Regular Comparison
Rules for comparative and superlative forms
| Pattern | Rule | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| + er/est | Short adjectives (1 syllable): add -er / -est | |
| double + er/est | CVC ending: double final consonant + -er / -est | |
| y → ier/iest | Adjectives ending in -y: change y to -ier / -iest | |
| more / most | Long adjectives (2+ syllables): use more / most |
FAQ
When do you use -er/-est vs more/most for comparatives?
Short adjectives (one syllable) typically add -er/-est (tall/taller/tallest). Longer adjectives (two or more syllables) use more/most (beautiful/more beautiful/most beautiful). Two-syllable adjectives ending in -y change to -ier/-iest (happy/happier/happiest).
What are the irregular comparative and superlative forms?
The most common irregular comparisons are: good/better/best, bad/worse/worst, far/farther(further)/farthest(furthest), little/less/least, much(many)/more/most, and old/elder(older)/eldest(oldest).
What is the difference between comparative and superlative?
Comparative forms compare two things (e.g. 'taller than'), while superlative forms indicate the highest degree among three or more things (e.g. 'the tallest'). Comparatives use -er or more, superlatives use -est or most.
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