KNOWLEDGE BASICS

I. The comparative form

We use the comparative form of the adjective to compare two things.

• White meat is healthier than red meat.
• Travelling by bus is more comfortable than travelling by train.

less … than

We can also use the form less + adjective + than. Less is the opposite of more.

• Peter is less considerate than Marta. (=Marta is more considerate)

(not) as … as

We can also use the form (not) as + adjective + as.

• Peter isn’t as considerate as Marta. (=Marta is more considerate)

than me / than I am

After than or as … as we use an object pronoun (me, you, him, etc.) or a subject pronoun (I, you, he, she, etc.) + auxiliary verb.

• My sister is taller than me.
• My sister is taller than I am.

much/a lot/a bit more…

Before the comparative (more or -er) we can use much, a lot or a bit.

• He’s a bit taller than me.
• Florence is much more interesting than Pisa.
• This car is a lot more expensive.

any/no more than

We can use any/no + comparative (any better, no faster, any more expensive, etc.). We use any in negative sentences and no with positive verbs.

• Your performance was no better than mine.
• Your performance wasn’t any better than mine.

II. Superlative adjectives

We use the superlative form of an adjective or adverb to compare more than two things.

the most … in …

After the superlative we use in + names of places or singular words for groups of people (class, school, team, family, etc.)

• She is the best student in the class.
• He’s the tallest in the family.
• Messi is the best player in the world. (NOT of the class, etc.)

We normally use of + periods of time or a number of people (of the year, of my life, of my brothers, of the students, etc.).

• It was the best evening of my life.
• I am the tallest of my brothers.

the most … I have ever …

We often use the superlative with the present perfect tense and ever.

• This is the best movie I’ve ever watched.
• She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.

the/my/Tom’s best …

Before the superlative we always use the, or my/your/his/etc. or Tom’s/Jenny’s/etc.)

• He is the best.
• This is my most expensive jacket.
• This is Paul’s best friend.

the least

The opposite of the most is the least

• He is the least hardworking student in the class.

Comparing actions with adverbs

We can use the comparative or superlative form of adverbs to compare actions.

• She drives fast, but I drive faster.
• He plays well, but I play better than him.

With adverbs ending in –ly, you must always use more to form the comparative, and most to form the superlative

• She speaks more quietly than her boss. (NOT quietlier)
• He cooks well, but more slowly than his workmates. (NOT slowlier)

For adverbs that that have the same form as adjectives, the comparative and superlative forms are like adjectives: add –er to form the comparative and –est to form the superlative. The most common of these adverbs are: late-later, early-earlier, fast-faster, hard-harder, long-longer.

• He works harder than me.
• She always arrives earlier than her boss.
• It took us longer than usual to arrive because of the traffic.