Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Adjectives can be used to compare two things, or more than two things.

Comparatives

When comparing two things, you’re likely to get adjectives like smaller, bigger, taller, more interesting, and less expensive. Notice the ‑er ending, and the words more and less. Make sure you have used the proper ending, or the proper comparative adjective.

Mike is more funny than Isaac.

Mike is funnier than Isaac.

Notice the spelling change for adjectives ending in ‑y: the comparative ends in ‑ier.

This book is boringer than the last one.

This book is more boring than the last one.

Advertising encourages women to be more thin.

Advertising encourages women to be thinner.

Superlatives

When comparing more than two things, you’ll get words like smallest, biggest, tallest, most interesting, and least interesting. Notice the ‑est ending, and the words most and least. Make sure you use the proper ending or superlative adjective. Frequently, you’ll find the article the before the superlative (e.g. the coldest winter).

Martha is the elder of the four sisters.

If there were only two sisters, we could use the comparative elder here. Because there are four sisters, we need a superlative.

Martha is the eldest of the four sisters.

I think his last book is his least interesting; his third book was the most interesting.

That must be the weirdest play ever written.

Remember that adjectives which end in ‑y have their spelling changed if ‑est is added.

That is the sleepyest puppy of the litter.

That is the sleepiest puppy of the litter.