Comparatives and superlatives
Apprentissage rapide
Comparatives evaluate two distinct things with than, while superlatives single out the extreme one in a group with the.
À retenir
- Short adjectives add -er and -est: colder than, the coldest; bigger than, the biggest.
- Long adjectives use more and most: more expensive than, the most expensive.
- Irregular forms change completely: good becomes better and best, bad becomes worse and worst.
Exemples
- 1Travelling by high-speed train is much faster than taking the local bus.
- 2July is usually the hottest and sunniest month of the year in our town.
Piège courant à éviter
Never write then instead of than in comparisons: steel is stronger than iron, never stronger then iron.
Approfondir
La règle
Comparing two
Comparatives and Superlatives are used to compare people, objects, places, and characteristics. Comparatives evaluate two distinct entities using than: Entity A + is + comparative adjective + than + Entity B.
- A train is faster than a bus
The top of a group
Superlatives identify the supreme or extreme member within a group of three or more, always preceded by the definite article the: Subject + is + the + superlative adjective + in/of.
- Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world
Short adjectives
Formation Rules:
(1) One-syllable adjectives: Add -er for comparative, -est for superlative (cold → colder than → the coldest). Double the final consonant if preceded by a single short vowel (big → bigger than → the biggest, hot → hotter than → the hottest).
Adjectives in -y and long adjectives
(2) Two-syllable adjectives ending in -y: Change -y to -ier and -iest (happy → happier than → the happiest, easy → easier than → the easiest, friendly → friendlier than → the friendliest).
(3) Long adjectives (two or more syllables): Use more and most (expensive → more expensive than → the most expensive, modern → more modern than → the most modern).
Irregular forms
(4) Irregular adjectives: good → better than → the best; bad → worse than → the worst; far → farther/further than → the farthest/furthest.
Anatomie de la phrase
Des phrases de cette leçon, découpées dans l'ordre qu'exige l'anglais.
SujetJulyVerbeisTempsusuallyAttributthe hottest and sunniest month of the yearLieuin our town.
SujetOur old apartmentVerbewasAttributsmaller and darker than our new sunny flat.
SujetThat Italian bakeryVerbesellsObjetthe most delicious chocolate cakesLieuin the city.
Guide visuel
How to read this A2 topic
At A2, the challenge is choosing between similar time frames, pronouns, and quantity patterns.
1. Look for the time clue
Yesterday, now, every day, already, and since often decide the tense.
I watched it yesterday.
2. Choose the pattern first
Pick the whole grammar structure before choosing the final word.
I am going to study.
3. Check word position
Adverbs, objects, and pronouns must sit in natural English order.
I know him well.
Decision path before answering
Use these checks before choosing between close options.
- 1Mark the subject, main verb, object, and any connector.
- 2Underline the time expression or discourse clue.
- 3Reject any option with the wrong agreement, tense, article, pronoun case, or word order.
- 4Read the whole sentence once more for naturalness and register.
Contrasts that often decide the answer
Event or background
Simple forms move events forward; continuous forms show an action in progress.
I left while she was talking.
Fact or stance
Modals, hedges, and reporting structures show how certain or responsible the speaker sounds.
This may indicate a problem.
Clause or compressed phrase
Advanced writing often compresses full clauses into participle, noun, or prepositional phrases.
Having reviewed the data, we revised the plan.
Exemples
- 1Travelling by high-speed train is much faster than taking the local bus.
- 2July is usually the hottest and sunniest month of the year in our town.
- 3This leather jacket is more expensive than the cotton coat, but it lasts longer.
- 4Our old apartment was smaller and darker than our new sunny flat.
- 5Who is the oldest person living in your residential building?
- 6The second exam paper was significantly easier than the first one.
- 7Health and genuine happiness are more important than excessive wealth.
- 8That Italian bakery sells the most delicious chocolate cakes in the city.
- 9My brother is two inches taller than our father now.
- 10This quiet mountain village is the most peaceful place we visited this summer.
Exceptions
Never combine more with an -er adjective or most with an -est adjective: say "faster", never "more faster"; say "the highest", never "the most highest". In comparatives, always spell than with an 'a', not then with an 'e' (then indicates time sequence). Farther refers strictly to measurable physical distance ("The station is farther than I thought"), whereas further also means additional or extra ("Please contact me for further details").
Erreurs fréquentes
Confusing than and then
Erreur
Iron is heavier then wood.
Correct
Iron is heavier than wood.
Comparisons require than.
Double comparative markings
Erreur
This road is more narrower.
Correct
This road is narrower.
Do not use more with -er adjectives.
Omitting the definite article in superlatives
Erreur
He is fastest runner in our team.
Correct
He is the fastest runner in our team.
Superlatives require the.
Récap
L'essentiel de la leçon sur une carte, avant de te tester.
À retenir
- Short adjectives add -er and -est: colder than, the coldest; bigger than, the biggest.
- Long adjectives use more and most: more expensive than, the most expensive.
- Irregular forms change completely: good becomes better and best, bad becomes worse and worst.
Erreurs fréquentes
Erreur: Iron is heavier then wood.
Correct: Iron is heavier than wood.Erreur: This road is more narrower.
Correct: This road is narrower.Erreur: He is fastest runner in our team.
Correct: He is the fastest runner in our team.
Teste-toi
Compare two cities you know using three comparative sentences and one superlative sentence, then practise.
Points de grammaire associés
Poursuivez votre apprentissage avec d'autres notions de ce niveau.