Comparatives and Superlatives

Short, Shorter, Shortest

The stickman from the spatial posts, here because comparatives are literally about degree — three sizes of the same figure.

Short Adjectives

Structure: adjective + er / the + adjective + est

Faster than a rabbit. / The fastest in the world.

One-syllable words (and most two-syllable ones) just add -er/-est.

Long Adjectives

Structure: more + adjective / the most + adjective

More expensive than gold. / The most expensive watch ever made.

Longer words use more/most instead of -er/-est.

Irregulars

Structure: good → better → the best

good → better → the best / bad → worse → the worst / far → further → the furthest

A handful of common words break the rules completely: just memorize them.

As…As

Structure: as + adjective + as

She’s as tall as her brother.

For saying two things are equal.

Not As…As

Structure: not as + adjective + as

This isn’t as expensive as I thought.

Same idea as as…as, but negative: for saying one thing is less than another.

Less / Least

Structure: less + adjective (+ than) / the least + adjective

This is less interesting than the book. / the least expensive option

The opposite direction from more/most: for going downward instead of up.

Double Comparative

Structure: comparative + and + comparative

It’s getting colder and colder.

For describing something that keeps changing, more and more over time.

The…The…

Structure: the + comparative…, the + comparative…

The more you practice, the better you get.

Two things changing together: cause and effect, linked in one sentence.