Comparatives &

Superlatives

Comparatives of equality

• As + adjective + as• Not so / as + adjective + as

‘He is as tall as me’‘He isn’t so / as tall as me’

• In Spanish we use ‘tan’+ adjective + ‘como’

Comparatives of superiority

Short adjectives (1 syllable)

We add –er or –r.Two – syllable adjectives ending in –y

We take –y out and we add –ier.

Longer adjectives (2or more syllables)

We use more before the adjective.

Irregular forms

Some adjectives take completely irregular forms.

• We use these comparatives of superiority to compare two things or two people.

• We can use than after the comparative forms.‘John is shorter than Mary’

‘He is more intelligent than her’• In Spanish we use ‘más’ +

adjective + ‘que’

Superlatives

Short adjectives (1 syllable)

We add –est or –st.Two – syllable adjectives ending in –y

We take –y out and we add –iest.

Longer adjectives (2or more syllables)

We use the most before the adjective.

Irregular forms

Some adjectives take completely irregular forms.

• We use superlatives to compare a person / thing with a group.

• We always use the before the superlative adjectives. ‘He is the shortest in the

group’‘He is the most interesting

of the students’• In Spanish we use ‘el más’

+ adjective

Rich Richer than The richest

Nice Nicer than The nicest

Easy Easier than The easiest

Happy Happier than The happiest

Stressful More… than The most …

Dangerous More… than The most …

Good Better than The best

Bad Worse than The worst

Far Farther / further than

The farthest / furthest

Irregulars

Those adjectives with two syllables and ending in –er or –l can take both comparative and superlative forms: Clever – cleverer / more clever the cleverest / the most clever

Simple – simpler / more simple the simplerest / the most simple

Those adjectives ending in –ing / -ed / -ful / -less always take ‘more / the most’Tired – more tired / the most tired

Exceptions

Comparatives of inferiority• Less + adjective + than

‘He is less tall / intelligent than her’

• In Spanish we use ‘menos’ + adjective + ‘que’

Superlatives of inferiority• The least + adjective

(in / of)‘He is the least tall /

intelligent in the group / of the students’

• In Spanish we use ‘el menos’ + adjective

(‘de’)

THE

END