Comparative and Superlative Adjectives and Adverbs
Grammar & Vocabulary8 MinMarch 2026

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives and Adverbs

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Callens Language Institute

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English GrammarAdjectivesAdverbs

Comparative and Superlative Forms

Comparatives compare two people or things, while superlatives identify the highest or lowest degree in a group.

Checklist
  1. 1small, smaller, smallest
  2. 2careful, more careful, most careful
  3. 3good, better, best
  4. 4bad, worse, worst

How to Form Comparatives

Short adjectives often take -er and -est. Longer adjectives use more and most. Adverbs ending in -ly usually use more and most as well.

Common Irregular Forms

Some forms must be learned individually, including good and well becoming better and best, and bad and badly becoming worse and worst.

Avoid Common Errors

Do not use more with a word that already takes -er, and remember to use than after a comparative when making a direct comparison.

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Comparative and Superlative Adjectives and Adverbs | Callens Institute