What is the difference between a comparative and a superlative?

A comparative compares two things and is followed by than: My car is older than yours. A superlative singles out one member of a group of three or more as the extreme and takes the: My car is the oldest in the street. Comparatives end in -er or use more; superlatives end in -est or use most.

When do I use -er and when do I use more?

Use -er and -est for adjectives of one syllable (small, smaller, smallest) and for two-syllable adjectives ending in -y (happy, happier, happiest). Use more and most for adjectives of three or more syllables (more comfortable) and for most other two-syllable adjectives (more careful). Never use both together: more smaller is wrong.

Why does hot become hotter but cheap become cheaper?

Both follow the doubling rule. A one-syllable adjective ending in one vowel plus one consonant doubles the consonant before -er and -est, so hot becomes hotter with a double t, and big becomes bigger. The consonant is not doubled when the vowel sound is long or written with two letters: cheap, cheaper; sweet, sweeter.

Is it farther or further?

For physical distance, both are correct: London is farther, or further, from here than Oxford. Further also has a second meaning, additional or more, where farther cannot be used: for further details, until further notice. If in doubt, further is always safe in British English, and American English leans towards farther for distance.

Can I say more good or more better?

No. Good is irregular, so its comparative is better and its superlative is the best: This one is better than that one. More better doubles the comparison and is an error. The same applies to bad (worse, not more bad) and far (further, not more far).

English grammar · Intermediate

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives: Forms, Spelling, and Uses

Written by Eleanor Whitfield, Lead English Curriculum Editor · Reviewed September 2026

Comparatives and superlatives are the forms of an adjective that compare. The comparative (taller, more expensive) sets one thing against another and is followed by than; the superlative (the tallest, the most expensive) picks out the extreme in a group of three or more and is preceded by the. Short adjectives take the endings -er and -est, longer ones take more and most, and a handful of very common adjectives (good, bad, far) have irregular forms.

This route is shorter than the motorway, but the coast road is the most beautiful.

-er with than for two options, the most for the top of a group

What it is

English compares with the adjective itself rather than with a separate word, as long as the adjective is short. One syllable (tall, cheap, fast) takes -er and -est. Three or more syllables (expensive, interesting) take more and most. Two-syllable adjectives are split: those ending in -y switch to -ier and -iest (happy, happier, happiest), while most others take more and most (more careful, most modern). The comparative is a two-way contrast and brings than with it; the superlative is the top or bottom of a whole group and brings the with it.

My flat is smaller than yours, but it's the cheapest in the building. (Two flats compared with -er and than; then the extreme of a group with the and -est.)

How to spot it

A comparative is usually followed by than (or than is implied by context); a superlative is usually preceded by the (or a possessive: my best friend) and often followed by a group or a place: in the class, of all, I've ever seen.

Today is warmer than yesterday. (one-syllable adjective, -er, than)
This is the most difficult question. (three syllables, the most)
She's happier now. (-y becomes -ier; than the past is implied)
It was the worst film of the year. (irregular superlative of bad)

Never double up: more taller and the most cheapest are errors. An adjective takes either the ending or more/most, not both.

Comparatives and Superlatives Quick Reference

How to form comparatives and superlatives

Adjective type	Comparative	Superlative	Examples
One syllable	+ -er	the + -est	tall, taller, the tallest; cheap, cheaper, the cheapest
One syllable ending in -e	+ -r	the + -st	large, larger, the largest; nice, nicer, the nicest
One syllable, short vowel + one consonant	double the consonant + -er	the + double + -est	big, bigger, the biggest; hot, hotter, the hottest
Two syllables ending in -y	-y becomes -ier	the + -iest	happy, happier, the happiest; easy, easier, the easiest
Other two-syllable adjectives	more + adjective (some allow -er)	the most + adjective	more careful, the most careful; quieter or more quiet
Three or more syllables	more + adjective	the most + adjective	more expensive, the most expensive
Irregular	own form	own form	good, better, the best; bad, worse, the worst; far, further/farther, the furthest/farthest

Common Comparatives and Superlatives Examples in English

Comparatives and superlatives grouped by what the speaker is doing with them:

Comparing Two Things with Than

The train is faster than the bus.: one-syllable -er + than
Her new job is more demanding than her old one.: three syllables: more + than
I'm older than my brother.: than + a noun or object pronoun
This exam was easier than I expected.: -y to -ier; than + a clause

Than is the word that follows a comparative. Then is a time word and is never correct here.

Picking the Extreme in a Group

Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.: the + -est + in a place
She's the most talented player on the team.: the most + on a group
That was the best meal I've ever had.: irregular superlative + I've ever
It's my biggest worry.: a possessive can replace the

A superlative needs a group to be the extreme of: in the class, of the three, I have ever seen. In, not of, is used for places and groups.

Comparing Downwards: Less and Least

This model is less expensive than the other one.: less + adjective for the lower degree
It was the least interesting talk of the day.: the least: the bottom of the group
He's less confident than his sister.: less + adjective, with than as usual

With short adjectives, English prefers the opposite adjective: shorter rather than less tall, cheaper rather than less expensive.

Saying Things Are the Same or Not

She's as tall as her mother.: as + adjective + as: equal
The sequel isn't as good as the original.: not as ... as: less
Prices are the same as last year.: the same as, no comparative form
Your car is similar to mine, but mine is newer.: similar to, then a true comparative

As ... as uses the plain adjective, never the comparative: as tall as, not as taller as.

How Comparatives and Superlatives Work

Length decides the form, spelling follows a few rules, and two small words, than and the, complete the structure.

Count the Syllables

One-syllable adjectives take -er and -est. Adjectives of three or more syllables take more and most. This split is about rhythm: a short word carries an ending comfortably, while a long one does not, so English shares the work between endings and separate words.

cold, colder, the coldest; comfortable, more comfortable, the most comfortable

one syllable takes endings; four syllables take more and most

Short: -er/-est. Long: more/most.

Two Syllables: -y Takes -ier, Most Others Take More

Two-syllable adjectives ending in -y (happy, busy, easy, funny, pretty) change the -y to -i and add -er and -est. The rest usually take more and most (more careful, more famous, most modern). A few common ones accept both: quieter or more quiet, simpler or more simple, cleverer or more clever, narrower or more narrow.

busy, busier, the busiest; famous, more famous, the most famous

-y changes; other two-syllable adjectives use more

-y: -ier. Other two-syllable: more.

Spelling: Double, Drop, or Change

A one-syllable adjective ending in a single vowel plus a single consonant doubles the consonant: big, bigger; hot, hotter; thin, thinner (but not when the vowel is long or written with two letters: cheap, cheaper; cool, cooler). An adjective ending in -e adds only -r and -st: nice, nicer, nicest. A final -y after a consonant becomes -i: dry, drier, driest.

sad, sadder, the saddest; safe, safer, the safest; dry, drier, the driest

double, drop, change

One vowel, one consonant: double it.

Than After the Comparative, The Before the Superlative

A comparative compares two things, and the second one is introduced by than: bigger than a house. A superlative places something at the top or bottom of a group, and because that position is unique, it takes the (or a possessive): the biggest house, my oldest friend. The group is often named with in, of, or a clause: in the street, of all, I have ever seen.

Lisbon is warmer than Berlin. It's the warmest capital I've visited.

than for the pair; the for the extreme

-er than; the -est.

Irregular Adjectives Have Their Own Forms

Good, bad, and far do not follow any pattern: good, better, the best; bad, worse, the worst; far, further or farther, the furthest or farthest. Little (as a quantity) becomes less and least; much and many become more and most. Old has a second, family-only set: elder and eldest (my elder sister).

This is better than that one, but it's still the worst option we have.

better and worst: no -er or -est

Good, bad, far: learn them as three words.

Common Mistakes with Comparatives and Superlatives

Incorrect: This exercise is more easier than the last one.

Correct: This exercise is easier than the last one.

An adjective takes either the -er ending or more, never both. Easy ends in -y, so it takes the ending: easier.

Incorrect: She is taller then me.

Correct: She is taller than me.

Than is the comparison word; then means afterwards. They sound almost identical in fast speech, which is why the mistake is common even among native speakers.

Incorrect: It was the baddest day of my life.

Correct: It was the worst day of my life.

Bad is irregular: bad, worse, worst. The regular forms badder and baddest exist only as slang with a different meaning.

Incorrect: Paris is the most beautiful city of Europe.

Correct: Paris is the most beautiful city in Europe.

The group a superlative belongs to is introduced with in when it is a place or an organisation (in Europe, in the class, in the company). Of is used for a set of items: the best of the three.

Irregular and Awkward Adjectives

The rules leave a few adjectives out. These are the ones learners ask about most.

The irregular five

Good, bad, far, little, and much/many replace the adjective instead of adding to it.

good, better, the best: the most common irregular set
bad, worse, the worst: not badder or baddest
far, further, the furthest: farther and farthest are equally correct for distance
little, less, the least; much/many, more, the most: quantity words with their own comparison

Further also means additional (further information); farther is only about distance.

Adjectives that resist comparison

Adjectives that name an absolute state (unique, perfect, dead, complete, impossible) are not compared in careful writing, because logically there are no degrees of them. Everyday speech bends this rule (a more perfect union, the most complete collection), and nearly, almost, and closer to are the careful alternatives.

This copy is more complete than the other. (informal): common in speech, avoided in formal writing
This copy is closer to complete than the other.: the formal version
a truly unique building (not the most unique): use an intensifier instead of a superlative

Gradable adjectives (big, warm, useful) can always be compared; non-gradable ones cannot.

Participles and long adjectives

Adjectives ending in -ed, -ing, -ful, -less, -ous, and -ive take more and most whatever their length, including one-syllable -ed forms.

more tired, the most tired: one syllable but -ed: more, not tireder
more boring, the most boring: -ing adjectives
more useful, the most careless: -ful and -less

Fun is a special case: more fun and the most fun are standard, and funner and funnest remain informal or humorous.

Quick Check: Comparatives and Superlatives

Write the comparative or superlative form of the adjective in brackets, adding than or the where needed.

1. My new phone is ___ (light) my old one.

Answer: lighter than

one syllable: -er, then than

2. This is ___ (interesting) book I've read this year.

Answer: the most interesting

three syllables and a superlative: the most

3. The traffic today is ___ (bad) yesterday.

Answer: worse than

irregular comparative of bad

4. July is usually ___ (hot) month of the year here.

Answer: the hottest

short vowel + one consonant: double the t

5. I feel ___ (happy) now that the exams are over.

Answer: happier

-y becomes -ier; than before is implied

6. The film wasn't ___ (good) the book, but it was ___ (good) I expected.

Answer: as good as, better than

as ... as for equality, then the irregular comparative

Comparatives and Superlatives FAQs

What is the difference between a comparative and a superlative?: A comparative compares two things and is followed by than: My car is older than yours. A superlative singles out one member of a group of three or more as the extreme and takes the: My car is the oldest in the street. Comparatives end in -er or use more; superlatives end in -est or use most.
When do I use -er and when do I use more?: Use -er and -est for adjectives of one syllable (small, smaller, smallest) and for two-syllable adjectives ending in -y (happy, happier, happiest). Use more and most for adjectives of three or more syllables (more comfortable) and for most other two-syllable adjectives (more careful). Never use both together: more smaller is wrong.
Why does hot become hotter but cheap become cheaper?: Both follow the doubling rule. A one-syllable adjective ending in one vowel plus one consonant doubles the consonant before -er and -est, so hot becomes hotter with a double t, and big becomes bigger. The consonant is not doubled when the vowel sound is long or written with two letters: cheap, cheaper; sweet, sweeter.
Is it farther or further?: For physical distance, both are correct: London is farther, or further, from here than Oxford. Further also has a second meaning, additional or more, where farther cannot be used: for further details, until further notice. If in doubt, further is always safe in British English, and American English leans towards farther for distance.
Can I say more good or more better?: No. Good is irregular, so its comparative is better and its superlative is the best: This one is better than that one. More better doubles the comparison and is an error. The same applies to bad (worse, not more bad) and far (further, not more far).