The Comparative and Superlative forms of Adjectives and Adverbs

1. Adjectives:

The comparative forms The superlative forms

The comparatives are used to compare
two things in order to highlight the
The main use inferiority, equality and superiority of the
thing compared to another.
1. Short Adjs:
… less + Adj. + than …
June is less cold than July.
Inferiority 2. Long Adjs:
… less + Adj. + than …
My car is less expensive than yours.
The superlatives are used to compare so
many things in larger groups. The
superlatives designate: the best, the
worst, the first, the last, and so on.
1. Short Adjs:
… the least + Adj. …
Peter is the least old pupil of the class.
2. Long Adjs:
… the least + Adj. …
This is the least pleasant place.

Short /Long Adjectives:

… as + short/long Adj. + as …
Equality ///
Peter is as old as Jack.
Maya is as intelligent as Maria
1. Short Adjs: 1. Short Adjs:
… Adj. + -er + than … … the + Adj. + -est …
Jack is taller than Adam. Adam is the youngest pupil of the class.
Superiority 2. Long Adjs: 2. Long Adjs:
… more + Adj. + than … … The most + Adj. …
My car is more expensive than yours. Lamborghini is the most comfortable car.

Notes:
1. Short adjectives are two types:
a- The adjectives that have 1 syllable: young, nice, cold, …
b- The adjectives that have 2 syllables and ending in -y: pretty, heavy, …
2. Long adjectives are the adjectives which have two syllable and more.
3. In comparatives:
a- If a short adjective ends with a vowel + consonant, we double the consonant: big = bigger
b- If a short adjective ends in -y, the -y becomes -i: heavy = heavier.
c- If a short adjective ends in -e, we only add “r”: wise = wiser
4. Some very common adjectives that have irregular forms in comparatives and superlatives:
Adjective Comparative Superlative
Good Better The best
Bad Worse The worst
Far Farther The farthest

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2. Adverbs:
An adverb is a word or phrase that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb, expressing a
relation of place, time, circumstance, manner, cause degree, etc.
Adverbs ending in -ly

The comparative forms The superlative forms

... less + Adv. + than … ... least + Adv. …
Our teacher speaks less loudly yesterday. Karen was not wearing high heel shoes
Inferiority but she moved least gracefully.

... as + Adv. + as …
You drive as slowly as you did before.
Equality ///

... more + Adv. + than … ... most + Adv. …

Jim works more seriously than the others I received your letter most gratefully.
Superiority do.

Short adverbs that do not end in -ly, comparative and superlative forms are similar to adjectives. We add -er
to form comparative and -est to form superlative.
Adverb Comparative Superlative
Hard Harder Hardest
Fast Faster Fastest
Late Later Latest

Examples:

- Peter works harder than his partner does.

- John ran the fastest of all the competitors.

Some adverbs have irregular comparative and superlative forms.

Adverb Comparative Superlative

Badly Worse Worst
Little Less Least
Well Better Best
Far Farther / further Furthest / farthest

Examples:

- This little boy ran farther than his friends.

- Today, you are driving worse than yesterday.