Comparative and superlative adjectives
Comparative and superlative adjectives are adjective forms used to compare things. The comparative (e.g. bigger, more useful) compares two people, things or ideas, showing one has more of a quality than the other. The superlative (e.g. biggest, most useful) compares three or more, showing which has the most or least of that quality.
Types of comparative and superlative adjectives
Short adjectives (one syllable)
Add -er for comparative and -est for superlative, often with a spelling change.
e.g. tall, taller, tallest, big, bigger, biggest, safe, safer, safest
Two-syllable adjectives
Some take -er/-est, especially those ending in -y (changed to -ier/-iest); others use more/most.
e.g. happy, happier, happiest, modern, more modern, most modern, quiet, quieter/more quiet, quietest/most quiet
Long adjectives (two or more syllables)
Use more before the adjective for the comparative and most for the superlative instead of adding endings.
e.g. beautiful, more beautiful, most beautiful, expensive, more expensive, most expensive, interesting, more interesting, most interesting
Irregular adjectives
These do not follow the standard -er/-est or more/most pattern and must be memorised.
e.g. good, better, best, bad, worse, worst, far, farther/further, farthest/furthest
Rules to remember
- For one-syllable adjectives, add -er (comparative) and -est (superlative): fast, faster, fastest.
- If a one-syllable adjective ends in a single vowel plus consonant, double the final consonant before adding the ending: big, bigger, biggest.
- If an adjective ends in -y after a consonant, change y to i before adding -er/-est: easy, easier, easiest.
- For adjectives with two or more syllables (and most two-syllable ones not ending in -y), use more/most before the adjective instead of an ending: careful, more careful, most careful.
- Use 'than' after a comparative to state the second item being compared, and 'the' before a superlative: This bag is cheaper than that one; this is the cheapest bag in the shop.
Examples in sentences
| Example | How it works |
|---|---|
| My brother is taller than me. | One-syllable adjective with -er comparing two people. |
| This is the tallest building in the city. | Superlative with -est and 'the', comparing more than two. |
| The blue jacket is more expensive than the red one. | Long adjective using 'more' for the comparative. |
| That was the most difficult exam I have ever taken. | Long adjective using 'most' for the superlative. |
| Her new flat is bigger than her old one. | Doubled consonant before -er in a short adjective. |
| This is the best advice anyone has given me. | Irregular superlative form of 'good'. |
| Public transport here is getting more reliable than it used to be. | Comparative used to show change over time. |
Common mistakes
Incorrect: This exercise is more easier than the last one.
Correct: This exercise is easier than the last one.
Incorrect: She is the most tallest student in the class.
Correct: She is the tallest student in the class.
Incorrect: This restaurant is more good than that one.
Correct: This restaurant is better than that one.
Why this matters for IELTS
Using a mix of comparative and superlative forms accurately, including irregular ones like better, worse and furthest, shows grammatical range and control, which examiners reward in the Grammatical Range and Accuracy criterion. Avoid double comparatives (more easier) or double superlatives (most tallest), as these are common errors that lower accuracy scores even at higher band levels in both Writing and Speaking.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between comparative and superlative adjectives?
Comparative adjectives compare two things (bigger, more interesting), while superlative adjectives compare three or more things and identify the extreme, such as the biggest or the most interesting.
When do I use 'more' instead of adding '-er'?
Use 'more' with adjectives of two or more syllables that do not end in -y, such as careful, modern and beautiful. Add -er to most one-syllable adjectives instead.
Can an adjective have irregular comparative and superlative forms?
Yes, some common adjectives are irregular, such as good/better/best, bad/worse/worst and far/farther/farthest or further/furthest. These forms must be learned individually rather than following standard rules.
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