Comparatives and superlatives
-er/-est for short adjectives, more/most for long ones, irregular good/better/best, and than/the
I can compare people, places and things and pick favourites with superlatives.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
The Underground is faster than the bus, but the bus is cheaper.
The Underground is faster than the bus, but the bus is cheaper.
This is the most interesting museum in the city — and the queue is the longest, too.
This is the most interesting museum in the city — and the queue is the longest, too.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Length decides the pattern:
| Type | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| 1 syllable | older, bigger | the oldest, the biggest |
| -y adjectives | happier, easier | the happiest |
| 2+ syllables | more modern | the most modern |
| irregular | better, worse, further | the best, the worst |
Compare with than: Prague is older than Brno. Superlative takes the: the best café in town. Doubling: big→bigger, hot→hotter.
- Double comparison: *more easier → easier
- then/than confused: older than
- Superlative without the: *best café → the best café
Common Error Patterns
more + -er stacked
One marker only: easier OR more easy-type patterns
then instead of than
Comparison word is than
The Underground is faster than the bus, but the bus is cheaper.
The Underground is faster than the bus, but the bus is cheaper.
Two short comparatives with than.
This is the most interesting museum in the city — and the queue is the longest, too.
This is the most interesting museum in the city — and the queue is the longest, too.
most for long, -est for short, both with the.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A2 course exercises