Comparative and superlative of adjectives and adverbs

TERMS
• comparative
A word or phrase used to compare the differences or similarities between two objects or
actions.

• superlative
A word or phrase used to show that something has a quality to the greatest or the least
degree.

Comparatives
Comparatives are adjectives or adverbs. We use comparatives to compare one thing
against another.

• Adjectives modify / describe nouns (objects or people):

• Adverbs modify / describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

Comparative forms of adjectives

Look at these examples:

• Tim’s job is easy; but Mary’s job is easier than his.

• Mary’s job is less easy.

• Josh’ job is difficult; but Monica’s job is more difficult than his.

• Josh’ job is less difficult than Monica’s.

“easier than”, “less easy than”, and “more/less difficult” are comparatives. They compare
things/people/or places (in this example, “job”).
 We form comparatives differently, depending on the length of the word – for short
adverbs, we add -er than, for long adverbs, we use more…than or less…than.

Short Comparative Example

Adverb

hard harder than Studying Chinese is harder than studying English.

early earlier than Tom arrived earlier than me today.

Long Comparative Example

Adverb

easily more easily My daughter is adapting more / less easily than me to

less easily the new house.

dangerously more dangerously My friend drives more / less dangerously than a stunt

less dangerously actor.

Comparative from of adverbs

Look at these examples:

• He works hard. He works harder than Mary.

• He works efficiently. Mary works more efficiently than him.

• Tim works less efficiently than Monica.

“harder than” and “more/less efficiently than” are comparatives. They compare actions
(work).
 We form comparatives differently, depending on the length of the word – for short
adverbs, we add -er than, for long adverbs, we use more…than or less…than.

Short Comparative Example

Adverb

hard harder than Studying Chinese is harder than studying English.

early earlier than Tom arrived earlier than me today.

Long Comparative Example

Adverb

easily more easily My daughter is adapting more / less easily than me to

less easily the new house.

dangerously more dangerously My friend drives more / less dangerously than a stunt

less dangerously actor.

In the previous sentences, we compare actions at an inferior or superior level. (one

action is “more” or “less” than another.

But we can also compare two things / actions that are equal:

(NOT) AS + ADJECTIVE or ADVERB + AS

Comparisons of equality
Look at the following examples:

• I am as old as her. (= we are the same age)

• It is as hot as yesterday. (= today and yesterday, the temperature was the same)
• He works as hard as her. (=they work equally hard)

• Tom arrived as early as me today. (= we arrived at the same time)

 We can also say that two things are NOT equal:

• I am not as old as her. (= she is older than me)

• Tom did not arrive as early as me. (I arrived earlier than Tom)

Superlatives
Superlatives are adjectives or adverbs. We use superlatives to compare one thing
against all the rest.

• Aconcagua is the tallest mountain in the Andes. (=is it taller than all the other
mountains)

• My brother is the most careful driver in my family. (= he drives more carefully than the
rest of the family)

Superlative forms of adjectives

We form superlatives depending on the length of the word – for short adverbs, we add
the …-est, for long adverbs, we use the most… or the least….

Short Superlative Example

adjective

small smallest than This shirt is smaller than I thought.

Long Superlative Example

adjective

dangerous the most dangerous Climbing the Aconcagua is the most

the least dangerous dangerous task.
Superlative forms of adverbs
We form superlatives depending on the length of the word – for short adverbs, we add
the …-est, for long adverbs, we use the most… or the least….

Short Superlative Example

Adverb

hard the hardest I think Chinese is the hardest language

to learn.

Long Superlative Example

Adverb

easily the most easily the Portuguese and Italian are the two most
least easily easily learnt languages for Argentinians.

Irregular comparatives and superlatives

Some adjectives and adverbs have irregular comparative forms. See the following
table for examples of Good, Bad, Far and Old.

NOTE: GOOD, BAD, and OLD are adjectives.

FAR can be an adjective or an adverb.

Comparative form Superlative from

GOOD BETTER than the BEST

This term, my grades are the best

Examples My grades are better than before. I’ve ever had.
 Comparative form Superlative from

WORSE than the WORST

BAD

I am feeling worse than yesterday. This is the worst situation we’ve ever
Examples
faced!

FARTHER than (physical distance) the FARTHEST

FAR ≠ = They are synonyms

FURTHER than (in addition) the FURTHEST

Examples We needed to walk farther than This is the farthest distance we’ve

expected. run so far.

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OLD OLDER than the OLDEST

(for age) (for age)

ELDER than the ELDEST

(to compare members of the family) * (to compare members of the family)

Examples I am older than my friends. (age) This is the oldest building in town.

This is my elder sister. (member of

She is the eldest in the family.
the family)

References:
Murphy, R. (1998). Grammar in Use - Reference and Practice for Intermediate Students of English. Cambridge, Reino Unido:
Cambridge University Press. Units 97, 98, 99, 100