Forming the Comparative and Superlative Degrees

As shown in Table 1, adjectives and adverbs change to show the comparative degree and superlative degree.

Positive Degree




Follow these basic rules in forming comparative and superlative with adverbs and adjectives.

Use the comparative degree when you are comparing two people, things, or actions.

Oranges are sweeter than apples.
Naomi sings more sweetly than Kate.
Use the superlative degree when you are comparing more than two.

The superlative degree puts the modified word over all the others in its group.

The strawberries are sweeter than the apples, but the oranges are sweetest of all.

Of all the members of the choir, Naomi sings most sweetly.

Most one‐syllable and some two‐syllable adjectives form the comparative and superlative degrees by adding ‐er or ‐est: tall, taller, tallest; smart, smarter, smartest.

The adjective's final consonant is sometimes doubled: big, bigger, biggest; sad, sadder, saddest.

A final ‐y is changed to ‐i: dry, drier, driest; happy, happier, happiest.

There are a few exceptions: good, better, best; bad, worse, worst.

If an adjective has two or more syllables, it usually forms the comparative and superlative degrees with more and most: more intelligent, most intelligent; more difficult, most difficult.

Most adverbs form the comparative and superlative forms with more and most: more slowly, most slowly; more gracefully, most gracefully; more quickly, most quickly.

There are a few exceptions: hard, harder, hardest; fast, faster, fastest; soon, sooner, soonest.

Be careful not to double comparative degrees: funny, funnier (not more funnier) , funniest (not most funniest).

Do not use the ‐er or ‐est forms with more or most.

Whenever you aren't sure about how to form the comparative and superlative of a particular adjective or adverb, check a dictionary.

Scholarships for Study in Africa » Scholarships

for African Students » Undergraduate Scholarships » African Women Scholarships & Grants » Developing Countries Scholarships » Erasmus Mundus Scholarships for Developing Countries » Fellowship Programs » Funding Grants for NGOs » Government Scholarships » LLM Scholarships » MBA Scholarships » PhD and Masters by Research Scholarships » Public Health Scholarships - MPH Scholarships » Refugees Scholarships » Research Grants » Scholarships and Grants

Scholarships in Australia » Scholarships in Austria » Scholarships in Belgium » Scholarships in Canada » Scholarships in Germany » Scholarships in Italy » Scholarships in Japan » Scholarships in Korea » Scholarships in Netherlands » Scholarships in Switzerland » Scholarships in UK » Scholarships in USA


What is an Operating System? » Computer Shortcut Keys and their Functions » Keyboard Function Keys

Short Stories for Kids - Moral Stories – English Short Stories for Children - Moral Stories for Kids - Stories for Kids - Funny Story for Kids - Scary Stories for Kids - Really Funny Short Stories - Bedtime Stories
Proverb Stories
Powerful Motivational Quotes for Students » Success Quotes » English Short Stories for Kids

Cabin Crew Jobs & Career Advice » Secretary Job Description » Receptionist Job Description » Top 100 Interview Questions and Answers » How to Prepare for an Interview » How to Write a CV » How to Choose a Career » Computer Shortcut Keys and their Functions

Short Stories for Kids - Moral Stories – English Short Stories for Children - Moral Stories for Kids - Stories for Kids - Funny Story for Kids - Scary Stories for Kids - Really Funny Short Stories - Bedtime Stories
Proverb Stories
Powerful Motivational Quotes for Students » Success Quotes

Cabin Crew Jobs & Career Advice » Secretary Job Description