Adjectives and adverbs · Elementary (A2)
Comparatives and superlatives
Compare things: bigger, more expensive, the best, as… as.
The rules
Short adjectives (one syllable): -er / the -est: cheap → cheaper → the cheapest. Double the final consonant after one vowel: big → bigger. Ending in -y: happy → happier → the happiest.
Long adjectives (two+ syllables): more / the most: expensive → more expensive → the most expensive. Irregular: good → better → the best; bad → worse → the worst; far → further → the furthest.
Use than after comparatives: Cats are quieter than dogs. Equal: as + adjective + as: She’s as tall as her brother. Not equal: not as… as: It isn’t as hot as yesterday.
Make differences bigger or smaller with much / a lot / far and a bit / slightly: much cheaper, a bit more difficult.
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| small | smaller | the smallest |
| hot | hotter | the hottest |
| easy | easier | the easiest |
| modern | more modern | the most modern |
| good | better | the best |
| bad | worse | the worst |
Examples
- The train is faster than the bus.
- This is the most beautiful beach in the country.
- My English is better than last year.
- The film wasn’t as good as the book.
Common mistakes
✗ more cheaper
✓ cheaper
Don’t use more with -er.
✗ She is taller that me.
✓ She is taller than me.
Comparatives take than.
✗ the most good
✓ the best
Good is irregular.
Practice
This hotel is ___ than the other one.
Quiz
1.Which is correct?
2.She’s ___ student in the class.
3.Complete the sentence.
4.We use “than” after a comparative.