Adjectives and Comparison
Describe nouns and compare things with -er, -est, more and most.
What Is It?
Adjectives describe nouns (a tall man). Comparatives compare two things (taller than). Superlatives pick the top one in a group (the tallest).
Why Do English Speakers Use It?
Describing and comparing is part of almost every conversation: shopping, travel, reviews, decisions.
When to Use It
- Describe: It’s a beautiful day.
- Compare two: The train is faster than the bus.
- The top of a group: It’s the best restaurant in town.
- Equal: as … as: She’s as clever as her brother.
When NOT to Use It
Never use more and -er together (“more bigger”). And adjectives don’t take a plural -s in English: “two big houses”, not “two bigs houses”.
Sentence Structure
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| Short: small | smaller than | the smallest |
| Ends in -y: busy | busier than | the busiest |
| Long: expensive | more expensive than | the most expensive |
| Irregular: good / bad / far | better / worse / further | the best / the worst / the furthest |
Grammar Rules
- Double the final consonant after a short vowel: big → bigger, hot → hottest.
- Adjectives go before the noun or after linking verbs: a hot day / The day is hot.
- Order of several adjectives: opinion – size – age – colour – origin – material: a lovely small old red Indian silk scarf.
- Use much / a lot / a bit to modify comparatives: much cheaper, a bit taller.
Real-Life Examples
- This phone is cheaper than that one.
- Today is the hottest day of the year.
- My English is much better than last year.
- The movie wasn’t as good as the book.
Common Learner Mistakes
- She is more taller than me.She is taller than me.
- It’s the most cheap option.It’s the cheapest option.
- He is more good at math.He is better at math.
Quick Memory Tip
Short word, short ending; long word, long phrase. One syllable → -er / -est. Long adjective → more / most.
Real Conversation
Monica: Which phone should I buy?
Joe: This one is cheaper, but that one has a much better camera.
Monica: I want the best camera. I take a lot of photos!
Interactive Practice
Pick an answer to check your understanding.
Question 1 of 5
Of all my friends, Joe is the ___.
Question 2 of 5
Today is ___ than yesterday.
Question 3 of 5
Of the three brothers, Rahim is the ___.
Question 4 of 5
Dhaka is ___ than Sylhet.
Question 5 of 5
This is the ___ exam I’ve ever taken.
Final Mini Quiz
One last check before you mark the lesson complete.
What is the comparative of “bad”?
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