Comparative and Superlative Forms

  Adjectives and adverbs have forms called comparative and superlative that are used for comparisons. Use the comparative form when comparing two items, people, places, or ideas. Use the superlative when comparing more than two.

For short adjectives (with one syllable or two syllables ending in -y or -le) and one-syllable adverbs, add the ending -er for the comparative and -est for the superlative. (Change -y to -i if the -y is preceded by a consonant: icy, icier, iciest.) Generally the is used before the superlative form.

Word	Comparative	Superlative
short	shorter	shortest
pretty	prettier	prettiest
simple	simpler	simplest
fast	faster	fastest

With longer adjectives and with adverbs ending in -ly, add more and most.  Note:  less and least are used with adjectives of any length (such as bright, less bright, least bright).

Word	Comparative	Superlative
intelligent	more intelligent	most intelligent
carefully	more carefully	most carefully
dangerous	less dangerous	least dangerous

If you cannot decide whether to use an -er/-est form or more/most, consult a dictionary. If there is an -er/-est form, the dictionary will say so.
Note:  Do not use the -er form with more or the -est form with most.

Faulty	The first poem was more better than the second.
Revised	The first poem was better than the second.

Irregular Forms

The following are irregular comparative and superlative forms.

Word	Comparative	Superlative
good	better	best
bad	worse	worst
much/many	more	most
well	better	best
badly	worse	worst

Using than with Comparative Forms

To compare two people, places, objects, or ideas, use the comparative form with the word than. If you use a comparative form in your sentence, you need than to let your reader know what you are comparing with what.

Faulty	This course of action is more efficient.
Revised	This course of action is more efficient than the previous one.

Comparative forms are also used without than in an idiomatic way.

Examples

The harder he tries, the more satisfied he feels. The more, the merrier.