SHORT ADJECTIVES (1 syllable)

Adjective Comparative form Superlative form

general rule adj. + -er + than the adj. + -est + in / of
e.g. cold colder than the coldest in / of
*** old older / elder (family) the oldest /
the eldest (family)
adj. ending in –e adj. + -r + than the adj. + -st + in / of
e.g. nice nicer than the nicest in / of
adj. ending in vowel + consonant double consonant + - double consonant + est
e.g. fat er + than + in / of
fatter than the fattest in / of
***! don’t double w
e.g. low lower than the lowest in / of
adj. ending in a consonant plus -y change the 'y' to 'i' and change the 'y' to 'i' and
or follow the general rule add –er + than add –est + in / of
e.g. dry drier / dryer than the driest / dryest in / of
shy shier / shyer than the shiest / shyest in / of

LONG ADJECTIVES (2 / + syllables) + adverbs ending in '-ly'.

Adjective Comparative form Superlative form

general rule more + adj. + than the most + adj. + in / of
e.g. beautiful more beautiful than the most beautiful in / of
2-syllable adj. ending in ‘y’ changes to ‘i’ + -er than ‘y’ changes to ‘i’ + -est in / of
consonant + -y easier than the easiest in / of
e.g. easy
adverbs ending in '-ly' more + adverb + (than) most + adverb + (than)
e.g. seriously more seriously most seriously
***! Note that
e.g. early (adj. + adverb) earlier (than) earliest (than)
***! With some common two-syllable adjectives and adverbs you can either add '-er'
and '-est', or use 'more' and 'most': e.g. common, cruel, gentle, handsome, likely, narrow,
pleasant, polite, simple and stupid.
***! Clever and quiet only add '-er' and '-est'.
IRREGULAR COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES
Adjective / Adverb Comparative form Superlative form
good better than the best in / of
bad worse than the worst in / of
far farther than (to talk about the farthest in / of
physical distance) the furthest in / of
further than (other cases)
little less the least
some / much / many more the most

OTHER WAYS OF COMPARING THINGS

Use
1. 'less' and 'least' to make comparisons with e.g. They were less fortunate than us.
the opposite meaning to 'more' and 'most'. He was the least skilled of the workers.

2. 'as + adj. / adverb + as' to compare people e.g. You are as good as your sister.
or things that are similar in some way. The airport was as crowded as ever.

3. a link verb such as 'be', 'feel', look' or e.g. It was like a dream.
'seem' and a phrase beginning with 'like'.
He still feels like a child.
***! You can use some adverbs in front of 'like': e.g. He looks just like a baby.
a bit, a little, exactly, just, least, less, more,
most, quite, rather, somewhat, very.

4. 'comparative + and + comparative'
(= 'cada vez más + adjetivo')
5. ' The + comparative, the + comparative'
(='cuanto más + adjetivo, más adjetivo')
e.g. The case became more and more
interesting
(= El caso se hizo cada vez más interesante)
e.g. The sooner, the better
(= Cuanto antes, mejor)

6. too + adjective e.g. The exam was too difficult for me

7. (not) + adjective + enough e.g. They are clever enough to do the test
This jeans aren't long enough for me
8. much, a lot, a little, a bit, a good deal, etc. to modify a comparative
e.g. Rome is much older than New York
This TV is a lot more expensive than that one.
My laptop is a little less expensive than Jim's.
Jim's laptop is a little more expensive than mine.
Our new textbook is a bit cheaper than our old one.
I think dramas are much more interesting than soap operas.