worse – Worst
Far – Further – Furthest
Little – Less – Least