Unit 10

Comparative/superlative
Comparative is the name for the grammar used when comparing two things. The two
basic ways to compare are using as .. as or than. Examples of each are shown below:
She's twice as old as her sister.
He's not as stupid as he looks!
I'm almost as good in maths as in science.
This book is not as exciting as the last one.
The cafeteria is not as crowded as usual.
Russian is not quite as difficult as Chinese.
This computer is better than that one.
She's stronger at chess than I am.
It's much colder today than it was yesterday.
Our car is bigger than your car.
This grammar topic is easier than most others.
I find science more difficult than mathematics.
Today's ESL lesson was more interesting than usual.
Note: In each of the example sentences above, the comparative form of theadjective is
shown. See the foot of this page for information about the comparison ofadverbs.
When comparing with as .. as, the adjective does not change. When comparing
with than, however, some changes are necessary, depending on the number of syllables
the adjective has:
1-syllable adjectives: add -er to the adjective
My sister is much taller than me.
It's colder today than it was yesterday.
Note: If the word ends: consonant-vowel-consonant, then the last consonant is usually
doubled in the comparative. Examples: big-bigger, fat-fatter, hot-hotter.
2-syllable adjectives ending in -y: change the -y to -ier
She's looking happier today.
This grammar topic is easier than the last one.
Why is everyone else luckier than me?
Beware: Do not confuse adjectives and adverbs. 2-syllable adverbs ending in -y must be
compared with the word more. Example: I drive more quickly (quicklier) than my
brother.
Other 2-syllable adjectives: use more with the unchanged adjective
The shops are always more crowded just before Christmas.
Is there anything more boring than reading about grammar?
My sister is more careful with her writing than I am with mine.
Note: The comparative of some shorter 2-syllable adjectives can be formed with -er.
Examples: simple-simpler, clever-cleverer, narrow-narrower. To be sure which
comparative method to use, you will need to consult a good dictionary.
Adjectives with 3 or more syllables: use more with the unchanged adjective
Russian grammar is more difficult than English grammar.
My sister is much more intelligent than me.
I find maths lessons more enjoyable than science lessons.
The older you get, the more irritating you become.

In the superlative you talk about one thing only and how it is the best, worst, etc. You do
not compare two things. The following guidelines apply to the superlative:
1-syllable adjectives: add -est to the adjective (plus the)
My sister is the tallest in our family.
Yesterday was the coldest day of the year so far.
Note: If the word ends: consonant-vowel-consonant, then the last consonant is usually
doubled in the superlative. Examples: big-biggest, fat-fattest, hot-hottest.
2-syllable adjectives ending in -y: change the -y to -iest (plus the)
The richest people are not always the happiest.
Which do you think is the easiest language to learn?
She's the luckiest person I know.
Beware: Do not confuse adjectives and adverbs. 2-syllable adverbs ending in -y form
their superlative with the words the most. Example: Of all the people I know my father
drives the most quickly (quickliest).
Other 2-syllable adjectives: use the most with the unchanged adjective
The most boring thing about ESL class is doing grammar exercises.
My sister is the most careful person I know.
Note: The superlative of some shorter 2-syllable adjectives can be formed with -er.
Examples: simple-simplest, clever-cleverest, narrow-narrowest. To be sure which
superlative method to use, you will need to consult a good dictionary.
Adjectives with 3 or more syllables: use the most with the unchanged adjective
Some people think that Russian is the most difficult language.
Albert Einstein was the most intelligent person in history.
My most enjoyable class is English.
You are the most irritating person I have ever met!
Following are two common irregular comaparative/superlative forms:
good-better-the best
bad-worse-the worst

The following guidelines apply to the comparative/superlative of mostadverbs:
1-syllable adverbs: add -er/-est
I can run faster than you. / I can run the fastest in my class.
She works harder than me. / She works the hardest of all students.
Other adverbs: use more / the most*
She ran more quickly than me. / Of all the students she ranthe most quickly.
* In informal English it is common to hear the adjectival comparative/superlative form
of two-syllable adverbs. For example: She ran quicker than me. | She ran the quickest.
Many educated English speakers prefer to use the nominative plus a verb rather than
the accusative in such comparative sentences, especially in formal situations. They say,
for example, My sister is taller than I am. or She ran more quickly than I did.
The alternative, omitting the verb as in the following examples, is considered to be even
more formal and is avoided by most British English speakers: My sister is taller than I.
or She ran more quickly than I.
Do a quiz on the comparative | superlative.
Use of Comparative Adjectives
We use comparative adjectives when talking about 2 things (not 3 or 10 or 1,000,000
things, only 2 things).
Often, the comparative adjective is followed by "than".
Look at these examples:
John is 1m80. He is tall. But Chris is 1m85. He is taller than John.
America is big. But Russia is bigger.
I want to have a more powerful computer.
Is French more difficult than English?
If we talk about the two planets Earth and Mars, we can compare them as shown in the
table below:
Earth Mars
Diameter (km) 12,760 6,790 Mars is smaller than Earth.
Distance from Sun (million
km)
150 228 Mars is more distant from the Sun.
Length of day (hours) 24 25 A day on Mars is slightlylonger than a
day on Earth.
Moons 1 2 Mars has more moons than Earth.
Surface temperature
(degrees Celcius)
22 -23 Mars is colder than Earth.
Although we use comparative adjectives when talking about two things (not three or
more things), in fact one or both of the things may be a group of things.
Mt Everest is higher than all other mountains.
Here, we are talking about hundreds of mountains, but we are still comparing one thing
(Mt Everest) to one other thing (all other mountains).
[See also Superlative Adjectives]
Grammar more, less, fewer
Fewer vs Less
The words fewer and less are commonly confused in English, or rather, less is used
while fewer tends to fall by the wayside. Youll be less confused and make fewer
mistakes after reading through this lesson.
Fewer
Fewer is used with countable nouns: people, animals, chairs, shoes.
You know fewer people than I do.
There should be fewer books on the table.
I have fewer ideas than everyone else.
Fewer of us show up each year.

Less
Less is used for uncountable, usually abstract nouns: money, happiness, snow, idealism.
I hope less snow falls this year.
We need more money and less debt.
I have less computer savvy than you.
You should spend less of your time complaining.
Less is also used with adjectives and adverbs:
Im less happy than I used to be.
He runs less quickly than you.
Adjectives in Comparative Clauses




Fewer vs. Less
Decrease the amount of something
Fewer with Count Nouns / Less with Noncount Nouns



The use of less in place of fewer is becoming more widespread. Some consider this informal, others do not.
Read Grammar Notes comments of various grammarians and linguists.
Also see noncount nouns (lists of items)
And Nouns that are Both Count and Noncount

Comparative Form of Few
Fewer than


nowadays (adverbial expression) these days or years, in the current period of time(decade)
thoughts (n.) ideas or opinions
turn out well (expression) go well
a few a sufficient or satisfactory number; enough
few an insufficient or unsatisfactory number; not much
Also see A few / Few























Comparative Form of Little
Less than


hang out (v.) (informal) spend time, relax
patience (n.) the ability to accept trouble and other people's annoying behavior without complaining or becoming angry
a little a sufficient or satisfactory amount; enough
little an insufficient or unsatisfactory amount; not much
Also see A little / Little, More / Less than

Degree Modifier
Decreasing the type or quality something



used to + verb past routine, custom, habit, "in the past"
toxic (adj.) poisonous, capable of killing or damaging (chemicals)
appealing (adj.) attractive or interesting
experience (noncount noun) knowledge or skill
experiences (count noun)things that happen to you or things you do
See Nouns that are Both Count and Noncount.











Common Mistakes
Errors and Solutions
Error and Solution


*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.
Related pages: Count vs noncount nouns fruit vs fruits | Much / More
Pop-Q "Fruits",