Comparatives & Superlatives
Compare two things (taller than) and find the best of many (the tallest), including irregular forms like good/better/best. Beginner grammar with 20 questions.
When we compare things, we use comparatives (to compare two things) and superlatives (to say which is the best, biggest, etc. out of three or more). “Omar is taller than Yusuf.” “Aisha is the youngest in the family.”
Comparatives: comparing two things
| Adjective type | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Short (1 syllable) | add -er + than | tall → taller than |
| Ending in -y | change y to -ier | happy → happier than |
| Long (2+ syllables) | more + adjective + than | expensive → more expensive than |
- Omar is taller than Yusuf.
- Today is hotter than yesterday. (short verb → double the consonant)
- English is more useful than many people think.
Superlatives: comparing three or more
| Adjective type | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Short (1 syllable) | the + adjective + -est | tall → the tallest |
| Ending in -y | the + …-iest | happy → the happiest |
| Long (2+ syllables) | the most + adjective | expensive → the most expensive |
- Yusuf is the youngest in his family.
- This is the easiest lesson so far.
- It was the most interesting book I read this year.
Don’t forget “the”Superlatives almost always need the in front: “the tallest,” “the best.”
Irregular forms (learn these!)
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| good | better | the best |
| bad | worse | the worst |
| far | farther / further | the farthest / furthest |
- Her English is better than last year.
- That was the best lesson of the week.
Tutor tip for Arabic speakersA very common slip is using both “more” and “-er” together: “more taller.” Choose one: short words use -er (taller), long words use more (more expensive) — never both at once.
Common mistakes
- Omar is more taller than Yusuf. → Omar is taller than Yusuf.
- She is the most tall. → She is the tallest.
- This book is gooder. → This book is better.
Practise comparing with the 20 questions below.
Check your understanding
Answer the questions below. You will see instantly if you are right.
1."Omar is ___ Yusuf." (tall)
Short adjective + er + than: taller than.
2."Today is ___ yesterday." (hot)
hot → hotter than (double the t).
3."English is ___ many people think." (useful)
Long adjective: more useful than.
4."Aisha is ___ than her cousin." (happy)
y → ier: happier.
5."Yusuf is ___ in his family." (young)
Out of the whole family (3+) = the youngest.
6."This is ___ lesson so far." (easy)
easy → the easiest.
7."It was ___ book I read this year." (interesting)
Long adjective superlative: the most interesting.
8.Comparative of "good":
good → better (irregular).
9.Superlative of "good":
good → the best.
10.Comparative of "bad":
bad → worse.
11.Which is correct?
Never use "more" + "-er" together.
12.Which is correct?
Short adjective superlative: the tallest.
13.Which is correct?
good → better.
14."A car is ___ a bicycle." (expensive)
Long adjective: more expensive than.
15."Mount Everest is ___ mountain in the world." (high)
Out of all = the highest.
16.Superlatives almost always need ___ in front.
the tallest, the best, the most...
17."My new phone is ___ my old one." (fast)
Short adjective: faster than.
18."That was ___ day of my life!" (bad)
bad → the worst.
19."Her English is ___ than last year." (good)
good → better than.
20."Reading is ___ than listening for me." (easy)
easy → easier than.
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