Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

There are three ways you can compare adjectives

• positive
• comparative
• superlative

1. Positive with as

The positive form is used in cases where there are no differences between the two compared things or persons. To form the positive, we use the word as before and after the absolute form of the adjective. 

1. Martin is as tall as John.
2. She is as beautiful as her sister.

This can also be applied in a negative context to indicate that the compared objects are not similar:

1. Martin is not as tall as John.
2. She is not as beautiful as her sister.

2. Comparison – the basic rules

When two objects or persons are being compared, the comparative form of the adjective is used. The comparative adjective can be formed in two ways:

1. Adding –er to the absolute form of the adjective.

 tall → taller → (the) tallest

 2. Adding the word more before the adjective.

 beautiful → more beautiful → cleaner → (the) most beautiful

Which one to use depends on the number of syllables in the adjective

3. Comparison with -er/-est

3.1. Adjectives with one syllable add -er and -est

3.3. Adjectives with two syllables and the following endings:

3.3.1. Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -y have ier and iest

3.3.2. Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -e

3.3.3. Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -le

3.3.4. Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -ow

4. Comparison with more – most

All adjectives with more than one syllable (except some adjectives with two syllables – see 3.3. above)

5. Irregular adjectives

6. Special adjectives

Some adjectives have two possible forms of comparison (-er/est and more/most).

7. Difference in meaning with adjectives