Comparative and Superlative Rules

We use the comparative forms (ER or MORE) to make a comparison between

two things or people:

 

     My brother is BIGGER THAN I am. He's SMARTER THAN me, too.

     The winter of '96 was a SNOWIER winter THAN the winter of '97.

     I have two sons. My MORE INTELLIGENT son is in college.

 

Sometimes we don't name the second person or thing, but we are thinking

about it, and we know the listener is thinking about it:

 

     I'll see you LATER (than now).

     Your work is getting BETTER (than your previous work).

     I need a BIGGER hat (than the one I have now).

BETTER is the form that means "more good."

WORSE is the form that means "more bad."

We use the superlative forms (EST or MOST) to single out one thing or

person in a group. We use THE with the superlative:

     My brother is THE BIGGEST boy in the family.

     Last winter was THE SNOWIEST winter in many years.

     These girls are THE MOST INTELLIGENT girls in the school.

THE BEST= "the most good."   THE WORST= "the most bad."

We usually name the group or place that the superlative person or thing

is the best or most of something in. If we don't do that, we often

use the present perfect with the superlative:

     He's the smartest guy in the class. (but not in the school)

     That's the most beautiful sunset [that] I've ever seen!

     She's the most beautiful woman in town. (but not in the world)

If you use possessive adjectives (my, his, John's), don't use THE:

     She's MY OLDEST daughter. (NOT *She's the my oldest daughter.)

     Somebody stole JOHN'S MOST EXPENSIVE pen. (NOT *the John's...)

               Spelling Rules for Comparative/Superlative

no. of syllables                         comparative                                         superlative

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1 syllable                                    add ER                                               add EST

           

   fast                                       faster than                                              the fastest

   big                                         bigger than                                            the biggest

   

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2 syllables that

end in y                                   change Y to I and                                              change Y to I and

                                                           add ER                                              add EST

   heavy                                     heavier than                                         the heaviest

   snowy                                  snowier than                                          the snowiest

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  2 or more syllables                comparative                                         superlative

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2 syllables that

don't end in y                             use MORE and                              use THE MOST and

                                                             don't add ER!                       don't add EST!

           

   modern                                    more modern than                         the most common

   common                                  more common than                          the most modern

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3 or more syllables                  use MORE and                                 use THE MOST and

                                                don't add ER!                                    don't add EST!

   beautiful                               more beautiful than                                        the most beautiful

   enjoyable                                more enjoyable than                       the most enjoyable

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