Comparatives and Superlatives

In this lesson, you'll learn how to form and use comparatives and superlatives to compare people, things, and actions. Comparatives and superlatives are used to express the degree of superiority or inferiority between two or more items. Let's dive in!

Forming Comparatives

To form comparatives in English, we typically add the suffix "-er" to the adjective for one-syllable words, or use the word "more" followed by the adjective for longer words. However, in some cases, the spelling of the adjective may change. Here are the general rules for forming comparatives:

1. For one-syllable adjectives: adjective + -er
   • Example: tall - taller
2. For two or more syllable adjectives:
   • If the adjective ends in "y", change "y" to "i" and add "-er".
     • Example: happy - happier
   • If the adjective ends in "-er", "-le", or "-ure", double the final consonant before adding "-er".
     • Example: bigger - bigger
   • For all other adjectives, use more + adjective.
     • Example: beautiful - more beautiful

Using Comparatives

Once you have formed the comparatives, you can use them to compare two items. Here's how:

1. When comparing two things/actions, use the comparative form of the adjective/adverb + "than".
   • Example: She is taller than her sister.
2. To say that two things have the same quality, use "as + adjective/adverb + as".
   • Example: This car is as fast as that one.

Forming Superlatives

Superlatives are used to describe the highest or lowest degree of a quality. In English, we typically add the suffix "-est" to the adjective for one-syllable words, or use the word "most" followed by the adjective for longer words. Here are the general rules for forming superlatives:

1. For one-syllable adjectives: adjective + -est
   • Example: tall - tallest
2. For two or more syllable adjectives:
   • If the adjective ends in "y", change "y" to "i" and add "-est".
     • Example: happy - happiest
   • If the adjective ends in "-er", "-le", or "-ure", double the final consonant before adding "-est".
     • Example: bigger - biggest
   • For all other adjectives, use most + adjective.
     • Example: beautiful - most beautiful

Using Superlatives

Once you have formed the superlatives, you can use them to describe the highest or lowest degree of a quality. Here's how:

1. To compare one person/thing/action with a group, use the superlative form of the adjective/adverb + "in" + noun group.
   • Example: He is the tallest person in the room.
2. To compare one person/thing/action with all others, use the superlative form of the adjective/adverb + "of all".
   • Example: This is the most expensive car of all.

That's it! You now know how to form and use comparatives and superlatives to compare people, things, and actions. Keep practicing to become more confident in using them correctly. Happy learning!