Comparatives and superlatives of superiority

Image  Sam is taller than his sister. 

Image   The white egg is the biggest and the red egg is the smallest.


We use comparative adjectives to compare two things or people.

We use superlative adjectives to compare more than two things or people.
 

The construction usually depends on the number of syllables.

Comparatives:


One-syllable                         


adjective + 'er' + 'than'

colder than

 

 

Sweden is colder than France.

Two-syllables and ending in a consonant and 'y'

 

adjective + 'er' + 'than'

busier than

 

 

I'm busier than my boss.

More than two syllables

'more' + adjective + 'than'

more expensive than

 

Cars are more expensive than motorbikes.

 

 
Superlatives:
 

 

One-syllable                         

 

'the' + adjective + 'est'

the coldest

 

 

Antarctica is the coldest place in the world.

 

 

Two-syllables and ending in a consonant and 'y'

 

 

'the' + adjective + 'est'

the busiest

 

 

September is the busiest month for us.

 

 

Others with two syllables

 

'the most' + adjective the most honest

 

She's the most honest person in the department.

 

 

More than two syllables

 

'the most' + adjective

the most expensive

 

 

This is the most expensive car in the world.


One vowel and one consonant - double and add 'est'

More than one vowel or consonant
- add 'est' 

Ends in 'e'
- add 'st'

Change 'y' to 'i' and add 'est'

 

big  - the biggest

thin - the thinnest

wet - the wettest

 

 

steep - the steepest

rich - the richest

near - the nearest

 

nice - the nicest

wide- the widest

close - the closest

 

dry - the driest

pretty - the prettiest

happy - the happiest


Sometimes we use both in one sentence. For example:

England is bigger than Belgium but France is the biggest


Adjective

Comparative adjective

Superlative adjective

 

big

cheap

pale

funny

good

bad

 

 

bigger

cheaper

paler

funnier

better

worse

 

the biggest

the cheapest

the palest

the funniest

the best

the worst


good  -> better

bad    -> worse

far     ->  further
 


 Image

Simon is younger than Todd.

 

 Image

Janette's present is bigger than Holly's.

 Image

This box is smaller and heavier than the blue box.

 

 Image

My apartment is more modern than my house.

 Image

Quality is more important than price.

 

 Image

The weather today is better than yesterday. We often have the best weather in September.


 Image

I have the worst office in the department!

 

Image 

 

They have four daughters. The oldest is nine and the youngest is one.

  


 Image

The pink flower is the prettiest.