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Grammar, compared

Comparatives and superlatives

The comparative compares two things: taller. The superlative picks the top of a group: the tallest.

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The short answer

Comparative / Superlative
ComparativeSuperlative
My flat is bigger than yours.It is the biggest flat in the building.
This test is more difficult than the last.It is the most difficult test of the year.
She works harder than me.She works the hardest.

How to form them

Comparatives and superlatives
AdjectiveComparativeSuperlative
Short: talltallerthe tallest
Ends in -e: nicenicerthe nicest
One vowel and one consonant: bigbiggerthe biggest
Two syllables ending in -y: happyhappierthe happiest
Long: expensivemore expensivethe most expensive
Irregular: good, bad, farbetter, worse, fartherthe best, the worst, the farthest

To say two things are equal, use as plus the adjective plus as: as tall as. To say less, use not as ... as or less.

Watch out if you speak Spanish

  • Do not use more with a short adjective: taller, not more tall.
  • Say than, not that: bigger than me. Más grande que is bigger than.
  • Add the before a superlative: the biggest.
  • After a superlative, use in for a group or place (in the class) and of for a plural (of all).

Practice

Grammar practice

Choose or type the answer for each sentence, then check.

  1. 1. My flat is than yours.
  2. 2. This is the film I have ever seen.
  3. 3. English is than I thought.
  4. 4. She is the student in the class.
  5. 5. This bag is not as as that one.
  6. 6. He is the tallest boy the team.
  7. 7. Today is

    than yesterday.hot
  8. 8. This is the

    day of my life.bad

0 of 8 checked

Questions

Is it farther or further?
Farther is for distance. Further also means more: for further information.
Can I say more nice?
No. Nice is short, so nicer. Use more with longer adjectives: more interesting.

Keep going

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Book a trial class. She writes back with times in Buenos Aires time.

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