An adjective describes something – a long business trip, an expensive product, a famous person and so on. But if you want to compare two or more things, you have to know how to make the comparative and superlative form of adjectives.
This is how you do it erfahren Sie im Spezial-Fernkurs für Sekretärinnen und Assistentinnen Let’s talk Business English.
You use the comparative form of adjectives when you want to compare two things with each other.
Some comparatives and superlatives are formed by adding –er oder -est onto the adjective. Others are formed by putting more or most in front of the adjective.
In general, you add –er or –est to short adjectives (one or two syllables), and put more and most before longer adjectives (more than two syllables).
If you want to say that something is smaller or less important, you use less or least.
- The insurance premium for Area 2 is cheaper than the one for Area 3.
- The insurance premium for Area 2 is more expensive than the one for Area 1.
- The new director is less popular than the old one.
You use the superlative form of adjectives when you want to point out that one thing has the top rank or the lowest rank in a group of things.
- The insurance premium for Area 4 is the most expensive.
- Insurance cover for Area 1 is the least expensive.
- Frank has got the smallest desk in our office.
Note these other rules
If an adjective ends in a vowel + consonant, you double the consonant. If an adjective ends in –y, this changes to –ie so the comparative is –ier and the superlative –iest.
adjective | comparative | superlative | |
one syllable | long fine | longer finer | longest finest |
one syllable ending in vowel + consonant | big wet | bigger wetter | biggest wettest |
two syllables ending in -y | busy easy | busier easier | busiest easiest |
two or more syllables | famous modern commercial | more/less famous more/less modern more/less commercial | most/least famous most/least modern most/least commercial |
Exceptions to the rule
Some adjectives of two syllables can form the comparative and superlative with either –er/-est or with more and most. Examples:
clever | cleverer / more clever | cleverest / most clever |
common | commoner / more common | commonest / most common |
quiet | quieter / more quiet | quietest / most quiet |
Make sure you know two important exceptions
Even people who speak and wirite good English sometimes forget how to use two of the most common – and important – adjectives: good and bad. Getting them wrong (for example, by saying badder) is very bad!
good | better | best |
bad | worse | the worst |
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