Comparisons

• Comparative

  Used to compare two nouns, words like faster, slower, shorter, smaller
• Superlative


  Used to compare three or more objects that are at the upper and lower limits of quality, words like the fastest, the slowest, the shortest, the smallest
• Forming a comparative sentence


  Noun, subject, plus verb, plus comparative adjective, plus than, plus noun, object
• Forming a superlative sentence


  Subject noun, plus verb, plus the, plus superlative adjective, plus the object noun
• Forming regular comparatives and superlatives


  • For one syllable adjectives, add er to comparatives and est to superlatives
  • Adjectives that follow the consonant, plus single vowel, plus consonant pattern must double the final consonant
  • Most two-syllable comparatives will add more or less and the superlatives will add most or least
  • If a two-syllable adjective ends in y, remove the y, change it to i, and add er in the comparative form and est in the superlative form
  • Two-syllable adjectives ending with or or ow are treated like regular comparatives and superlatives, add er to the comparatives and est to the superlatives
  • Adverbs ending in ly receive more or less in the comparative form and most or least in the superlative form
• Some adjectives can be correct in either comparative or superlative form
• There are some irregular adjectives that don't follow any rule and need to be memorised
• Further and furthest is more common in British English and farther and farthest is more common in American English