Equatives, Comparatives and Superlatives

Introduction
Equatives, Comparatives and Superlatives are special forms of adjectives. They are used to
compare two or more things. Generally, equatives are formed by using as + adjective + as,
comparatives are formed by using -er and superlatives are formed by using -est. This page will
explain the rules for forming equatives, comparatives and superlatives, and also show some
basic ways of using them.

Forming regular comparatives and superlatives

How these forms are created depends on how many syllables there are in the
adjective. Syllables are like "sound beats". For instance, "sing" contains one syllable, but
"singing" contains two -- sing and ing. Here are the rules:

Adjective form Equative Comparative Superlative

as +
Adjective +
Only one syllable, Add -ST:
as: Add -R:
ending in E. Examples: widest, finest,
as wide as, wider, finer, cuter
wide, fine, cute cutest
as fine as,
as cute as

as +
Only one syllable, with Double the Double the
Adjective +
one vowel and one consonant, and add consonant, and
as:
consonant at the end. -ER: add -EST:
as hot as,
Examples: hotter, bigger, hottest, biggest,
as big as,
hot, big, fat fatter fattest
as fat as

Only one syllable, with as +

more than one vowel or Adjective +
Add -ER: Add -EST:
more than one as:
lighter, neater, lightest, neatest,
consonant at the end. as light as,
faster fastest
Examples: as neat as,
light, neat, fast as fast as
 as +
Adjective +
Change Y to I, then Change Y to I,
Two syllables, ending in as:
add -ER: then add -EST:
Y. Examples: as happy
happier, sillier, happiest, silliest,
happy, silly, lonely as,
lonelier loneliest
as silly as,
as lonely as

as +
Adjective +
as:
Two syllables or more, Use MORE before Use MOST before
as modern
not ending in Y. the adjective: the adjective:
as,
Examples: more modern, more most modern,
as
modern, interesting, interesting, more most interesting,
interesting
beautiful beautiful most beautiful
as,
as beautiful
as

as +
Irregular
Adjective +
Forms:
as: worse
bad worst
as bas as, better
good best
as good as, less
little least
as little as, more
much most
as much as, farther/further
far farthest, furthest
as far as

fun as fun as, more fun than the most fun

funny as funny as funnier than the funniest

How to use comparatives and superlatives

Equatives are used to compare two things that are equal in the
quality that you are describing. You use as + adjective + as.

Dan is 5 feet 10 inches tall. His father is 5 feet 10 inches tall.

Equatives
 Dan is as tall as his father.
 Dan's cat has eyes as blue as sapphires.
 My sister's hair is as long as mine (is).
 Equatives are also used to compare two things that are unequal (
not equal) in the quality that you are describing. You use not as
+ adjective + as

Today isn't hot. Yesterday was hot.

 Today isn't as hot as yesterday (was).

 This soup isn't as spicy as the soup I had last night.
 I'm not as intelligent as the other students.
 My house isn't as big as your house.

Comparatives are used to compare two things. You can use

sentences with THAN, or you can use a conjunction like BUT.
Examples:
Comparatives
 Jonas is taller than Andy.
 Jonas is tall, but Dan is taller.

Superlatives are used to compare more than two things.

Superlative sentences usually use THE, because there is only
one superlative. Examples:

 Dan is the tallest in the class.

 Patricia is tall, and Jonas is taller, but Dan is the tallest.
 That was the most difficult test of all our tests.

Clues for using the superlative: in the

world/country/city/school, of all, of all the students,
Superlatives one of..., have/has ever...

o Mt. Everest is the tallest mountain in the world.

o He was the noisiest student of all.
o Ann is one of the most serious students in class.
o That was the best film I have ever seen.

Note: You can't use "than" with the superlative: He

is the tallest than I. He is the tallest in our class.
You must use "than' with the comparative form:
He is taller than everyone else in the class.
Practice Exercise 1: Write in the correct forms as shown in number 1.

Adjective Equative Comparison Superlative

1. tall as tall as taller than the tallest
2. sunny
3. bad
4. expensive
5. far
6. dangerous
7. red
8. famous
9. nice
10. hard
11. friendly
12. good
13. dirty
14. polluted
15. exciting
16. little

Q1 - It's better ____ I thought.

a. as
b. then
c. than
d. like
Q2 - Brazil is _____ England.
a. biger than
b. bigger as
c. bigger than
d. biger as
Q3 - She is _____ in the class
a. the best
b. best
c. better than
d. as good as
Q4 - I'm not as successful ___ she is.
a. as
b. like
c. than
d. then
Q5 - It was ______ expensive restaurant I've ever been to.
a. more
b. the more
c. most
 d. the most
Q6 - I'd like some ____ information.
a. farther
b. further
c. Either could be used here.
Q7 - It's ____ art collection in Europe.
a. finer
b. finest
c. the finer
d. the finest
Q8 - It was ____ than I was expecting.
a. cheaper
b. cheapest
c. Either could be used here.
Q9 - This is the ______ kitchen I've ever seen.
a. dirtyest
b. dirtiest
c. Either could be used here.
Q10 - Which is ____ of the two?
a. more difficult
b. most difficult
c. Either could be used here.
Q11 - She finished ____ than everyone else.
a. more quickly
b. quicker
c. Either could be used here.
Q12 - The underground is ____ buses.
a. more expensive
b. most expensive
c. the most expensive
d. more expensive than
Q13 - The plane would be _____ than the coach.
a. more quickly
b. quicker
c. Either could be used here.
Q14 - It was ____ test I have ever done.
a. the most hard
b. the hardest
c. Either could be used here.
Q15 - There were ____ people at the game than expected.
a. most
b. more
c. many
Q16 - The _____ difficult thing was communication.
a. more
b. most
c. It depends on how many things there were.

http://faculty.seattlecentral.edu/dloos/Grammar/comparisons/comparatives_and_superlative
s_intro.htm