Comparative and superlative adjectives

One-syllable adjectives normally have comparatives and superlatives ending in -er, -est. Some two-syllable adjectives are similar; others have more and most. Longer adjectives have more and most.

One-syllable adjectives (regular comparison)

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
old	older	oldest
tall	taller	tallest	Most adjectives: + -er, -est
cheap	cheaper	cheapest
late	later	latest	Adjectives ending in -e: + -r, -st
nice	nicer	nicest
fat	fatter	fattest
big	bigger	biggest	One vowel + one consonant: double consonant.
thin	thinner	thinnest

Note the pronunciation of:

• younger /ˈjʌŋgə(r)/
• youngest /ˈjʌŋgɪst/ or /ˈjʌŋgəst/
• longer /ˈlɒŋgə(r)/
• longest /ˈlɒŋgɪst/ or /ˈlɒŋgəst/
• stronger /ˈstrɒŋgə(r)/
• strongest /ˈstrɒŋgɪst/ or /ˈstrɒŋgəst/

Irregular comparison

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
good	better	best
bad	worse	worst
ill	worse
far	farther/further (see here)	farthest/furthest
old	older/elder (see here)	oldest/eldest

The determiners little and much/many have irregular comparatives and superlatives:

• little (see here)
• much/many (see here)
• less (see here)
• more (see here)
• least (see here)
• most (see here)

Few has two possible comparatives and superlatives: fewer/less and fewest/least. (see here)

Two-syllable adjectives

Adjectives ending in -y have -ier and -iest.

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
happy	happier	happiest
easy	easier	easiest

Some other two-syllable adjectives can have -er and -est, especially adjectives ending in an unstressed vowel, /l/ or /ə(r)/.

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
narrow	narrower	narrowest
simple	simpler	simplest
clever	cleverer	cleverest
quiet	quieter	quietest

With many two-syllable adjectives (e.g. polite, common), -er/-est and more/most are both possible. With others (including adjectives ending in -ing, -ed, -ful and -less), only more/most is possible. In general, the structure with more/most is becoming more common. To find out the normal comparative and superlative for a particular two-syllable adjective, check in a good dictionary.

Longer adjectives

Adjectives of three or more syllables have more and most.

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
intelligent	more intelligent	most intelligent
practical	more practical	most practical
beautiful	more beautiful	most beautiful

Words like unhappy (the opposites of two-syllable adjectives ending in -y) are an exception: they can have forms in -er and -est.

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
unhappy	unhappier / more unhappy	unhappiest / most unhappy
untidy	untidier / more untidy	untidiest / most untidy

Some compound adjectives like good-looking or well-known have two possible comparatives and superlatives.

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
good-looking	better-looking or more good-looking	best-looking or most good-looking
well-known	better-known or more well-known	best-known or most well-known

more, most with short adjectives

Sometimes more/most are used with adjectives that normally have -er/-est. This can happen, for example, when a comparative is not followed immediately by than; forms with -er are also possible.

• The road’s getting more and more steep. (or … steeper and steeper.)

When we compare two descriptions (saying that one is more suitable or accurate than another), we use more; comparatives with -er are not possible.

• He’s more lazy than stupid. (not He’s lazier than stupid.)

In a rather formal style, most can be used with adjectives expressing approval and disapproval (including one-syllable adjectives) to mean ‘very’.

• Thank you very much indeed. That is most kind of you. (not … That is kindest of you.)
• You are most welcome.

Real, right, wrong and like always have more and most.

• She’s more like her mother than her father. (not … liker her mother …)