Part one: Comparative and Superlative

I. Comparison:

The comparison is used to differentiate or classify the different entities using adjectives. In

comparison, there are three distinct cases, equality (or inequality), inferiority, and superiority.

For each of these cases, it is necessary to follow specific rules to structure the sentence correctly.

These rules are listed below.

1. Comparative of equality or inequality: In this case, the objective is to indicate the

similarity or non-similarity of two different entities. For this purpose, the first entity

should be followed by a verb and then by As (or not as, in the case of inequality). Then,

it is necessary to add the adjective with which the comparison is made and to follow it

with another As. At the end, the sentence is completed with the second entity, as shown

below:

E1 + V + as + Adj + as + E2 (Equality)

E1 + V + not as + Adj + as + E2 (Inequality)

For example:

▪ Safety is as important as quality in civil engineering.

▪ Structures built using reinforced concrete are as durable as those built using steel.

2. Comparative of inferiority: It is used to express that one entity is inferior to another. For

this purpose, the first entity should be followed by a verb and then by Less. Then, it is

necessary to add the adjective with which the comparison is made and to follow it with

Than. At the end, the sentence is completed with the second entity, as shown below:

E1(inferior) + V + less+ Adj + than + E2 (superior)

Dr. Hichem Rakib SEBBAGH.

FAGC/ Département de Génie Civil. 1
hichemrakib.sebbagh@univ-usto.dz
 Part one: Comparative and Superlative

For example:

▪ Footing foundations are less deep than pile foundations.

▪ The rubble is less finesse than cement.

3. Comparative of superiority: It is used to indicate that one entity is superior to another.

This comparison depends on the type of adjective with which the two entities will be

compared. In the case of a short adjective, the comparison is made by adding er at the

end of the adjective. However, in the case of a long adjective, the comparison is made

as in the case of inferiority with the use of more instead of less. It should be noted that

in the case of a short adjective ending with y, the latter is replaced by i.

E1 (superior) + V + Adj + er + than + E2 (inferior) (Short Adj)

E1 (superior) + V + more + Adj + than + E2 (inferior) (Long Adj)

For example:

▪ El-Khalifa tower is higher than The Empire State building.

▪ Reinforced concrete has a greater tensile strength than concrete.

▪ Steel is more ductile than concrete.

▪ A fixed support is more rigid than a pinned one.

II. Superlative

The superlative is used to indicate that a specific entity is the worst or the best in comparison

with other existing entities. Therefore, the superlative can be used in two contexts, to express

the worst or the best. For each of these contexts, it is necessary to follow specific rules to

structure the sentence correctly. These rules are listed below.

Dr. Hichem Rakib SEBBAGH.

FAGC/ Département de Génie Civil. 2
hichemrakib.sebbagh@univ-usto.dz
 Part one: Comparative and Superlative

1. Inferiority superlative: It is used to show that an entity is the worst of all entities in

terms of a specific adjective. For this purpose, the first entity should be followed by a

verb and then by Least. Then, it is necessary to add the adjective with which the

comparison is made and to follow it with Than, as shown below:

E + V + least + Adj

For example:

▪ Unconsolidated soil is the least suitable soil on which it is possible to build in Algeria.

2. Superiority superlative: It is used to show that an entity is the best of all entities in

terms of a specific adjective. In this case, the superlative depends on the type of

adjective, for a short adjective, it is done by adding est at its end. However, in the case

of a long adjective, the superlative is done as in the case of inferiority superlative with

the use of most instead of least. It should be noted that in the case of a short adjective

ending with y, the latter is replaced by i.

E + V + Adj + est (Short Adj)

E + V + most + Adj + than (Long Adj)

For example:

▪ Building with steel structure is the fastest way to build in Algeria.

▪ The wall of China is the longest in the world.

▪ The respect of the quality, the deadline and the budget are the most essential factors

to succeed in a civil engineering project.

▪ Failure to meet deadlines is the most important problem in construction.

Dr. Hichem Rakib SEBBAGH.

FAGC/ Département de Génie Civil. 3
hichemrakib.sebbagh@univ-usto.dz
 Part one: Comparative and Superlative

❖ It should be noted that there are some Irregular Adjectives that they do not follow the

same rules as short or long adjectives. Theses Irregular Adjectives are listed in the

table below:

Adjective Comparative Superlative

Good Better than The best
Bad Worse than The worst
Far Further/farther than The furthest/ the farthest
Much/many More than The most
Little Less than The least
Old Older/elder than The oldest/the eldest

Dr. Hichem Rakib SEBBAGH.

FAGC/ Département de Génie Civil. 4
hichemrakib.sebbagh@univ-usto.dz