Comparative and Superlative Forms
Comparatives compare two people or things, while superlatives identify the highest or lowest degree in a group.
- 1small, smaller, smallest
- 2careful, more careful, most careful
- 3good, better, best
- 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.