Comparative & Superlatives - Adjectives & Adverbs
A complete B1 guide to comparative and superlative adjectives and adverbs. Covers form, irregular comparatives, and common mistakes.
Comparatives compare two people, things, actions, or situations. Superlatives compare one thing with all the others in a group.
Comparatives
Use -er with many short adjectives and adverbs.
| Base word | Comparative |
|---|---|
| cheap | cheaper |
| fast | faster |
| large | larger |
| easy | easier |
Use more with most longer adjectives and with adverbs that end in -ly.
| Base word | Comparative |
|---|---|
| expensive | more expensive |
| comfortable | more comfortable |
| slowly | more slowly |
| carefully | more carefully |
Use than to show the second part of the comparison.
This route is faster than the old route.
Please speak more slowly than before.
Superlatives
Use the -est with many short adjectives and the most with longer adjectives.
| Base word | Superlative |
|---|---|
| cheap | the cheapest |
| hot | the hottest |
| easy | the easiest |
| important | the most important |
| enjoyable | the most enjoyable |
Use in with places, groups, and organizations. Use of with periods of time and life experiences.
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| the best in + place/group | This is the best room in the hotel. |
| the happiest day of + time/life | It was the happiest day of my life. |
Irregular Forms
| Base word | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| good / well | better | the best |
| bad / badly | worse | the worst |
| far | farther / further | the farthest / furthest |
Common Mistakes
| Avoid | Use |
|---|---|
| more cheaper | cheaper |
| the most easiest | the easiest |
| more fastly | faster |
| the best of the class | the best in the class |
Practice
This hotel is ___ than the one we stayed in last year.
Summary
Use comparatives to compare two things and superlatives to compare one thing with a whole group. Short adjectives often take -er and -est; longer adjectives and -ly adverbs usually use more and most. Remember the irregular forms better, best, worse, and worst.