Explanation
Exercises

Comparatives & Superlatives — Adjectives and Adverbs (B1)

Form · Use · Spelling rules · Useful patterns

Core ideas

  • Comparative compares two: A is taller than B.
  • Superlative compares 3+: A is the tallest in the class.
  • Use than with comparatives; use the (or my/your/Anna’s) with superlatives.

Adjectives — form

  • 1 syllable: add -er / -est → old → older → the oldest.
  • Ends in -e: add -r / -st → large → larger → the largest.
  • C–V–C ending: double final consonant → big → bigger → the biggest.
  • Ends in -y (consonant + y): -ier / -iest → happy → happier → the happiest.
  • Two+ syllables: use more / most → comfortable → more comfortable → the most comfortable.
  • Some 2-syllable adjectives (e.g., clever, quiet, narrow, simple) accept either pattern: cleverer / more clever.
  • Irregular:
    Positive
    Comparative
    Superlative
    good / well
    better
    the best
    bad / badly
    worse
    the worst
    far
    farther / further
    the farthest / the furthest
    little (amount)
    less
    the least
    much / many
    more
    the most
    old
    older / elder*
    the oldest / eldest*
    *elder/eldest only before nouns for family members: my elder sister.
  • Don’t double: never use both forms together: ✗ more better, ✗ the most easiest.

Adverbs — form

  • Adverbs in -ly use more / most: quietly → more quietly → the most quietly.
  • Adverbs with the same form as adjectives take -er / -est: fast → faster → the fastest; hard → harder → the hardest; early → earlier → the earliest.
  • Irregular: well → better → the best, badly → worse → the worst.

How we use them

  • Comparatives
    • White meat is healthier than red meat.
    • less + adjective + than: This route is less direct than that one.
    • (not) as + adj. + as: It isn’t as easy as it looks.
    • Pronouns after than / as: She’s taller than me / than I am.
    • Modifiers: a bit / slightly, much / far / a lot → far more interesting, a bit cheaper.
    • any / no + comparative: Your plan is no better than mine. / It isn’t any cheaper.
    • Comparative + and + comparative: change over time → It’s getting hotter and hotter.
    • The + comparative, the + comparative (cause–result): The more you practise, the better you get.
  • Superlatives
    • Use with the (or possessives): the best · my most expensive jacket.
    • Place/time phrases: in + places/groups → the tallest in the class; of + periods/sets → the best day of my life.
    • one of the + superlative + plural noun: one of the most exciting cities.
    • by far to intensify: by far the easiest option.
    • With present perfect + ever: the best book I’ve ever read.
    • the least = opposite of the most: the least useful feature.

Extra notes & examples

  • Actions with adverbs: She drives fast, but I drive faster. · He plays better than me.
  • Meaning contrasts: the latest (= most recent) vs the last (= final one in a series).
  • Natural style: prefer than me in everyday speech; than I am is more formal/careful.
Exercises:
1
2
3

Comparatives and superlatives

Hi Alex,

Lisbon is amazing! The Atlantic is 1 usual, and the evenings are 2 . Locals speak 3 I expected.

The pastries are 4 I’ve ever tasted. Of all the districts I’ve seen, Alfama is 5 .

My hotel is 6 the one we booked in Porto, but the side streets are 7 I imagined.

Prices seem 8 last year, but the metro runs 9 . I’m spending 10 than I expected, though!

See you soon,
Marta

Comparatives and superlatives

1
This road is _____ than the old one.
A.
B.
C.
2
That’s the _____ restaurant in town.
A.
B.
C.
3
Could you drive _____? I’m feeling sick.
A.
B.
C.
4
My new phone works _____ than the old one, but the battery is _____.
A.
B.
C.
5
Of all the students, Emma reads the _____.
A.
B.
C.
6
This is _____ problem we’ve ever faced.
A.
B.
C.
7
I feel _____ today than yesterday.
A.
B.
C.
8
This puzzle is _____ to solve than that one.
A.
B.
C.
9
January is usually the _____ month of the year here.
A.
B.
C.
10
She arrived the _____ of all, so she got the best seat.
A.
B.
C.

Comparatives and superlatives

1
This route is (short) than the one we took yesterday.
2
Please drive (carefully) than usual.
3
Of the three brothers, Leo is the (tall).
4
That was the (bad) storm we’ve had this year.
5
My laptop runs much (fast) after the update.
6
Which city is (far), Oslo or Stockholm?
7
That was the (interesting) lecture of the course.
8
He arrived (early) than everyone else.
9
This puzzle is (difficult) than I expected.
10
Who sings (well), Ella or Mia?