1. Comparative and superlative forms of adjectives
© BENI SUAREZ PRADO (2010)

2. General ideas:
We use the comparative form of an adjective when we want to compare just TWO things or people: My
With your
My car is faster than your car

3. General ideas:
We use the superlative form of an adjective when we want to compare one thing or person with the rest of its group: My
With all the houses in my village
My house is the most beautiful house in my village.

4. Formation rules:
We must take into account the NUMBER of syllables the adjective has. We consider:
Adjectives with 1 syllable: BIG, SHORT, FAST
Adjectives with 2 syllables and ending in –y: FUNNY, PRETTY
Adjectives with 2 or more syllables: MODERN, INTELLIGENT
The second part of the comparison is made with THAN in compartive forms and OF ALL, IN THE world, town, class……….. In superlative forms.

5. + + Comparative form: ADJECTIVES WITH 1 SYLLABLE SHORTER FASTER SHORT
The young girl is SHORTER THAN her sister +
BIGGER
BIG
G + ER
My present is BIGGER THAN yours

6. + Comparative form: ADJECTIVES WITH 2 SYLLABLES AND ENDING IN -Y
FUNN-I-ER
PRETT-I-ER
FUNNY
PRETTY + ER
is FUNNIER THAN

7. + + + Comparative form: ADJECTIVES WITH 2 SYLLABLES OR MORE MODERN
THAN
MORE
is MORE modern THAN
your My +
CONFORTABLE +THAN
MORE
COMFORTABLE
This
is MORE comfortableTHAN
that

8. + + Superlative form: ADJECTIVES WITH 1 SYLLABLE SHORT + EST FAST +EST
THE
A F1 car is THE FASTEST car OF ALL +
BIG+G+EST
BIG
THE
is THE BIGGEST country IN THE WORLD

9. + Superlative form: ADJECTIVES WITH 2 SYLLABLES AND ENDING IN -Y
FUNN-I-EST
PRETT-I- ESTÇ
FUNNY
PRETTY
THE +
She is the prettiest girl in the world.

10. + + Superlative form: ADJECTIVES WITH 2 SYLLABLES OR MORE PEACEFUL
INTERESTING
PEACEFUL
INTERESTING
THE + +
MOST
This park
is the most peaceful place in my town
It is the most interesting book
I have ever read

11. COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE FORMS
ADJECTIVE
COMPARATIVE
SUPERLATIVE
1 Syllable
SHORT
BIG
SHORT ER
BIG G ER
THE SHORT EST
THE BIG G EST
2 Syllables ending in –y
FUNNY
FUNN I ER
THE FUNN I EST
2 Syllables or more
MODERN
INTERESTING
MORE MODERN
MORE INTERESTING
THE MOST MODERN
THE MOST INTERESTING

12. IRREGULAR COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE FORMS
Adjective
Comparative
Superlative
GOOD
BETTER
THE BEST
BAD
WORSE
THE WORST
FAR
FARTHER
FURTHER
THE FARTHEST
THE FURTHEST