Blog/Grammar & Vocabulary
Grammar & Vocabulary

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives and Adverbs

CA

Callens Language Institute

March 2026 | 8 Min

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives and Adverbs
*Article focus
English Grammar
Adjectives
Adverbs

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.

About the author

Callens Language Institute

Academic Editorial Team

Your next step

Find your learning path

Talk with Callens about your current level, goal, and the right course path.

Talk to an expert for free
Comparative and Superlative Adjectives and Adverbs | Callens Institute