There are three forms:

- Positive - Comparative - Superlative

Sentences with comparisons
1. A=B Our car is as fast as Peter's car. 2. A><B a) John's car isn't as fast as our car. (A<B) b) Our car is faster than John's car. (A>B) Our car is faster than Peter's car. Peter's car is slower than our car.

NOTE!
John is taller than me. Max is as tall as me. Do not mix up than with then.

Comparison of adverbs
A - Comparison with -er/-est hard - harder - (the) hardest We use -er/-est with the following adverbs: 1) all adverbs with one syllable fast high faster higher fastest highest

2) The adverb: early

B - Comparison with more - most carefully - more carefully - (the) most carefully adverbs ending on -ly (not: early)

C - Irregular adverbs well badly much little late far better worse more less later farther further best worst most least last farthest furthest

ATTENTION! In informal English some adverbs are used without -ly (e.g. cheap, loud, quick). There are two forms of comparison possible, depending on the form of the adverb: cheaply - more cheaply - most cheaply cheap - cheaper cheapest

Comparison of adjectives
A - Comparison with -er/-est clean - cleaner - (the) cleanest We use -er/-est with the following adjectives: 1) Adjectives with one syllable clean new cheap cleaner newer cheaper cleanest newest cheapest

2) Adjectives with two syllables and the following endings: 2 - 1) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -y dirty easy happy pretty dirtier easier happier prettier dirtiest easiest happiest prettiest

2 - 2) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -er clever cleverer cleverest

2 - 3) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -le simple simpler simplest

2 - 4) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -ow narrow narrower narrowest

Spelling of the adjectives using the endings -er/-est

large big sad dirty larger bigger sadder dirtier largest biggest Double the consonant after short vowel saddest dirtiest Change -y to -i (consonant before -y) Here -y is not changed to -i. (although consonant before -y) leave out the silent -e

shy

shyer

shyest

B - Comparison with more - most difficult - more difficult - (the) most difficult all adjectives with more than one syllable (except some adjectives with two syllables - see 2 - 1 to 2 - 4)

C - Irregular adjectives good bad much many little little better worse more more less smaller best worst most most least smallest uncountable nouns countable nouns

D - Special adjectives Some adjectives have two possible forms of comparison. common likely pleasant polite simple stupid subtle sure commoner / more common likelier / more likely pleasanter / more pleasant politer / more polite simpler / more simple stupider / more stupid subtler / more subtle surer / more sure commonest / most common likeliest / most likely pleasantest / most pleasant politest / most polite simplest / most simple stupidest / most stupid subtlest surest / most sure

Difference in meaning with adjectives: farther far further furthest farthest distance distance or time

later late latter x older old elder nearer near x

latest x last oldest eldest nearest next people and things people (family) distance order