In this blog post, you will learn comparative and superlative adjectives in easy English. These words help us compare people, places, or things. We’ll explain the rules with examples, tables, and short exercises to help you use them correctly in daily English.
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What are Comparative and Superlative Adjectives?
Comparative adjectives are used to compare two people or things.
Superlative adjectives are used to show the best, biggest, or highest among three or more.
➤ Comparative: Ali is taller than Umar.
➤ Superlative: Ali is the tallest boy in class.
Simple Definitions
| Type | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Comparative | Shows difference between two | This bag is heavier than mine. |
| Superlative | Shows the top or best among many | This is the heaviest bag here. |
Role in Sentences
Comparative adjectives mostly use the word “than“.
➤ My car is faster than yours.
Superlative adjectives often come with “the“.
➤ This is the fastest car in the race.
How to Make Comparative and Superlative Forms
One-syllable adjectives
(Add -er and -est)
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| tall | taller | tallest |
| fast | faster | fastest |
➤ He is faster than me.
➤ He is the fastest runner.
Two-syllable adjectives ending in -y
(Change -y to -i and add -er / -est)
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| happy | happier | happiest |
| busy | busier | busiest |
➤ She looks happier today.
➤ She is the happiest person I know.
Long adjectives (2+ syllables)
(Use more and most)
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| beautiful | more beautiful | most beautiful |
| important | more important | most important |
➤ This task is more important than the last one.
➤ It is the most important rule.
Common Comparative and Superlative Words
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| good | better | best |
| bad | worse | worst |
| far | farther | farthest |
| little | less | least |
| much | more | most |
➤ She is better at dancing than me.
➤ She is the best dancer in class.
Usage in Different Contexts
Talking about people:
➤ My sister is smarter than me.
➤ She is the smartest in her class.
Talking about places:
➤ Karachi is hotter than Lahore.
➤ It is the hottest city today.
Talking about things:
➤ This phone is more useful than that one.
➤ This is the most useful tool I have.
Comparison Between Both Types
| Feature | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| Used for | 2 things or people | 3 or more things/people |
| Words used | -er, more, than | -est, most, the |
| Example | Ali is taller than Umar | Ali is the tallest boy |
Easy Example Sentences
➤ This room is cleaner than that one.
➤ He is the oldest player on the team.
➤ Today is colder than yesterday.
➤ That is the most expensive dress here.
➤ My car is faster than yours.
➤ This is the best movie I’ve seen.
➤ Sara is more confident than Ali.
➤ He is the strongest man in the group.
➤ This laptop is better than the old one.
➤ She is the nicest teacher we have.
Examples of Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| tall | taller | tallest |
| short | shorter | shortest |
| fast | faster | fastest |
| slow | slower | slowest |
| big | bigger | biggest |
| small | smaller | smallest |
| strong | stronger | strongest |
| weak | weaker | weakest |
| young | younger | youngest |
| old | older | oldest |
| easy | easier | easiest |
| heavy | heavier | heaviest |
| happy | happier | happiest |
| sad | sadder | saddest |
| cold | colder | coldest |
| hot | hotter | hottest |
| bright | brighter | brightest |
| dark | darker | darkest |
| clean | cleaner | cleanest |
| dirty | dirtier | dirtiest |
| rich | richer | richest |
| poor | poorer | poorest |
| kind | kinder | kindest |
| rude | ruder | rudest |
| brave | braver | bravest |
| clever | cleverer | cleverest |
| large | larger | largest |
| wide | wider | widest |
| narrow | narrower | narrowest |
| sharp | sharper | sharpest |
| deep | deeper | deepest |
| thin | thinner | thinnest |
| fat | fatter | fattest |
| nice | nicer | nicest |
| loud | louder | loudest |
| quiet | quieter | quietest |
| simple | simpler | simplest |
| cheap | cheaper | cheapest |
| expensive | more expensive | most expensive |
| beautiful | more beautiful | most beautiful |
| careful | more careful | most careful |
| famous | more famous | most famous |
| useful | more useful | most useful |
| interesting | more interesting | most interesting |
| boring | more boring | most boring |
| powerful | more powerful | most powerful |
| difficult | more difficult | most difficult |
| intelligent | more intelligent | most intelligent |
| comfortable | more comfortable | most comfortable |
Practice Exercise Questions
Choose the correct form:
- This book is (good / better / best) than that one.
- She is the (smart / smarter / smartest) girl in class.
- This exam is (easy / easier / easiest) than the last one.
- Ali runs (fast / faster / fastest) than Usman.
- That building is the (tall / taller / tallest) in the city.
- This song is (bad / worse / worst) than the previous one.
- Who is the (young / younger / youngest) in the group?
- My job is (more / most / many) difficult than yours.
- That car is (expensive / more expensive / most expensive).
- He is the (funny / funnier / funniest) guy I know.
Answers
- better
- smartest
- easier
- faster
- tallest
- worse
- youngest
- more
- more expensive
- funniest
FAQs
Q1: What is the difference between comparative and superlative adjectives?
A: Comparative compares two things, superlative shows the highest level.
Q2: Can we use “than” with superlatives?
A: No, “than” is only used with comparatives.
Q3: How to compare long adjectives?
A: Use more and most before the adjective. Example: more beautiful.
Q4: Are “better” and “best” also adjectives?
A: Yes, better is comparative, and best is superlative of good.
Q5: Do all adjectives follow regular rules?
A: No, some are irregular (like good → better → best).
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