Explanation
Exercises

📈 Comparatives & 🏆 Superlatives

Compare two things with the comparative (–er / more) and three or more things with the superlative (–est / the most). Includes rules for adverbs.
two things → comparative 3+ things → superlative short adj: -er/-est long adj: more/most irregular: good→better→best adverbs: more/most for -ly
🧱Formation (adjectives)
SHORT (1 syllable)
  • old → older → the oldest
  • hot → hotter → the hottest (C-V-C → double consonant)
  • big → bigger → the biggest
ENDS IN -Y
  • happy → happier → the happiest
  • noisy → noisier → the noisiest
LONG (2+ syllables) Use more / most + adjective.
  • comfortable → more comfortable → the most comfortable
  • generous → more generous → the most generous
IRREGULAR
  • good → better → the best
  • bad → worse → the worst
  • far → farther/further → the farthest/furthest
  • many/much → more → the most · little → less → the least
📌Using comparatives (adjectives)
TWO THINGS
  • White meat is healthier than red meat. 🥗
  • Traveling by bus is more comfortable than traveling by train.
Intensifiers
  • He’s a bit taller than me.
  • Florence is much/a lot more interesting than Pisa.
OTHER PATTERNS
  • less + adj + than: Peter is less considerate than Marta.
  • (not) as + adj + as: Peter isn’t as considerate as Marta.
  • than + object/subject: My sister is taller than me / than I am.
🏆Using superlatives (adjectives)
THREE OR MORE
  • John and his brothers all play football, but John is the best.
  • She is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. ✨
  • This is the best movie I’ve ever watched.
AFTER SUPERLATIVES
  • Use the / a possessive: the tallest, my most expensive, Paul’s best friend.
  • Use in with places & groups: Everest is the highest mountain in the world; She is the best student in the class; He’s the tallest in the family.
  • one of + the + superlative + plural noun: Kyoto is one of the most beautiful cities in Japan.
🚫
Don’t double mark: ❌ the most easiest → ✅ the easiest. Don’t use of the world after superlatives; use in the world.
🔊Comparatives & superlatives of adverbs
-LY ADVERBS Use more / the most + adverb.
  • She speaks more quietly than her boss. (not quietlier)
  • He cooks more slowly than his workmates. (not slowlier)
SHORT ADVERBS Like adjectives: -er / -est.
  • She drives fast, but I drive faster. 🚗
  • He works harder than me. · She always arrives later than her boss.
IRREGULAR ADVERBS
  • well → better → the best
  • badly → worse → the worst
  • far → farther/further → the farthest/furthest
❗
Don’t stack: ❌ plays more better → ✅ plays better.
🧪More natural examples
  • My car is a lot more expensive than yours.
  • This puzzle is less difficult than that one.
  • Of all the cafés here, this one is the coziest.
  • She sings better than me / than I do.
  • It’s by far the most popular course on our site. 🌟
✅Quick checks
  • Short adjective? → -er/-est (big→bigger→biggest)
  • 2+ syllables? → more/most (interesting→more interesting)
  • Need a weaker comparison? → less + adj + than / not as + adj + as
  • Adverb in -ly? → more/most (quietly→more quietly)
🧭Useful add-ons
  • Boosters: much / a lot / far + comparative; softener: a bit / slightly.
  • Groups/places after superlatives → in: the best in the class.
Recap: Two things → comparative; 3+ things → superlative. Short = –er/–est; long = more/most; -ly adverbs use more/most; watch irregulars (better/worse). Avoid double forms like “more easier”, and use in with places/groups. 💪
Exercises:
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3

Comparative and superlative adjectives and adverbs

Choose the correct comparative and superlative adjective and adverbs to complete the dialogues below.
1
They arrived than we expected.
2
Please, can you drive ?
3
This is going to be show you have ever seen.
4
My current job is stressful than my last job.
5
He isn't as you.
6
What is the option on the menu?
7
You aren't as determined .
8
My great-grandmother is the person in the family.
9
This is the evening of my life.
10
York is a bit than Leeds.

Comparative and superlative adjectives and adverbs

Choose the correct comparative and superlative adjective and adverbs to complete each sentence.
1
This road is ____ the highway.
A.
B.
C.
2
Of all the players, Maya ran ____.
A.
B.
C.
3
This is ____ problem we've had this year.
A.
B.
C.
4
My new laptop works ____ the old one.
A.
B.
C.
5
January is usually ____ month of the year in Canada.
A.
B.
C.
6
He answered the questions ____ of all the candidates.
A.
B.
C.
7
Our house is ____ from the station than yours.
A.
B.
C.
8
This puzzle is ____ that one; it took me longer.
A.
B.
C.
9
She speaks Spanish ____ her brother.
A.
B.
C.
10
Of the three routes, the coastal road is ____.
A.
B.
C.

Comparative and superlative adjectives and adverbs

Complete the sentences with the comparative or superlative forms of the adjectives in brackets. Add any necessary missing words, such as than, the, as.
1
Tokyo is (safe) city to walk around at night.
2
This puzzle is much (easy) the last one.
3
The guest room isn’t (quiet) the library.
4
Mount Everest is (high) mountain on Earth.
5
Today the traffic is (bad) yesterday.
6
Who arrived (early), Jack or Mia?
7
Of all the students, Noah writes (neatly).
8
This is (far) we’ve cycled this year.
9
My new phone is slightly (light) the old one.
10
Trains reach the airport (quickly) buses.