Adjectives: Comparative and Superlative

Adjectives are words that describe, identify, or quantify nouns and pronouns. They help specify
our writing by offering more details about nouns and pronouns.
Comparative Adjectives
Comparative adjectives are used to compare two things—they help describe differences
between two nouns.
Comparative Adjective Sentence Formula
Comparative adjectives are generally used in the following sentence structure:
Noun (subject) + verb + comparative adjective + than + noun (object)
Example Sentence
My television + is + bigger + than + my computer.
My television is bigger than my computer.

In some cases, the sentence will end after the comparative adjective and not include the object
of comparison. This structure is possible when the context has provided enough information to
make the comparison clear.

Example Sentence

My brother is 6 feet tall, but my father is taller. (“than my brother” is implied)

Superlative Adjectives

Superlative adjectives are used to compare three or more things. They help describe things on
either end of a spectrum (e.g., smallest and largest, tallest and shortest).

Superlative Adjective Sentence Formula

Superlative adjectives are generally used in the following sentence structure:
Noun (subject) + verb + the + superlative adjective + noun (object)

Example Sentence
My English professor + is + the + smartest + person.
My English professor is the smartest person.
Just like comparative adjectives, the object of comparison can sometimes be left out.

Example Sentence

We took an exam in class today, and I scored the highest. (“in the class” is implied)

Creating Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Changing an adjective into its comparative or superlative form depends on the number of
syllables in the base form of the adjective (e.g., small, tall, big).

Example of a Comparative Adjective with a Single Vowel Between Two Consonants

Adjective: hot
h (consonant) + o (single vowel) + t (second consonant)
Comparative form: hotter

h (consonant) + o (single vowel) + tt (doubled second consonant) + er (comparative suffix)

In a sentence: The temperature is hotter today than yesterday.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

fast faster fastest

cheap cheaper cheapest

fresh fresher freshest

big bigger biggest

sad sadder saddest

Two-Syllable Adjectives
For comparative adjectives, the suffix -er will be added, or it will be preceded by more. For
superlative adjectives, the suffix -est will be added, or it will be preceded by most. Occasionally,
both forms are used, but one will be more common. When in doubt, use more or most instead
of a suffix. For adjectives ending in y, the y will become an i, and the appropriate suffix will be
added.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

gentle gentler gentlest

clumsy clumsier clumsiest

happy happier happiest

anxious more anxious most anxious

polite more polite most polite

Three Syllables or More

Comparative adjectives will be preceded by more, and superlative adjectives will be preceded
by most.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

important more important most important

attractive more attractive most attractive

embarrassed more embarrassed most embarrassed

Irregular Adjectives and Exceptions

Although there are several rules for writing in English, these rules often have irregularities and
exceptions. Sometimes, the deviants follow a pattern that makes them easy to spot, but this is
not the case for comparative and superlative adjectives. Abnormal adjectives simply have to be
committed to memory.

Irregular adjectives
Adjectives are irregular when their comparative and superlative forms do not adhere to the
rules discussed in this handout. The chart below displays some examples of irregular adjectives.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

good better best

bad worse worst

little less least

much more most

far farther/further farthest/furthest

Exceptions
Adjectives are exceptions to the rules discussed in this handout when they simply do not have a
comparative or superlative form. Some examples include blind, unique, vertical, wrong, left,
intelligent, complete, perfect, etc.