A comparative compares two things: taller, more expensive. A superlative shows the top or bottom of three or more: the tallest, the most expensive. Add -er or -est to short adjectives, use more or most with long adjectives, and learn the irregular forms such as better and best.
How to form them
The rule depends on the length of the adjective. One- adjectives usually take -er and -est: fast, faster, fastest. If the word ends in one plus one , double the consonant: big, bigger, biggest. If it ends in -y, change y to i: busy, busier, busiest.
Adjectives with three or more syllables use more and most: expensive, more expensive, most expensive. Many two-syllable adjectives can use either form. Words like quiet and simple take -er, while words like careful and modern take more.
A few common adjectives are irregular, and you need to learn them: good, better, best; bad, worse, worst; far, further or farther, furthest or farthest.
- cheap, cheaper, the cheapest · big, bigger, the biggest
- crowded, more crowded, the most crowded · good, better, the best
Making a comparison
With a comparative, use than to show the second item: Trains are faster than buses. With a superlative, use the, and often add a group or place with in or of: The museum is the oldest building in the town. This is the most useful app of all.
To say two things are equal, use as + adjective + as: My flat is as big as hers. To say they are not equal, use not as + adjective + as, or use a comparative: Cycling is not as fast as driving, which means driving is faster.
To show a small difference, add words such as slightly, a little, or somewhat before the comparative. To show a large difference, use much, far or considerably: Rents are much higher in the capital.
The more ..., the ... pattern
This pattern shows that two changes happen together: The more people use public transport, the less traffic there is. The higher the price, the fewer customers buy. Use the before both comparatives, and put a comma between the clauses.
It is a compact way to show cause and effect in IELTS Writing, and it adds range without adding difficulty.
Less, least and fewer
Comparatives can also point downwards. Less + adjective is the opposite of more + adjective: Public transport is less expensive than taxis. The least + adjective is the opposite of the most: It was the least popular option.
For nouns, English separates and . Use fewer with countable nouns (fewer cars, fewer students) and less with uncountable nouns (less traffic, less water). Many people mix these in everyday speech, but in IELTS Writing the careful choice looks more accurate.
Adverbs can compare too
Adverbs follow the same rules, but check the form. Short adverbs take -er and -est: run faster, work harder, arrive earlier. Most adverbs ending in -ly use more and most: more quickly, most carefully. Well and badly are irregular: better and worse.
In Task 1 you might write: Sales of laptops grew more quickly than sales of tablets. In Speaking, you can say: I study better in the morning. Remember to keep the adjective and adverb apart: a faster car, but the car drives faster.
Common mistakes
The most frequent mistake is using two comparative signals at once: more cheaper, more better, most biggest. Choose one form only: cheaper, better, biggest.
The second is using that instead of than. Say Cities are noisier than villages, not noisier that villages. The third is missing the before a superlative. Say It is the best option, not It is best option.
Finally, check the spelling changes. Write bigger with two g, happier with an i, and easiest, not easyest. These are small errors, but they are easy to avoid with a short check.
Comparisons in IELTS Writing Task 1
In Academic Task 1, comparative and superlative forms are essential. They help you describe differences between categories and show the highest and lowest values. A clear pattern is to state the biggest or smallest item first, and then compare the others with it.
For example: Car travel was the most popular choice, while cycling was the least popular. Rail travel was slightly more popular than bus travel. Keep each sentence to one comparison, and use the correct tense for the time in the chart. Avoid repeating the same word. Use higher, greater and larger with figures to add variety without changing the meaning.
Who finds this hard?
- Spanish speakers: Spanish uses más plus the adjective for most comparisons, so learners often add more to short adjectives, as in more cheap.
- Italian speakers: Italian uses più plus the adjective for most comparisons, so learners say more cheap or more big instead of cheaper and bigger.
- Portuguese speakers: Portuguese uses mais plus the adjective, so learners often use more with short adjectives where English uses -er.
- Chinese speakers: Chinese does not change the adjective, so learners must remember the -er ending and the irregular forms.
IELTS tip
In Writing Task 1, use the superlative for the highest and lowest figures and a comparative for the rest, with words like slightly and considerably to show size of difference. In Speaking Part 1, a comparative lets you give a reason: I prefer living in a small town because it is quieter than a city.
Frequently asked questions
When do I use -er and when do I use more?
Use -er with most one- adjectives and more with adjectives of three or more syllables. With two syllables, check a dictionary if you are not sure.
Is it farther or further?
Both are used for distance. Further is also used for extra or more, as in further information.
Do I use the before a superlative?
Yes. The superlative almost always takes the: the largest, the most useful.
What is the opposite of more?
Use less with adjectives, as in less expensive, or the least for a superlative. For nouns, use fewer.
Sources
- Swan, M. (2016). Practical English Usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
- Biber, D., Johansson, S., Leech, G., Conrad, S. and Finegan, E. (1999). Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English. Longman.