Lesson 17: Comparative & Superlative

Comparative and Superlative Explained

In English, comparative and superlative forms are used to compare two or more things, people, or situations. They help describe differences in qualities such as size, age, or speed. The key difference between these two forms lies in the number of items being compared and the purpose of the comparison.

Comparative

The comparative form is used when comparing two things or people. It shows how one thing is different from the other, often by using the words "more" or "less" with adjectives, or adding -er to adjectives that are one syllable or two-syllable adjectives ending in -y.

For example:

1. This car is faster than the other one. (Here, "faster" compares the speed of two cars.)
2. She is more intelligent than her sister. (Here, "more intelligent" compares the intelligence of two people.)

Explanation: The comparative form is used when you are comparing two things, and you want to show which one has more or less of a particular quality. For adjectives of one syllable, you typically add -er (like "smarter"), while for longer adjectives, you use "more" (like "more intelligent").

Superlative

The superlative form is used when comparing three or more things or people. It shows the highest or lowest degree of a particular quality. The superlative often uses the word "most" or "least" with adjectives, or adds -est to adjectives with one syllable or two-syllable adjectives ending in -y.

For example:

1. This is the fastest car in the race. (Here, "fastest" compares the speed of three or more cars, showing which one has the highest speed.)
2. She is the most intelligent student in the class. (Here, "most intelligent" shows that her intelligence is the highest among all the students.)

Explanation: The superlative form is used when you are comparing three or more items and you want to indicate the one with the greatest or smallest degree of a particular quality. For adjectives of one syllable, you add -est (like "tallest"), and for longer adjectives, you use "most" (like "most beautiful").

Comparison Between Comparative and Superlative

• The comparative is used to compare two items, focusing on their differences.
• The superlative is used to compare more than two items and highlights the item with the highest or lowest degree of a quality.

For example:

• Comparative: This movie is more interesting than the last one.
• Superlative: This is the most interesting movie I’ve ever seen.

In short, the comparative shows the difference between two things, while the superlative shows which thing is the most or least in a group.