Adjectives: Comparative and Superlative Rules Explained with Examples

Adjectives make language rich and descriptive. They tell us more about nouns — like how something looks, feels, tastes, or behaves. But when we compare two or more things, we need the right grammar form: comparative and superlative adjectives. This article explains all the rules with examples, visuals, and interactive elements to make learning easy and fun.

What Are Adjectives?

An adjective modifies a noun or pronoun to add description or quality. For example:

• The blue sky looks peaceful.
• He bought a new phone.
• It’s a tasty cake.

When we compare things, adjectives take different forms called degrees of comparison:

Three Degrees of Adjectives

1. Positive Degree: Describes a quality (e.g., big)
2. Comparative Degree: Compares two things (e.g., bigger)
3. Superlative Degree: Compares three or more things (e.g., biggest)

Forming Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

1. One-Syllable Adjectives

Usually add -er for comparative and -est for superlative.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative	Example Sentence
tall	taller	tallest	John is taller than Mike.
small	smaller	smallest	This box is the smallest of all.

2. One-Syllable Ending with Consonant + Vowel + Consonant

Double the last consonant before adding -er or -est.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative	Example
big	bigger	biggest	Elephants are bigger than horses.
thin	thinner	thinnest	This line is the thinnest.

3. Two-Syllable Adjectives Ending in -y

Change the “y” to “i” and add -er or -est.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative	Example
happy	happier	happiest	She is happier today.
busy	busier	busiest	Monday is the busiest day.

4. Adjectives with Two or More Syllables

Use “more” or “most” instead of adding -er or -est.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative	Example
beautiful	more beautiful	most beautiful	This painting is more beautiful than that one.
important	more important	most important	Education is the most important asset.

5. Irregular Forms

Some adjectives don’t follow any rule. Memorize them.

Positive	Comparative	Superlative	Example
good	better	best	This is the best book I’ve read.
bad	worse	worst	That was his worst performance.
far	farther/further	farthest/furthest	Delhi is farther than Jaipur.

Using Adjectives in Sentences

Comparative adjectives are often followed by “than”, while superlatives usually take “the” before them.

• Comparative: This phone is faster than the old one.
• Superlative: This is the fastest internet connection available.

Interactive Practice

Try completing these for practice:

1. This chair is _______ (comfortable) than that one.
2. Mount Everest is the _______ (high) mountain in the world.
3. She is _______ (good) at singing than dancing.
4. Diamond is the _______ (hard) substance known.

Answer hints: more comfortable, highest, better, hardest.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Don’t mix “more” with “-er” (wrong: more happier → correct: happier).
• Always use “the” before a superlative (wrong: she is smartest → correct: she is the smartest).
• Check spelling when adding suffixes (happy → happier, not happyer).

Summary Table

Rule	Comparative	Superlative	Example
One-syllable adjectives	-er	-est	small → smaller → smallest
Ends in consonant + vowel + consonant	double last letter + -er	+ -est	big → bigger → biggest
Ends in -y	change y to i + -er	+ -est	happy → happier → happiest
Two+ syllable adjectives	more	most	more beautiful → most beautiful
Irregular	better/worse	best/worst	good → better → best

Final Thoughts

Adjectives bring life to your English communication. Mastering the comparative and superlative forms not only sharpens your grammar but also makes your language more expressive. Keep practicing with new words and use them in writing or conversation. Over time, you’ll develop a natural instinct for which form sounds right.