Comparatives
What Are Comparatives? (with Examples)
A comparative is the form of adjective or adverb used to compare two things.Examples of Comparatives
Here are some examples of comparatives (comparatives shaded):- Mark is taller. (taller = comparative of the adjective tall)
- Mark listens more attentively these days. (more attentively = comparative of the adverb attentively)
- When you hire people who are smarter than you are, you prove you are smarter than they are. (R H Grant) (smarter = comparative of the adjective smart)
- Nothing is impossible. Some things are just less likely than others. (Jonathan Winters) (less likely = comparative of the adverb likely)
Forming Comparatives
Often, the comparative form of an adjective or adverb can be formed by adding the suffix -er or by placing more (or less) before.Here are some examples:
| Example | Word Type | Formed | Comparative |
|---|---|---|---|
| small | adjective | add -er | smaller |
| quickly | adverb | precede with more | more quickly |
| quickly | adverb | precede with less | less quickly |
However, it is a little more complicated than just adding -er or using more. The section on the right offers more detail on how to form comparatives.
.
.
DO NOT FORM DOUBLE COMPARATIVES
Be careful not to form a so-called double comparative (e.g., by adding -er and using more). This is a grammatical howler. (It is more common in speech than in writing.) For example:- David is more taller.
- He can run more faster.
- She was more prettier.
- David was less smarter than John.
A Quick Test
Don't put apostrophes in absolute possessives.
- These are her's.
- Your's are bigger than our's.
- Yours are bigger than ours.
HOW TO FORM COMPARATIVES (AND SUPERLATIVES)
It makes sense to learn about comparatives and superlatives at the same time because they are both about making comparisons.
A comparative is known as the second or the middle degree of comparison (for adjectives and adverbs).
A superlative is known as the third or the highest degree of comparison (for adjectives and adverbs).
It makes sense to learn about comparatives and superlatives at the same time because they are both about making comparisons.
A comparative is known as the second or the middle degree of comparison (for adjectives and adverbs).
A superlative is known as the third or the highest degree of comparison (for adjectives and adverbs).
| Word | Comparative (or second degree of comparison) | Suplerlative (or third degree of comparison) |
|---|---|---|
| When an adjective or an adverb ends with a single consonant, add er or est: | ||
| big (adjective) | bigger | biggest |
| soon (adverb) | sooner | soonest |
| When an adjective or an adverb ends y, drop the y and add ier (for the comparative) and iest (for the superlative): | ||
| dry (adjective) | drier | driest |
| silly (adjective) | sillier | silliest |
| early (adverb) | earlier | earliest |
| When an adjective or an adverb ends e, drop the e and add er (for the comparative) and est (for the superlative): | ||
| pale (adjective) | paler | palest |
| free (adverb) | freer | freest |
| When an adjective or an adverb has more than one syllable (but beware exceptions like silly and early), place more in front (for the comparative) and most in front (for the superlative): | ||
| attractive (adjective) | more attractive | most attractive |
| angrily (adverb) | more angrily | most angrily |
| There are a few irregular ones too. You just have to learn these. It's worth it. Most of them are very common words: | ||
| good (adjective) | better | best |
| bad (adjective) | worse | worst |
| well (adverb) | better | best |
| badly (adverb) | worse | worst |
| little (adverb and adjective) | less | least |
| much (adverb and adjective) | more | most |
| far (adverb and adjective) | farther or further | farthest or furthest |
- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?