Comparative and Superlative

We use these words to compare.

The comparative is for two things: faster, happier, more careful.

The superlative is for three or more: fastest, happiest, most careful.

Quick Tips :

Short words → usually -er / -est
Ends with -y → change to -i + -er/-est
Ends with -e → just -r / -st
Some short words → double the last letter, as in big, bigger, biggest
Long words → use more / most
Some special words → just remember them: good, better, best

1. The “Standard” Group (Just add -er and -est)

No.	Positive	Comparative	Superlative
1	fast	faster	fastest
2	slow	slower	slowest
3	small	smaller	smallest
4	tall	taller	tallest
5	short	shorter	shortest
6	high	higher	highest
7	low	lower	lowest
8	long	longer	longest
9	old	older	oldest
10	young	younger	youngest
11	cheap	cheaper	cheapest
12	deep	deeper	deepest
13	hard	harder	hardest
14	soft	softer	softest
15	kind	kinder	kindest
16	loud	louder	loudest
17	near	nearer	nearest
18	poor	poorer	poorest
19	rich	richer	richest
20	strong	stronger	strongest
21	weak	weaker	weakest
22	sweet	sweeter	sweetest
23	thick	thicker	thickest
24	clean	cleaner	cleanest
25	cold	colder	coldest

2. The “Y to I” Group (Change -y to -i, then add -er / -est)

No.	Positive	Comparative	Superlative
26	happy	happier	happiest
27	heavy	heavier	heaviest
28	easy	easier	easiest
29	sunny	sunnier	sunniest
30	funny	funnier	funniest
31	busy	busier	busiest
32	dirty	dirtier	dirtiest
33	dry	drier	driest
34	early	earlier	earliest
35	friendly	friendlier	friendliest
36	greedy	greedier	greediest
37	healthy	healthier	healthiest
38	hungry	hungrier	hungriest
39	lazy	lazier	laziest
40	lucky	luckier	luckiest
41	pretty	prettier	prettiest
42	silly	sillier	silliest
43	tasty	tastier	tastiest
44	tiny	tinier	tiniest
45	ugly	uglier	ugliest

3. The “Double Up” Group (Double the last letter + -er / -est)

No.	Positive	Comparative	Superlative
46	big	bigger	biggest
47	sad	sadder	saddest
48	hot	hotter	hottest
49	fat	fatter	fattest
50	thin	thinner	thinnest
51	fit	fitter	fittest
52	wet	wetter	wettest
53	dim	dimmer	dimmest
54	mad	madder	maddest
55	slim	slimmer	slimmest

4. The “E” Group (Already ends in -e, just add -r / -st)

No.	Positive	Comparative	Superlative
56	large	larger	largest
57	nice	nicer	nicest
58	late	later	latest
59	brave	braver	bravest
60	close	closer	closest
61	fine	finer	finest
62	safe	safer	safest
63	simple	simpler	simplest
64	strange	stranger	strangest
65	wide	wider	widest
66	wise	wiser	wisest
67	cute	cuter	cutest
68	pure	purer	purest
69	pale	paler	palest
70	tame	tamer	tamest

5. The “Helper” Group (Longer words use more / most)

No.	Positive	Comparative	Superlative
71	beautiful	more beautiful	most beautiful
72	expensive	more expensive	most expensive
73	intelligent	more intelligent	most intelligent
74	difficult	more difficult	most difficult
75	careful	more careful	most careful
76	famous	more famous	most famous
77	helpful	more helpful	most helpful
78	important	more important	most important
79	popular	more popular	most popular
80	dangerous	more dangerous	most dangerous
81	patient	more patient	most patient
82	generous	more generous	most generous
83	creative	more creative	most creative
84	active	more active	most active
85	curious	more curious	most curious
86	excited	more excited	most excited
87	modern	more modern	most modern
88	nervous	more nervous	most nervous
89	serious	more serious	most serious
90	useful	more useful	most useful

6. The “Irregular” Group (Total word changes – no pattern)

No.	Positive	Comparative	Superlative
91	good	better	best
92	bad	worse	worst
93	far	farther / further	farthest / furthest
94	little	less	least
95	many	more	most
96	much	more	most
97	well (health)	better	best
98	ill	worse	worst
99	old (family)	elder	eldest
100	late (order)	latter	last

Practice Time!

More English Resources:

• Verb forms
• Collective nouns
• Comparatives
• Idioms
• Phrasal verbs
• Similes
• Show, don’t tell
• Prefixes
• Suffixes
• Compound words
• Connectors
• Strong verbs for composition
• Good phrases for composition