COMPARATIVE
Comparative forms are used to describe a relation between elements. There are different kinds of comparative forms.
COMPARATIVE OF EQUALITY
As the title itself says, comparative of equality is used to say that something or person is equal or not.
A structure of this type of comparative is very simple. Observe:
| as + adjective + as |
| iPhone is as good as a Smartphone |
| not as + adjective+ as |
| iPhone is not as good as a Smartphone |
COMPARATIVE OF INFERIORITY
The comparative of inferiority is used to say that someone or something is less than another. To make this comparative, use the following structure:
| less + adjective + than |
English is less difficult than Spanish
Watching television is less interesting than reading a book
COMPARATIVE OF SUPERIORITY
The Comparative of Superiority, as the name itself says, means that you are making a comparison and saying that someone or something is superior to another.
In both comparative of equality and inferiority, the rule is the same, there are no exceptions. However, in the comparative of superiority it is necessary to observe some rules.
| adjective + er + than |
This car is faster than that one
I’m older than you
Obama is humbler than Donald Trump
Short one-syllable adjectives: +er
fast-faster / old-older
Short adjectives ending in e: +r
nice-nicer / strange-stranger
Short adjectives ending in one vowel + one consonant: double the consonant +er
fat-fatter / thin-thinner *** don’t double w: low-lower
Two-syllable adjectives ending in y: y–i + er
happy-happier / sleepy-sleepier
Most other longer adjectives: use more before the adjective
| more + adjective + than |
important-more important / beautiful-more beautiful
This TV show is more boring than the other one
A car can be more expensive than a house
This computer is more modern than that one
SUPERLATIVE
The superlative is used to highlight something or someone within a group. This highlight can be either positive or negative. Let’s structure it:
| the + adjective + est |
My piece of cake is the smallest
This building is the tallest in the city
Short one-syllable adjectives: +est
fast-fastest / old-oldest
Short adjectives ending in e: +st
nice-nicest / strange-strangest
Short adjectives ending in one vowel + one consonant: double the consonant +est
fat-fatest / thin-thinnest *** don’t double w: low-lowest
Two-syllable adjectives ending in y: y–i + er
happy-happiest / sleepy-sleepiest
Most other longer adjectives: use the most before the adjective
| the most + adjective |
This program is the most complex I have ever seen
This is the most interesting magazine I have read
IRREGULAR ADJECTIVES
good – better – best
bad – worse – worst
far – further – furthest
She is better than me
He is the worst in our group
This is the furthest way to go there