Adjective comparison

On this page

• Definition of an adjective
• Adjective forms
  • Positive
  • Comparative
  • Superlative
• Rules for forming the comparative and superlative
  • Method 1: Add “-er” or “-est” to the end of the adjective
  • Method 2: Add “more” or “most” before the adjective
• Irregular comparative and superlative forms
• Mistakes to avoid in using comparative and superlative adjectives
  • Rule 1: Don’t combine two different forms
  • Rule 2: Don’t use the superlative to compare two things
  • Rule 3: Don’t use comparative and superlative forms with absolutes
• Additional information

Definition of an adjective

In English grammar, adjectives fall into a category called modifiers. A modifier is a word that either describes or limits the meaning of the word it refers to.

An adjective is a type of modifier that describes (or limits the meaning of) a noun or a pronoun.

Adjective forms

Adjectives have three forms: positive, comparative and superlative.

Positive

The positive form is the adjective itself:

• Louise is tall.
• Eric is careful.

Comparative

The comparative is used to compare two persons or things:

• Louise is taller than Jean-Marc.
• Eric is more careful than Jordan.

Superlative

The superlative is used to compare three or more persons or things:

• Louise is the tallest person in her family.
• Eric is the most careful driver on our block.

Rules for forming the comparative and superlative

There are two ways to form the comparative or the superlative forms of adjectives. The right method to use depends on the type of adjective, as explained below.

Method 1: Add “-er” or “-est” to the end of the adjective

We add -er (for the comparative) or -est (for the superlative) to most adjectives that fall into the following groups.

Adjectives of one syllable

• fast, faster, fastest
• kind, kinder, kindest
• long, longer, longest

Adjectives of two syllables ending in “-le”

• noble, nobler, noblest
• subtle, subtler, subtlest

Note that the silent e at the end of these adjectives is dropped when the ending is added: nobler [not nobleer].

Adjectives of two syllables ending in “-ow”

• narrow, narrower, narrowest
• shallow, shallower, shallowest

Adjectives of two syllables ending in “-y”

• happy, happier, happiest
• merry, merrier, merriest

Note that the y at the end of these adjectives changes to i when the ending is added: happier [not happyer].

Method 2: Add “more” or “most” before the adjective

To form the comparative or superlative of most other adjectives, we put the word more or most in front of them:

• comparative: more agreeable, more secure, more reckless
• superlative: most agreeable, most secure, most reckless

Irregular comparative and superlative forms

Some adjectives don’t follow the rules above; their forms are irregular. The table below shows the irregular comparative and superlative forms of six common adjectives.

Six adjectives with irregular forms

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
bad	worse	worst
far	farther	farthest
good	better	best
little	less	least
much	more	most
many	more	most

Mistakes to avoid in using comparative and superlative adjectives

The following guidelines will help you avoid the most common mistakes in the use of the comparative and superlative forms.

Rule 1: Don’t combine two different forms

Don’t combine the two forms for the comparative or superlative. Use either more or -er (or most or -est), but not both:

• gentler or more gentle [not more gentler]
• cleverest or most clever [not most cleverest]

Rule 2: Don’t use the superlative to compare two things

Don’t use the superlative when comparing only two persons or things; instead, use the comparative form:

• Anita is the livelier twin. [not the liveliest]
• The larger of the two race cars was damaged. [not the largest]

Rule 3: Don’t use comparative and superlative forms with absolutes

Don’t use comparative and superlative forms or intensifiers (very, quite, rather, etc.) with adjectives that express absolute ideas (complete, empty, essential, fatal, full, perfect, unique, etc.). Since absolutes have no degrees of comparison, they shouldn’t be intensified or compared.

• The accident was fatal. [not quite fatal]
• The Broccoli Bar is the perfect restaurant for vegans. [not the most perfect]

Additional information

• The section “Comparative and superlative” in the article “Adjective/adverb aptitude” (Peck’s English Pointers)
• Using the comparative and the superlative (HyperGrammar 2)