COMPARATIVE vs. SUPERLATIVE

COMPARATIVE
Is used to compare differences between two objects.

e.g.: Maria is smarter than Joana.

SUPERLATIVE

Is used to describe an object which is at the upper or lower limit of a quality. It's used in sentences where the subject is compared to a group of objects.

e.g.: Maria is the smartest of the class.

FORMING COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE

1 syllable adjectives: add -er (comparative)  or -est (superlative)

This bag is cheaper than the other.

This bag it the cheapest in the store.

1 syllable adjectives ending in consonant-vowel-consonant: double the last consonant and add -er (comparative)  or -est (superlative)

My house is bigger than Maria's.

My house is the biggest on the street.

2 syllable adjectives ending in -y: change the -y to -i and add -er (comparative) or -est (superlative)

Are you happier today?

My mom is the luckiest person I know.

Adjectives with 2 or more syllables: use more (comparative) or the most (superlative) with the unchanged adjective

My sister ir more careful with her writing than I am with mine.

She is the most careful person I know.

Yet, some adjectives are irregular and require other rules:

Examples:

My grades are better than yours, but Jo's is the best in our class.

Today might be the worst day in my life. At least it started worse than yesterday.

This store sells less than the others because it's the least known.

Let's practice? Click on Superlative or Comparative and download free exercises.