When do we use ‘comparative’ and

‘superlative’?
Adjectives and adverbs have forms
called comparative and superlative that are used for
comparisons.

Use the comparative form when comparing two

items, people, places, or ideas.

Use the superlative when comparing more than two.

SOME RULES ABOUT FORMING COMPARATIVE
AND SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES
ONE SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES
One syllable adjectives generally form the comparative
by adding -er and the superlative by adding -est,
e.g.:

Adjective Comparative Superlative

Soft Softer The softest
Cheap Cheaper The cheapest
Sweet Sweeter The sweetest
Thin Thinner The thinnest
TWO SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES
Two syllable adjectives which end in –y usually
form the comparative by adding -er and the
superlative by adding -est, (note the change of -y
to -i in the comparative/superlative)
e.g.:
Adjective Comparative superlative

Lucky luckier The luckiest

Pretty Prettier The prettiest

Tidy Tidier The tidiest

THREE SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES
Adjectives which have three or more syllables always
form the comparative and superlative with MORE and
THE MOST,
e.g.:
Adjective Comparative Superlative
Dangerous More dangerous The most
dangerous
Difficult More difficult The most
difficult
EXCEPTIONS!
There are a few exceptions.
e.g.:
Adjective Comparative superlative

good better The best

bad worse The worst

far farther The farthest

COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE ADVERBS
With adverbs ending in -ly, you must use more to form
the comparative, and most to form the superlative.
e.g.:

Adverb Comparative Superlative

Quitely More quitely The most quitely

Slowly More slowly The most slowly

 EXAMPLES
 The teacher spoke more slowly to help us to understand.
 Could you sing more quietly please?
Comparative, superlative adjectives
and adverbs
Comparative Superlative
One- syllable adjectives Cool+ ___________ The + cool + est

Adjectives ending in Moody + -ier The + moody + iest

consonant + -y

Long adjectives More + optimistic The + ______ + optimistic

Regular adverb (ending _________ + honestly The + most + honestly

in –ly)