the comparative and superlative in english

The Comparative and Superlative in English

IST531-21 Feb 12 Marwan Haddad

April 20, 2012

We use the comparative and superlative form to compare and contrast different objects in English. Use the comparative form to show the difference between two objects.

Example:

New York is more exciting than Seattle.

Use the superlative form when speaking about three or more objects to show which object is 'the most' of something.

Example:

New York is the most exciting city in the USA.

Here is a chart showing how to construct the comparative form in English.

(Chart)

Notice in the example sentences that we use 'than' to compare the two objects add '-er ' to end of the adjective (Note: double the final consonant if preceded by a vowel) remove the 'y' from the adjective and add 'ier‘.

Example:

• cheap – cheaper• hot – hotter• high - higher

Example Sentences:

• Yesterday was hotter than today. • This book is cheaper than that book.

Two Syllable Adjectives Ending in '-y'.

Example:

• happy – happier• funny - funnier

Example Sentences:

• I am happier than you. • That joke was funnier than his joke.

Two, Three or More Syllable Adjectives:

Place 'more' before the adjective

Example:

• interesting - more interesting• difficult - more difficult

Example Sentences:

• London is more expensive than Madrid. • This test is more difficult than the last test.

Here is a chart showing how to construct the superlative form in English:

(Chart)

One Syllable Adjectives: Place 'the' before the adjective and add '-est' to end of the adjective (Note: double the final consonant if preceded by a vowel).

Example:

• cheap - the cheapest• hot - the hottest• high - the highest

Example Sentences:

• Today is the hottest day of the summer. • This book is the cheapest I can find.

Two, Three or More Syllable Adjectives:

Place 'the most' before the adjective.

Example:

• interesting - the most interesting• difficult - the most difficult

Example Sentences:

• London is the most expensive city in England. • That is the most beautiful painting here.

Two Syllable Adjectives Ending in '-y‘:

Place 'the' before the adjective and remove the 'y' from the adjective and add ‘iest’.

Example:

• happy - the happiest• funny - the funniest

Example Sentences:

• New York is the noisiest city in the USA. • He is the most important person I know.

IMPORTANT EXCEPTIONS:

There are some important exceptions to these rules. Here are two of the most important exceptions:

good

Example Sentences• good - adjectiveThis book is good.• better – comparativeThis book is better than that one.• the best – superlativeThis is the best school in the city

bad

Example Sentences• bad – adjectiveThis meat is bad so we can’t eat it.• worse - comparativeHis French is worse than mine.• the worst - superlativeThis is the worst day of my life.