14 Comparative and superlative adjectives

1 Form and use

We use comparative adjectives to compare two (or more) things or people, and superlative
adjectives to distinguish one thing or person from a number of others.
COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES
adjective + -er (+ than): the + adjective + -est:
one syllable*
Los Angeles is larger The Twin Towers Correctional Facility
large
(than San Francisco). is the largest prison in the world.
two or more syllables* more + adjective (+ than): the most + adjective:
expensive Gold is more valuable (than silver). Platinum is the most valuable metal.
irregular adjectives better / worse, further / farther, the best / worst, the furthest / farthest,
good / bad, far, old older / elder the oldest / eldest
* For exceptions ➤ 14.3 below
Spelling rules for these forms ➤ page 367
We use than to introduce a noun or a clause after a comparative adjective:
Los Angeles is larger than San Francisco. Los Angeles is larger than I expected it to be.
We can use other phrases between a comparative adjective and a than clause:
The prisoners were more violent in this prison than in the others we visited.
If the object of the comparison is a pronoun without a verb we usually use an object
pronoun (➤ Unit 4.1). If there is a verb we use a subject pronoun:
[I’m taller than he.] ✓ I’m taller than him. ✓ I’m taller than he is.
When we have two or more adjectives with more in a list, we usually only use more once:
[Lester and Graves were more hardworking and more determined than the others.]
✓ Lester and Graves were more hardworking and determined than the others.
! After superlatives we use in before singular nouns (i.e. the name of a place or group), but
we use of before plural nouns:
✗ The Twin Towers Correctional Facility is the largest prison of the world.
✓ The Twin Towers Correctional Facility is the largest prison in the world.
Mallorca is the largest of the Balearic islands.
In formal English we can add an of phrase at the beginning of the sentence:
Of the candidates interviewed, David Slater was the most suitable for the post.

2 less and least

We use less and least as the opposite of more and most. We use these words with all
adjectives including one-syllable adjectives:
I prefer the paisley pattern; it’s less bold than the others.
The tuna salad is the least expensive dish on the menu.
FORMALITY CHECK In informal English we usually prefer to use not as … as:
I prefer the paisley pattern; it isn’t as bold as the others.
more / most / less / least with nouns ➤ Unit 57.2

3 Special rules
One-syllable adjectives ending in -ed and the adjectives real, right and wrong form the
comparative and superlative with more and most (we do not add -er or -est):
✗ I was boreder than I was on the flight to Sydney.
✓ I was more bored than I was on the flight to Sydney.

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Many two-syllable adjectives ending in -ly, -y, -ow, -r and -l, and the adjectives common,
handsome, mature, pleasant, polite, simple and stupid can have either more/most or -er/-est:
The photographer wanted something more lively (or livelier).
The staff couldn’t have been more friendly (or friendlier).
Are people in the country more polite (or politer) than those in the city?
When we add a negative prefix to two-syllable adjectives ending in -y (e.g. happy – unhappy)
they can also take more/most or -er and -est:
She was the unlikeliest candidate to succeed. He’s the most unhappy man I’ve ever met.
We sometimes omit the before superlatives describing titles, award, prizes, etc:
This year’s prize for most promising newcomer goes to Lizzie Gordon.
FORMALITY CHECK In informal spoken English we sometimes use a superlative adjective
when we are only comparing two things, especially if the two things make a set:
I’ve got two cars but the Mercedes is the best.

4 Irregular adjectives
We can use elder and eldest (instead of older and oldest) to talk about people’s ages, especially
people in the same family, but we can’t use elder immediately after a verb:
Their eldest/oldest son went to Harvard. Mary is the eldest/the oldest.
✗ My sister is elder (than me).
Note that we don’t use elder and eldest to talk about the age of things:
✗ This is the eldest house in the street.
We use further or farther to talk about a ‘greater distance’:
John’s house is the farther one.
I’ve moved further away from my parents. (= a greater distance away)
! We use further (not farther) with the meaning of ‘extra’ or ‘more’:
Let me know if you have any further questions. (= extra/more)

5 Intensifying and weakening; emphasis

Comparatives and superlatives can be made stronger or weaker by adding the following:
COMPARATIVES
even (very) much far His new film’s even more exciting than the last one.
a lot lots (informal)
➞ stronger
considerably significantly The issue of accountability became substantially
more important in the weeks before the election.
substantially a great deal
a little slightly The lamb’s a bit cheaper than the fish.
➞ weaker a bit (informal) The artist’s style is somewhat darker than that of
somewhat (formal) his contemporaries.
! We don’t use a little/a bit when a noun follows the comparative adjective:
✗ It’s a little higher price than I expected. ✓ The price is a little higher than I expected.
SUPERLATIVES
The Twin Towers Correctional Facility is by far the largest
➞ stronger by far
easily (informal) prison in the world. (much larger than all the others)
one of some of New York is one of the largest cities in the world.
➞ weaker
among (there may be some larger)

FORMALITY CHECK Most one-syllable adjectives can also form the comparative and
superlative with more or most instead of -er or -est. We usually use these forms for emphasis
in spoken English:
You should be more proud of the things you’ve already achieved. (= prouder)
I think this is the award she is the most proud of. (= proudest)

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14 COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES
Practice
1 Complete the sentences, using suitable comparative and superlative forms of the
adjectives in the box. Add than or the if necessary, as in the example.
2.25 Listen and check.

bad bored dry far good keen loose pretty real scared tidy wet wrong

0 Since we’ve had a cleaner, the house has become a lot . . ..tidier
. .. .. . .. ..than
. . . .. . .. . it used to be!

1 And now we come to the award for . . .. . . . .. . .. . . . .. .. . .. . actor in a leading role.

2 It’s been raining non-stop. I think this will be . . .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. . July on record!
3 The authenticity of dialogue and setting often makes low-budget films seem
. . . . . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. . the somewhat artificial version of reality in Hollywood movies.
4 In medieval times people rarely travelled far. For most peasants, . . .. . .. .. . . . .. . .. . . . .. .
destination would be the local market town.
5 This skirt’s much too tight on the hips. I need something with a . . .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. . fit.
6 The pianist was awful! I think that’s . . .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . . . . performance I’ve ever heard.
7 I don’t mind the Mediterranean summer because it’s a . . .. . .. . . . .. .. . .. .. . . . . heat than you
find in the tropics.
8 I like all Mozart’s operas but I think Don Giovanni is the one I am . . .. . . . .. . .. . . . .. .. . .. . on.
9 We’ve inherited two paintings. Of the two, I’d say the landscape is . . .. . .. .. . . . .. . .. . . . .. . .
10 I know all theft is wrong, but don’t you agree that it’s . . .. . .. . . . .. .. . .. .. . .. . to steal from an
individual than from a company?
11 I’ve ever been was when Joe and I were flying over the Himalayas and
. . . . . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .
we hit a storm; it was absolutely petrifying.
12 That play was so tedious. I was . . .. . .. .. . . . .. . .. .. . .. . watching that than I was when I spent
three hours trapped in that lift last year!

2 GRAMMAR IN USE Find and correct ten more mistakes. 2.26 Listen and check.
KAREN Now we’ve seen all the candidates, what do you think?
strongest
TOBY It’s a difficult choice, but I thought Steven was the most strong of the three.
KAREN Oh? You couldn’t be more wrong! Meera definitely has betterer experience.
TOBY Well of course she does, she’s elder than the other two.
KAREN Yes, and she’s maturer.
TOBY True. But don’t you think she’s a bit set in her ways? Would she really fit in here?
KAREN I don’t see why not. Let’s face it, the other two are very young – significantly more
younger than most of our staff.
TOBY That could be a good thing. I mean younger people are adaptabler than older ones.
KAREN OK. What about Ahmed? He was the best qualified in the candidates.
TOBY I’m not sure. He seemed the less promising of the three. He was too laid back.
KAREN Yes, he was the easily most relaxed – people are usually more nervouser
at interviews.
TOBY So we come back to Steven. He was one the most ambitious candidates I’ve ever
interviewed. I thought that was a positive thing …
KAREN Yes. But he’s very distant. Aren’t we looking for someone more friendlier
and approachable? Let’s look at their CVs again.

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3 Complete the second sentence so it has a similar meaning to the first. Use three to six
words in your answer, including the word in brackets, as in the example.
0 All the other members of the family are younger than Uncle Jacob. (the)
Uncle Jacob is the oldest member
.. .. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. . . .. .. . .. .. .. . .. .. . .. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. . of the family.
1 I live closer to the bus stop than Ivan does. (away)
Ivan lives .. . .. .. ... .. ... .. .. . .. .. . .. ... . . ... . . . .. .. ... .. ... .. . .. .. .. . .. ... . . ... .. . .. .. ... .. ... .. . .. .. .. . .. ... . . ... .. . .. .. . than me.
2 These apples aren’t as tasty as the ones Lizzie bought. (than)
The apples Lizzie bought .. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. .. .. . .. .. . . .. .. .. . .. .. .. . . .. .. .. . .. .. .. . .. . .. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. . . .. .. .. . .. .. .. . . .
3 The massacre was among the most despicable episodes in the regiment’s history. (one)
The massacre was . .. .. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. .. .. . .. .. . .. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. . . .. in the regiment’s history.
4 The ending of the film wasn’t as sentimental as I’d expected. (than)
I’d expected the ending of the film to be . .. .. .. . .. .. .. . .. .. . . .. .. .. . .. .. .. . . .. .. .. . .. .. .. . .. . .. . .. .. .. . .. it was.
5 Mikhail’s essay wasn’t as bad as the others. (the)
Mikhail’s essay . .. . .. .. ... .. ... .. . .. .. .. . .. ... . . ... .. . .. .. ... .. ... .. . .. .. .. . .. ... . . .. . .. . .. .. ... .. ... .. . .. .. ... .. ... .. .. . .. .. . .. ... . . . .

6 All the other flights were more expensive than the Easyjet one. (of)
The Easyjet flight .. .. . .. .. ... .. ... .. . .. .. .. . .. ... . . .. . .. . .. .. ... . . ... . . . .. .. ... .. ... .. . .. .. .. . .. ... . . ... . . . .. .. ... the flights.
7 That was easily the most ridiculous story I’ve ever heard. (by)
That was .. .. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. . . .. .. . .. .. .. . .. .. . .. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. I’ve ever heard.
8 Of the two sisters, Sophie and Caroline, Sophie is the elder. (than)
Sophie is .. .. . .. ... . . ... .. . . . .. ... .. ... .. ... . . .. . .. ... . . ... .. . .. .. ... .. ... .. ... .. .. . .. ... . . ... .. . .. .. ... . . ... .. . . sister Caroline.

4 GRAMMAR IN USE Study the charts; then complete the description, using the prompts in
brackets. If you see <, use a suitable modifying word or phrase, e.g. considerably, among
etc. as in the example.
Number of prisoners worldwide Prisoners as proportion of population
(total 9.25 million) (Per 100,000 of national population)
USA 738
Russia 611
USA 2.19 St Kitts and Nevis 547
million US Virgin Islands 521
China Turkmenistan 489
4.64 Belize 487
Russia million 1.55 Cuba 487
million Bahamas 462
Others Cayman Islands 453
0.87 American Samoa 446
million 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800
From World Prison Population List (seventh edition). Kings College London International Centre for PrisonStudies

0 The USA has ..by

.. ...far the
.. ... .. .. . . . highest
... . . ... .. . .. number
.. . .. .. ... .. ...of
.. ..prisoners.
. .. ... . . ... .. . . . (< / high / number / prisoners)

1 The USA has . . . . . . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. .. . . . .. . .. . . . .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. .. . . . .. . .. . . . .. .. . .. . .. . . . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. . .. .

(< / large / numbers of prisoners / any other country)
2 It also has . . . . . . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . . . . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. . . . .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. .. . . . .. . .. . . . .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. .. . . . .. . .. . . . .. .. . .. . .. . . . . .
of the national population. (high / number / prisoners / as a proportion)
3 .. . .. . .. . . . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. . .. . . . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. .. American Samoa has (countries / the chart)
.. . .. . .. . . . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. . .. . . . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. . per 100,000 population. (low / number of prisoners)
4 China has . . . . . . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . . . . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. . . . .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. .. . . . .. . .. . . . .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. .. . . . .. . .. . . . .. .. . .. . .. . . . . .
(< / great / number of prisoners / Russia).
5 St Kitts and Nevis and the US Virgin Islands are small states, but they have
.. . .. . .. . . . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. . .. . . . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . . . .. . .. . . . .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . . . .. . .. . . . .. . .. .. . .. . . . .. .. . .. .. . .. . .
(< / high / proportion of prisoners per population / apart from the USA and Russia).

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