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0z\"\u002F>",true,{"id":46,"title":47,"author":48,"body":49,"cefrLevel":928,"date":48,"description":929,"exercises":48,"extension":930,"faqs":931,"gcseTier":48,"intro":48,"language":944,"lastUpdated":48,"meta":945,"navigation":44,"path":946,"seo":947,"stem":948,"verbSlugs":48,"__hash__":949},"pages\u002Fenglish\u002Fgrammar\u002Fcomparatives-and-superlatives.md","Comparatives and superlatives in English: the complete guide",null,{"type":50,"value":51,"toc":918},"minimark",[52,89,94,97,131,142,146,157,162,192,197,219,224,270,275,309,514,518,521,619,646,650,653,669,685,708,737,741,744,845,849,852,889],[53,54,55,56,60,61,64,65,68,69,72,73,76,77,80,81,84,85,88],"p",{},"A comparative adjective compares two things: one is ",[57,58,59],"em",{},"bigger",", ",[57,62,63],{},"faster"," or ",[57,66,67],{},"more\nuseful"," than the other. A superlative picks one out of a group of three or more:\nit is the ",[57,70,71],{},"biggest",", the ",[57,74,75],{},"fastest"," or the ",[57,78,79],{},"most useful"," of them all. That is the\nwhole idea. The grammar that trips learners up is not the meaning; it is knowing\nwhen to bolt ",[57,82,83],{},"-er"," onto the end of a word and when to reach for ",[57,86,87],{},"more"," instead.\nThis guide sorts that out.",[90,91,93],"h2",{"id":92},"comparative-or-superlative","Comparative or superlative?",[53,95,96],{},"The choice comes down to how many things you are comparing.",[98,99,100,117],"ul",{},[101,102,103,104,108,109,112,113,116],"li",{},"Use a ",[105,106,107],"strong",{},"comparative"," to compare ",[105,110,111],{},"two"," things. ",[57,114,115],{},"My brother is taller than\nme."," Two people, one comparison.",[101,118,103,119,122,123,126,127,130],{},[105,120,121],{},"superlative"," to pick ",[105,124,125],{},"one out of three or more",". ",[57,128,129],{},"My brother is the\ntallest in the family."," One winner, a whole group behind them.",[53,132,133,134,137,138,141],{},"If there are only two things, a superlative is wrong: ",[57,135,136],{},"the tallest of the two","\nshould be ",[57,139,140],{},"the taller of the two",". Get the count right and the rest follows.",[90,143,145],{"id":144},"the-core-rules-by-syllable-count","The core rules by syllable count",[53,147,148,149,152,153,156],{},"English decides between ",[57,150,151],{},"-er\u002F-est"," and ",[57,154,155],{},"more\u002Fmost"," mostly by counting\nsyllables. There are four rules and one master table that holds them all.",[53,158,159],{},[105,160,161],{},"One syllable: add -er and -est.",[53,163,164,167,168,152,171,174,175,178,179,60,182,60,185,60,188,191],{},[57,165,166],{},"tall"," becomes ",[57,169,170],{},"taller",[57,172,173],{},"tallest",". This covers the everyday words: ",[57,176,177],{},"fast",",\n",[57,180,181],{},"old",[57,183,184],{},"small",[57,186,187],{},"cheap",[57,189,190],{},"short",".",[53,193,194],{},[105,195,196],{},"One syllable ending consonant-vowel-consonant: double the last consonant.",[53,198,199,200,203,204,152,206,208,209,167,212,152,215,218],{},"When a short word ends in a single consonant, a single vowel and a single\nconsonant, you double that final consonant before adding the ending. ",[57,201,202],{},"big","\nbecomes ",[57,205,59],{},[57,207,71],{},"; ",[57,210,211],{},"hot",[57,213,214],{},"hotter",[57,216,217],{},"hottest",". The double\nletter keeps the vowel short.",[53,220,221],{},[105,222,223],{},"Ending in -y: change the y to i.",[53,225,226,227,230,231,234,235,238,239,241,242,126,245,167,248,152,251,208,254,167,257,260,261,264,265,267,268,191],{},"Two-syllable adjectives that end in ",[57,228,229],{},"-y"," swap the ",[57,232,233],{},"y"," for ",[57,236,237],{},"i"," and add ",[57,240,83],{}," or\n",[57,243,244],{},"-est",[57,246,247],{},"happy",[57,249,250],{},"happier",[57,252,253],{},"happiest",[57,255,256],{},"easy",[57,258,259],{},"easier"," and\n",[57,262,263],{},"easiest",". This rule beats the syllable count, so even though ",[57,266,247],{}," has two\nsyllables, it does not take ",[57,269,87],{},[53,271,272],{},[105,273,274],{},"Two or more syllables: use more and most.",[53,276,277,278,64,280,283,284,167,287,152,290,208,293,167,296,152,298,300,301,303,304,152,306,308],{},"For longer adjectives, leave the word alone and put ",[57,279,87],{},[57,281,282],{},"most"," in front.\n",[57,285,286],{},"careful",[57,288,289],{},"more careful",[57,291,292],{},"most careful",[57,294,295],{},"useful",[57,297,67],{},[57,299,79],{},". You never add ",[57,302,83],{}," to these, and you never use both\n",[57,305,87],{},[57,307,83],{}," together.",[310,311,312,331],"table",{},[313,314,315],"thead",{},[316,317,318,322,325,328],"tr",{},[319,320,321],"th",{},"Adjective",[319,323,324],{},"Rule",[319,326,327],{},"Comparative",[319,329,330],{},"Superlative",[332,333,334,353,370,388,406,423,441,458,476,494],"tbody",{},[316,335,336,341,344,348],{},[337,338,339],"td",{},[57,340,166],{},[337,342,343],{},"one syllable, add -er",[337,345,346],{},[57,347,170],{},[337,349,350],{},[57,351,352],{},"the tallest",[316,354,355,359,361,365],{},[337,356,357],{},[57,358,177],{},[337,360,343],{},[337,362,363],{},[57,364,63],{},[337,366,367],{},[57,368,369],{},"the fastest",[316,371,372,376,378,383],{},[337,373,374],{},[57,375,181],{},[337,377,343],{},[337,379,380],{},[57,381,382],{},"older",[337,384,385],{},[57,386,387],{},"the oldest",[316,389,390,394,397,401],{},[337,391,392],{},[57,393,202],{},[337,395,396],{},"double the consonant",[337,398,399],{},[57,400,59],{},[337,402,403],{},[57,404,405],{},"the biggest",[316,407,408,412,414,418],{},[337,409,410],{},[57,411,211],{},[337,413,396],{},[337,415,416],{},[57,417,214],{},[337,419,420],{},[57,421,422],{},"the hottest",[316,424,425,429,432,436],{},[337,426,427],{},[57,428,247],{},[337,430,431],{},"-y changes to -i",[337,433,434],{},[57,435,250],{},[337,437,438],{},[57,439,440],{},"the happiest",[316,442,443,447,449,453],{},[337,444,445],{},[57,446,256],{},[337,448,431],{},[337,450,451],{},[57,452,259],{},[337,454,455],{},[57,456,457],{},"the easiest",[316,459,460,464,467,471],{},[337,461,462],{},[57,463,286],{},[337,465,466],{},"two syllables, use more",[337,468,469],{},[57,470,289],{},[337,472,473],{},[57,474,475],{},"the most careful",[316,477,478,482,484,489],{},[337,479,480],{},[57,481,295],{},[337,483,466],{},[337,485,486],{},[57,487,488],{},"more useful",[337,490,491],{},[57,492,493],{},"the most useful",[316,495,496,501,504,509],{},[337,497,498],{},[57,499,500],{},"expensive",[337,502,503],{},"three syllables, more",[337,505,506],{},[57,507,508],{},"more expensive",[337,510,511],{},[57,512,513],{},"the most expensive",[90,515,517],{"id":516},"the-common-irregulars","The common irregulars",[53,519,520],{},"A handful of the most-used adjectives ignore the rules entirely. There is no\nlogic to memorise here; you simply learn them, and because they are so common\nyou will use them daily until they stick.",[310,522,523,533],{},[313,524,525],{},[316,526,527,529,531],{},[319,528,321],{},[319,530,327],{},[319,532,330],{},[332,534,535,552,569,586,603],{},[316,536,537,542,547],{},[337,538,539],{},[57,540,541],{},"good",[337,543,544],{},[57,545,546],{},"better",[337,548,549],{},[57,550,551],{},"the best",[316,553,554,559,564],{},[337,555,556],{},[57,557,558],{},"bad",[337,560,561],{},[57,562,563],{},"worse",[337,565,566],{},[57,567,568],{},"the worst",[316,570,571,576,581],{},[337,572,573],{},[57,574,575],{},"far",[337,577,578],{},[57,579,580],{},"further \u002F farther",[337,582,583],{},[57,584,585],{},"the furthest \u002F farthest",[316,587,588,593,598],{},[337,589,590],{},[57,591,592],{},"little",[337,594,595],{},[57,596,597],{},"less",[337,599,600],{},[57,601,602],{},"the least",[316,604,605,610,614],{},[337,606,607],{},[57,608,609],{},"much \u002F many",[337,611,612],{},[57,613,87],{},[337,615,616],{},[57,617,618],{},"the most",[53,620,621,152,624,627,628,60,631,634,635,637,638,641,642,645],{},[57,622,623],{},"Better",[57,625,626],{},"best"," are the ones you will meet first: ",[57,629,630],{},"her English is better than\nmine",[57,632,633],{},"this is the best coffee in town",". For ",[57,636,575],{},", both spellings are correct;\nBritish English tends to prefer ",[57,639,640],{},"further"," for distance and figurative use alike,\nwhile ",[57,643,644],{},"farther"," is more common for physical distance in American English. Either\nis safe.",[90,647,649],{"id":648},"the-patterns-that-carry-the-words","The patterns that carry the words",[53,651,652],{},"Knowing how to build the word is half the job. The other half is the small set\nof words that surround it.",[53,654,655,658,659,126,662,665,666,668],{},[105,656,657],{},"than after a comparative."," A comparative almost always leads to ",[57,660,661],{},"than",[57,663,664],{},"She\nis taller than me. This bag is cheaper than that one."," Forgetting ",[57,667,661],{}," is one\nof the most common slips.",[53,670,671,674,675,283,678,681,682,684],{},[105,672,673],{},"the before a superlative."," A superlative almost always takes ",[57,676,677],{},"the",[57,679,680],{},"He is the tallest. This is the hottest day of the year."," The superlative points\nto one specific thing, and ",[57,683,677],{}," is how English marks something specific.",[53,686,687,690,691,694,695,60,698,701,702,694,705,191],{},[105,688,689],{},"as ... as for equality."," When two things are equal, you do not need a\ncomparative at all. Wrap the plain adjective in ",[57,692,693],{},"as ... as",": ",[57,696,697],{},"she is as tall as\nher brother",[57,699,700],{},"this book is as good as the film",". To say they are not equal, add\n",[57,703,704],{},"not",[57,706,707],{},"it is not as hot as yesterday",[53,709,710,713,714,152,717,719,720,152,722,724,725,728,729,732,733,736],{},[105,711,712],{},"less and the least for the other direction."," ",[57,715,716],{},"More",[57,718,83],{}," push upward;\n",[57,721,597],{},[57,723,602],{}," pull the other way. ",[57,726,727],{},"This route is less busy than that\none. It is the least expensive option on the menu."," These work with longer\nadjectives; for short ones, most speakers just use the opposite word (",[57,730,731],{},"smaller","\nrather than ",[57,734,735],{},"less big",").",[90,738,740],{"id":739},"common-mistakes","Common mistakes",[53,742,743],{},"Ranked by how often learners actually make them.",[745,746,747,778,798,813,825],"ol",{},[101,748,749,752,753,152,755,757,758,761,762,765,766,768,769,771,772,775,776,191],{},[105,750,751],{},"Double comparatives."," Using ",[57,754,87],{},[57,756,83],{}," together, as in ",[57,759,760],{},"more bigger","\nor ",[57,763,764],{},"more taller",", is wrong. Pick one: ",[57,767,59],{},", not ",[57,770,760],{},". The same\ngoes for superlatives: ",[57,773,774],{},"the most tallest"," should be ",[57,777,352],{},[101,779,780,783,784,152,786,788,789,126,791,794,795,191],{},[105,781,782],{},"more better and more worse."," Because ",[57,785,546],{},[57,787,563],{}," are already\ncomparatives, they never take ",[57,790,87],{},[57,792,793],{},"My English is more better"," should be\n",[57,796,797],{},"my English is better",[101,799,800,713,803,806,807,810,811,191],{},[105,801,802],{},"Forgetting than.",[57,804,805],{},"She is taller me"," is missing its comparison word: ",[57,808,809],{},"she\nis taller than me",". If there is a comparative, look for the ",[57,812,661],{},[101,814,815,713,818,137,821,824],{},[105,816,817],{},"Using a superlative for two things.",[57,819,820],{},"She is the tallest of the two sisters",[57,822,823],{},"she is the taller of the two sisters",". Three or more before you\nreach for a superlative.",[101,826,827,713,830,775,833,836,837,840,841,844],{},[105,828,829],{},"than and then mixed up.",[57,831,832],{},"He is older then me",[57,834,835],{},"older than me",".\n",[57,838,839],{},"Than"," compares; ",[57,842,843],{},"then"," tells the time. They are different words that happen\nto sound alike.",[90,846,848],{"id":847},"practice","Practice",[53,850,851],{},"Choose or complete the correct form. Answers are below.",[745,853,854,862,868,874,880],{},[101,855,856,857,861],{},"A plane is ",[858,859,860],"code",{},"___"," (fast) than a train.",[101,863,864,865,867],{},"This is the ",[858,866,860],{}," (hot) day of the summer.",[101,869,870,871,873],{},"My new phone is ",[858,872,860],{}," (expensive) than my old one.",[101,875,876,877,879],{},"She is a ",[858,878,860],{}," (good) singer than her sister.",[101,881,882,883,885,886,888],{},"Today is not ",[858,884,860],{}," cold ",[858,887,860],{}," yesterday.",[53,890,891,894,895,897,898,900,901,903,904,906,907,909,910,913,914,917],{},[105,892,893],{},"Answers:"," 1. faster (one syllable, add -er, plus ",[57,896,661],{},") 2. hottest (double the\nconsonant, superlative with ",[57,899,677],{},") 3. more expensive (three syllables, use ",[57,902,87],{},"\nplus ",[57,905,661],{},") 4. better (",[57,908,541],{}," is irregular, never ",[57,911,912],{},"gooder",") 5. as ... as (",[57,915,916],{},"not\nas cold as"," for unequal things)",{"title":919,"searchDepth":920,"depth":920,"links":921},"",2,[922,923,924,925,926,927],{"id":92,"depth":920,"text":93},{"id":144,"depth":920,"text":145},{"id":516,"depth":920,"text":517},{"id":648,"depth":920,"text":649},{"id":739,"depth":920,"text":740},{"id":847,"depth":920,"text":848},"A2-B1","How to make and use comparative and superlative adjectives in English. The syllable rules, the common irregulars, than, the, as ... as, and the mistakes to avoid.","md",[932,935,938,941],{"q":933,"a":934},"When do I add -er and when do I use more?","Count the syllables. One-syllable adjectives add -er and -est: tall, taller, tallest. Adjectives with two or more syllables usually take more and most: careful, more careful, most careful. The main exception is two-syllable adjectives ending in -y, which change the y to i and add -er or -est: happy, happier, happiest.",{"q":936,"a":937},"What is the difference between than and then?","Than is the comparison word: She is taller than me. Then is about time or sequence: We ate, then we left. They sound similar but do different jobs, so the comparative always takes than, never then. If you can replace the word with compared to, you want than.",{"q":939,"a":940},"Why is it good, better, best and not gooder or goodest?","Good is irregular, so it does not follow the -er and -est rule. Its comparative is better and its superlative is best. The other common irregulars are bad, worse, worst; far, further, furthest; and little, less, least. You have to learn these by heart because the pattern does not predict them.",{"q":942,"a":943},"Should I say the most tall or the tallest?","The tallest. Tall is one syllable, so it takes -est, not most: the tallest building. Save most for longer adjectives: the most careful driver. Using both together, as in the most tallest, is always wrong, and so is mixing them, as in the most tall.","english",{},"\u002Fenglish\u002Fgrammar\u002Fcomparatives-and-superlatives",{"title":47,"description":929},"english\u002Fgrammar\u002Fcomparatives-and-superlatives","PUSH6u8J4zPmy1zQfmf5s_QyGO0MKMt42sYscTVdhOA"]