Comparatives and Superlatives

Quick Answer: To compare two things, add -er + than to short adjectives ("taller than") or use more + than with longer adjectives ("more expensive than"). To pick out number one in a group, use the + -est ("the tallest") or the most ("the most expensive"). Good, bad and far are irregular: better, best; worse, worst; farther or further, farthest or furthest.

Key takeaways

• One syllable: add -er and -est (cheap, cheaper, the cheapest), doubling after consonant-vowel-consonant (big, bigger).
• Two syllables ending in -y: change y to i (happy, happier, the happiest).
• Most other two-syllable and longer adjectives: more and the most (more famous, the most famous).
• Never combine forms: say better, not more better.
• Use much, far or a lot before a comparative, never very: much bigger.
• Equal comparisons use as ... as: "My brother is as tall as my father."

What Are Comparatives and Superlatives?

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
tall	taller	the tallest
big	bigger	the biggest
happy	happier	the happiest
expensive	more expensive	the most expensive
good	better	the best

• Istanbul is bigger than Ankara. (comparative, two things)
• Istanbul is the biggest city in Turkey. (superlative, a group)

How Do You Compare One-Syllable Adjectives?

Add -er and -est.

• cheap, cheaper, the cheapest
• old, older, the oldest
• fast, faster, the fastest

Spelling changes

Rule	Examples
Ends in -e: add -r, -st	nice, nicer, the nicest; large, larger, the largest
Consonant-vowel-consonant: double the last letter	big, bigger, the biggest; hot, hotter, the hottest; thin, thinner
Ends in w, x or y: do not double	new, newer; slow, slower; gray, grayer

For more patterns like this, see our guide to English spelling rules.

Rule 2: Two-Syllable Adjectives Ending in -y

Change y to i and add -er, -est.

• happy, happier, the happiest
• easy, easier, the easiest
• busy, busier, the busiest
• funny, funnier, the funniest

Rule 3: Other Two-Syllable and Longer Adjectives

Use more and the most.

• modern, more modern, the most modern
• famous, more famous, the most famous
• beautiful, more beautiful, the most beautiful
• important, more important, the most important

Some two-syllable adjectives can take either form: clever (cleverer, more clever), narrow, quiet, simple, polite. Both forms are correct, so choose the one that sounds natural to you.

Which Adjectives Are Irregular?

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
good	better	the best
bad	worse	the worst
far	farther, further	the farthest, the furthest
little (amount)	less	the least
much, many	more	the most

• This film is better than the book.
• That was the worst day of my life.

Farther and further both describe distance; further also means "more" or "additional": "further information."

Making Comparisons Stronger or Weaker

Use these words before a comparative:

Big difference	Small difference
much bigger	a bit bigger
far more expensive	a little more expensive
a lot cheaper	slightly cheaper

• This phone is much more expensive than that one.
• Today is a bit warmer than yesterday.

Do not use very with comparatives. Wrong: "very bigger." Right: "much bigger."

Less and The Least

The opposite of more is less.

• This hotel is less expensive than the one by the sea.
• It's the least interesting book I've read.

In everyday speech, people often prefer the opposite adjective: "This hotel is cheaper."

As ... As: Equal Comparisons

Use as + adjective + as to say two things are the same.

• My brother is as tall as my father.
• This exam is as difficult as the last one.

Use not as ... as to say they are different:

• The train is not as fast as the plane. (The plane is faster.)
• Today isn't as cold as yesterday.

Superlatives in Context

Superlatives usually take the and are often followed by in or of, or by a present perfect clause.

• Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
• She is the youngest of three sisters.
• It's the best pizza I have ever eaten.

Use in with places and groups (in the class, in Europe) and of with numbers or periods (of the three, of the year). Learn about the article in a, an or the.

The More ... The More

Use two comparatives together to show that one change causes another.

• The more you practice, the better you get.
• The sooner we leave, the earlier we will arrive.
• The older I get, the less I worry.

You can also repeat a comparative to show continuous change: "It's getting colder and colder." "Prices are becoming more and more expensive."

What Are the Most Common Mistakes?

Mistake	Wrong	Right
Double comparative	more better, more cheaper	better, cheaper
Then instead of than	bigger then me	bigger than me
Missing the in superlatives	She is best student.	She is the best student.
-er with long adjectives	beautifuller	more beautiful
Very with comparatives	very faster	much faster
Of with places	the tallest building of the city	the tallest building in the city

Turkish-speaker note: Turkish uses daha and en before every adjective (daha büyük, en büyük), so learners often say "more big." In English, short adjectives take -er and -est instead.

Practice Quiz

Complete with the comparative or superlative form.

1. My car is (old) ___ than yours.
2. This is (good) ___ restaurant in town.
3. Russian is (difficult) ___ than Spanish for me.
4. August is (hot) ___ month of the year.
5. Your English is (good) ___ than last year!
6. Today is (bad) ___ day of the week.
7. She is as (tall) ___ as her mother.
8. This box is (heavy) ___ than that one.

Answers: 1. older 2. the best 3. more difficult 4. the hottest 5. better 6. the worst 7. tall 8. heavier

Want to compare your progress? Take the 5-minute English level test to see where you stand, then pick the right course for your level.

People Also Ask

How do you form comparatives in English?

For short adjectives, add -er and use than: taller than, cheaper than. For long adjectives of two or more syllables, use more: more expensive than, more interesting than.

What is the superlative of good and bad?

Good becomes better and the best. Bad becomes worse and the worst. These are irregular, so they do not use -er or -est.

Can I say more better?

No. Better is already a comparative, so more better is a double comparative and is incorrect. Say better or much better.

Related Reading

• A, An or The? English Articles Made Easy
• English Spelling Rules
• 25 Common English Mistakes and How to Fix Them
• Linking Words and Connectors