Comparatives and Superlatives — English — 3rd Year Secondary (Literary Stream) — Baccalaureate — Algerian Curriculum

Comparatives and Superlatives

We use comparatives to compare two people, things, or situations, and superlatives to compare one person or thing with all others in a group. The formation depends on the number of syllables in the adjective.

Formation Rules

• Short adjectives (1 syllable): add -er (comparative) and -est (superlative). fast → faster → fastest. tall → taller → tallest. big → bigger → biggest (doubled consonant).
• Adjectives ending in -y (2 syllables): change -y to -ier/-iest. happy → happier → happiest. easy → easier → easiest.
• Long adjectives (2+ syllables): use more/most. beautiful → more beautiful → most beautiful. interesting → more interesting → most interesting.
• Irregular adjectives: good → better → best. bad → worse → worst. far → farther/further → farthest/furthest. little → less → least. many/much → more → most.

Comparative Structures

• (not) as … as: equality. “He is as tall as me.” “She is not as tall as her sister.”
• … than: comparative + than. “This book is more interesting than that one.”
• the … the …: two things change together. “The more you study, the better your grades will be.”
• less … than: opposite of more. “This task is less difficult than the previous one.”
• than me / than I am: both are correct: “He is taller than me.” or “He is taller than I am.”

Superlative Structures

• the + superlative + (in/of/among): “She is the tallest girl in the class.” “Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.”
• one of the + superlative + plural noun: “It is one of the most beautiful cities I’ve visited.”
• by far + superlative: emphasizes the superlative. “This is by far the best movie of the year.”

For more grammar, see Conditionals and Passive Voice.

Exercises

1. Complete with comparative or superlative: “This is (good) movie I’ve ever seen.” “She is (intelligent) than her brother.”
2. Correct the mistakes: “He is more taller than me.” “She is the most happiest person.”
3. Write sentences using: as…as, the…the, one of the + superlative.