Most have heard the old phrase “comparison is the thief of joy.” However, this saying ignores the fact that comparison plays an essential role in critical thinking and communication—in fact, this phrase itself compares comparison with a thief. So while comparison may make us jealous, we need comparison in order to make decisions, to write with figurative language such as metaphors and similes, and to express basic values and preferences.
Examples of comparison exist everywhere:
Goldilocks sitting in the bears’ chairs
- “This chair is much smaller than the other ones,” Goldilocks said.
Selecting an outfit to wear for the party
- I’m going to wear the green dress, because it’s my most formal one.
Ranking athletes for fantasy football
- Patrick Mahomes throws the best deep passes in the NFL.
Comparing food choices on a menu
- The Kua Kling tastes a lot spicier than the Pad Thai—you’ve been warned!
Overview: Comparative vs. Superlative Adjectives
In order to express comparison, we need at least two subjects to compare, as well as a verb and an adjective upon which to base the comparison.
We can compare any two (or more) subjects on the basis of pretty much any verb and adjective.
As far as the comparison’s adjective, we have two options: comparative or superlative adjectives, each of which has a unique function. Comparative adjectives (like bigger, happier, funnier…) express the difference between two compared objects based on a certain quality, while superlative adjectives (like biggest, happiest, funniest) describe an object at the upper or lower limit of a quality, within the context of a larger object group.
You can think of the comparative as mainly comparing, and the superlative as seeking to find the super version among the subjects within a category. In other words, the superlative is a more extreme version of the comparative, featuring a greater number of compared subjects. Let’s take a deeper dive into these two types of comparison adjectives:
Comparative Adjectives
Used to compare the difference between two objects (unlike superlative adjectives, which compare more than two), comparative adjectives combine with any verb to facilitate the comparison. The comparative verb is often is (she is stronger, my team is better), but as exemplified below, any verb can work.
Formula: Noun/subject + verb + comparative adjective + than + noun/object
Comparative adjective examples:
- Cheetahs run faster than leopards.
- Vanilla ice cream tastes sweeter than chocolate.
- My sister is more musical than me.
- iPhones have greater security than Androids.
- Allan Nyom plays soccer more aggressively than other players.
- My brother’s teacher delivers more organized lessons than my teacher.
Superlative Adjectives
Used to compare a singular subject to a group of subjects, superlative adjectives express a subject at the upper or lower limit of a category.
Formula: Noun/subject + verb + the + superlative adjective + noun/object
Superlative adjective examples:
- The XBox One has the best graphics.
- Starbucks serves the strongest coffee.
- Crime and Punishment provides the most complicated main character in any classic novel.
- The Beatles demonstrated the most prolific development of any band throughout the 1960s.
- I am the fastest kid at my school.
- My math teacher just gave the most confusing test I’ve ever taken.
Forming Regular Comparatives and Superlatives
As shown in the above examples, comparative and superlative adjectives each have two variations: They either end with –er/est (faster/fastest, sweeter/sweetest, greater/greatest), or they instead precede with more/most (more complicated/most complicated, more prolific/most prolific).
To determine the correct variation for your adjective, examine how many syllables the adjective contains: Adjectives with one syllable take the -er/-est ending, adjectives with two syllables contain either -er/-est or the more/most ending, and adjectives with three or more syllables contain the more/most ending.
One-Syllable Adjectives
One-syllable adjectives always take an -er ending in the comparative form, and an -est ending in the superlative form. If the base adjective ends with a vowel followed by a consonant (fun), double the consonant before adding the -er (funner) or -est (funnest).
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
| strong | stronger | strongest |
| small | smaller | smallest |
| big | bigger | biggest |
| tan | tanner | tannest |
Two-Syllable Adjectives
Stuck in between the rules on either side, two-syllable comparative adjectives sometimes take the -er ending (shallower), and sometimes instead precede with more (more upset); in parallel, two-syllable superlative adjectives sometimes take an -est (shallowest) ending and sometimes precede with most (most shallow).
Some two-syllable adjectives can take either modification, but usually, one modification form is more common than the other for any given word. In most cases, if the two-syllable adjective ends with something other than -y, it will take the more/most form; if the adjective ends with -y, it will take the -er/-est ending. If the adjective ends with a -y (happy) and takes the -er/-est ending, change the –y to an -ier (happier) or –iest (happiest) when you modify it.
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
| funny | funnier | funniest |
| correct | more correct | most correct |
| evil | more evil | most evil |
| comfy | comfier | comfiest |
Three-or-More-Syllable Adjectives
Adjectives with three syllables or more always take the more/most forms, preceding with more in the comparative form and most in the superlative form.
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
| excited | more excited | most excited |
| intelligent | more intelligent | most intelligent |
| complicated | more complicated | most complicated |
| reliable | more reliable | most reliable |
Forming Irregular Comparatives and Superlatives
Some adjectives ignore the patterns described above, instead taking irregular forms when modified in the comparative or superlative. Luckily, these irregular modifiers are common adjectives, which you’ve probably heard before and for which you’ve likely internalized the irregular changes.
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
| good / well | better | best |
| bad | worse | worst |
| far | farther/further | farthest/furthest |
| little | less | least |
| much | more | most |
Irregular superlative and comparative adjective examples:
- I have more studying to do than you, but Timmy requires the most studying of us all.
- Sharks have less fear than dolphins, because sharks are predators.
- My grandma bakes better cakes than me, but my uncle bakes the best cakes.
- Some cities have worse water quality than others.
- Which restaurant is farthest from home?
Wrapping up
Comparison is not the thief of joy; poor self-expression is. So as you write and find yourself comparing all sorts of subjects, based on all sorts of verbs and adjectives, take a moment to consider how you alter your adjectives in the comparative and superlative forms. If you feel uncertain, feel free to consult this guide at any time, and remember that writers are always improving, and always making mistakes. Keep writing yourself forward.
