Native Phrase Lab
WillowbrookMaking Comparisons: Comparatives & Superlatives
Comparing things is a fundamental part of any language. This lesson breaks down the simple rules for forming comparatives and superlatives in English.
Comparatives
Used to compare two things. We often use the word 'than'.
"My house is bigger than your house."
Superlatives
Used to compare three or more things to find the one with the highest quality.
"My house is the biggest in the neighborhood."
The Rules for Forming Them
1. One-Syllable Adjectives
Add -er for the comparative and -est for the superlative.
tall → taller → the tallest
old → older → the oldest
2. Adjectives ending in -y
Change 'y' to 'i' and add -er or -est.
happy → happier → the happiest
3. Longer Adjectives (2+ syllables)
Use more for the comparative and the most for the superlative.
beautiful → more beautiful → the most beautiful
Irregular Adjectives
Some very common adjectives have irregular forms that you must memorize.
- good → better → the best
- bad → worse → the worst
- far → further/farther → the furthest/farthest