Degrees of comparison
Use the comparative to compare two things, usually with than. Use the superlative to compare one thing with the rest of a group, usually with the. A few two-syllable adjectives, such as quiet, simple and polite, can take either form: "quieter" or "more quiet".
| Adjective | Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|---|
| One syllable | tall | taller | tallest |
| One syllable ending in vowel + consonant | big | bigger | biggest |
| Ending in -e | large | larger | largest |
| Two syllables ending in -y | happy | happier | happiest |
| Two or more syllables | expensive | more expensive | most expensive |
| Irregular | good | better | best |
| Irregular | bad | worse | worst |
| Irregular | far | farther or further | farthest or furthest |
| Irregular | many, much | more | most |
Types of adjectives
Indian school grammar usually lists these types. Modern grammars call several of them determiners, but the meanings are the same.
| Type | What it shows | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Quality (descriptive) | What something is like | old, bright, honest |
| Quantity | How much or how many, not exactly | some, few, several, enough |
| Number | An exact number or order | two, first, tenth |
| Demonstrative | Which one, near or far | this, that, these, those |
| Possessive | Who something belongs to | my, your, their |
| Interrogative | Asks about a noun | which, what, whose |
| Proper | Made from a proper noun, with a capital letter | Indian, Victorian, Japanese |
Adjective order and -ed or -ing
When you use more than one adjective before a noun, opinion comes before fact. The usual order for facts is size, age, colour, origin, material and then purpose: "a beautiful old wooden table", "a small black Italian handbag". Two or three adjectives are usually enough.
Adjectives ending in -ed describe how someone feels: "I was bored." Adjectives ending in -ing describe what causes the feeling: "The lecture was boring." The same pattern works for interested and interesting, tired and tiring, and confused and confusing.
Common mistakes
Wrong: She is more taller than her brother.
Right: She is taller than her brother.
Use -er or more, never both.
Wrong: This is the most cheapest phone.
Right: This is the cheapest phone.
Use -est or most, never both.
Wrong: I was very boring in the lecture.
Right: I was very bored in the lecture.
Use -ed for how you feel. Boring would mean you made others feel bored.
Wrong: My brother is elder than me.
Right: My brother is older than me.
Elder goes before a noun ("my elder brother") and isn't used with than.
Using this in IELTS and PTE
Comparatives and superlatives are the heart of IELTS Writing Task 1, because most charts ask you to compare: "Spending on transport was higher than spending on food" or "The largest share went to housing." Words such as slightly, much and far make a comparison more exact: "far higher", "slightly lower". The same patterns help you state the key difference quickly in PTE Describe Image.
5 questions
Exercise
Try each one, then open it to check your answer.
1. Write the comparative of "hot".
hotter
A one-syllable adjective ending in vowel + consonant doubles the consonant.
2. Write the superlative of "good".
the best
Good is irregular: good, better, best.
3. Complete this: "This exam was ___ (difficult) than the last one."
more difficult
Longer adjectives use more.
4. Correct this: "He is the more intelligent student in the class."
He is the most intelligent student in the class.
He is compared with the whole class, so use the superlative.
5. Choose: "The film was (bored / boring)."
boring
The film causes the feeling, so use -ing.
Frequently asked questions
Further or farther?+
Both describe distance: "the farther shop" or "the further shop". Only further also means more or extra: "further information".
Can an adjective come after a noun?+
Yes, after linking verbs ("The soup is hot") and in some fixed patterns, such as after something, anyone or nothing: "something new".
Are a, an and the adjectives?+
Traditional grammar treats articles as a kind of adjective. Modern grammar calls them determiners. Either way, they come before a noun and any adjectives: "a very old house".
Keep going
More grammar lessons
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