Writers Workshop: Writer Resources
Grammar Handbook: Comparatives and Superlatives
Comparative and Superlative
Comparative: the second or middle degree of comparison in adjectives or adverbs
Superlative: the third or highest degree of comparison in adjectives or adverbs
The comparative and superlative degrees are formed by adding the -er and -est suffix to adjectives and adverbs with a single consonant for an ending.
| Word | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| big | bigger | biggest |
| soon | sooner | soonest |
Adjectives and adverbs ending in -y drop the -y and add an -ier in the comparative degree and an -iest in the superlative degree:
| Word | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| dry | drier | driest |
| early | earlier | earliest |
Adjectives and adverbs ending in the silent or mute -e drop the ending -e and add the -er for the comparative and the -est for the superlative:
| Word | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| pale | paler | palest |
| free | freer | freest |
Degrees of comparison can also be distinguished with the use of "more" and "most": more clever; most clever.
Irregular Adjectives
| Word | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| good | better | best |
| bad | worse | worst |
| much | more | most |
| little | less | least |
| far | farther farthest |
further furthest |
| old | older elder |
oldest eldest |
Irregular Adverbs
| Word | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| badly | worse | worst |
| much | more | most |
| little | less | least |
| far | farther farthest |
further furthest |
| much | more | most |
| well | better | best |