Grammar - Adjectives of Comparison

Compiled from Grammar Builder Book 3

The rules are:

1. Comparative adjectives are used to compare two nouns. Superlative adjectives are used to compare more than two nouns.
• John’s shoes are bigger than Paul’s. (comparative)
• Sam’s shoes are the biggest of the three. (superlative)
• Mrs Lim is more cheerful than her husband. (comparative)
• Their daughter is the most cheerful person in the family. (superlative)

2. a. For one-syllable adjectives and certain two-syllable adjectives, ‘er’ and ‘est’ endings are used for their comparative and superlative forms.
• This house is bigger than the one we saw yesterday.
• The house we saw down the street is the biggest one among the three.
• Sally is cleverer than me.
• Your friend, Matt is the cleverest among us.

b.      For certain two-syllable adjectives, adjectives of three or more syllables, and adjectives ending in ‘ful’, more and most are used for their comparative and superlative forms.

·         Peter is more nervous than me about our final exams.

·         Kelly is the most nervous among us about our final exams.

Compiled from Grammar Builder Book 3

   3.     To show that two people or things are equal in comparison, use as....as with the adjective in between. Not can be used before as….as instead of comparative adjectives to show the two people or things are unequal in comparison.

·         Zack is as tall as Jack. (=They are the same height)

·         James is not as tall as Zack. (=Zack is taller than James)

4. Comparative adjectives are also used to compare changes in the subject of the sentence through time.

·         Your younger brother (subject) is more talkative now than before.

·         He (subject) is more famous now than five years ago.