Comparativos y Superlativos
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To compare two things, add -er to short adjectives (one syllable) and follow with 'than': 'taller than', 'faster than'.
Spelling: -e adds -r (nice → nicer); consonant + y → -ier (happy → happier); a single stressed vowel doubles the consonant (big → bigger).
Ejemplos
My brother is taller than me.
tall → taller + than.
London is bigger than Manchester.
Double the consonant: big → bigger.
Trains are faster than buses.
fast → faster.
taller
/ˈtɔːlər/
My brother is taller than me.
older
/ˈoʊldər/
She is two years older than him.
faster
/ˈfɑːstər/
Trains are faster than buses.
cheaper
/ˈtʃiːpər/
This shop is cheaper than that one.
bigger
/ˈbɪɡər/
London is bigger than Manchester.
Choose the comparative: London is ___ than Manchester.
Comparative of 'fast': Trains are ___ than buses.
For longer adjectives (two or more syllables), don't add -er. Instead, put 'more' before the adjective: 'more interesting than', 'more expensive than'.
Never use both at once — say 'more comfortable', not 'more comfortabler'.
Ejemplos
This book is more interesting than the last one.
Long adjective → more + adjective.
Diamonds are more expensive than gold.
expensive → more expensive (not 'expensiver').
This chair is more comfortable than that one.
more + comfortable + than.
more interesting
/mɔːr ˈɪntrəstɪŋ/
This book is more interesting than the last one.
more expensive
/mɔːr ɪkˈspensɪv/
Diamonds are more expensive than gold.
more difficult
/mɔːr ˈdɪfɪkəlt/
Chinese is more difficult than Spanish for me.
more comfortable
/mɔːr ˈkʌmftəbəl/
This chair is more comfortable than that one.
Choose the comparative: Diamonds are ___ than gold.
Comparative of 'interesting': This book is ___ than the last one.
To say something is top of a group (three or more), use the superlative. Short adjectives take 'the …est' (the tallest); long adjectives take 'the most …' (the most expensive).
Superlatives almost always need 'the' before them, because they point to one unique thing.
Ejemplos
He is the tallest in the family.
Short adjective → the + -est.
This is the oldest building in town.
the oldest = top of the group.
I bought the cheapest ticket.
Note the 'the' before the superlative.
the tallest
/ðə ˈtɔːlɪst/
He is the tallest in the family.
the oldest
/ðə ˈoʊldɪst/
This is the oldest building in town.
the cheapest
/ðə ˈtʃiːpɪst/
I bought the cheapest ticket.
the biggest
/ðə ˈbɪɡɪst/
That's the biggest fish I've ever seen.
Choose the superlative: He is ___ in the family.
Superlative of 'cheap': I bought ___ ticket. (the … est)
A few common adjectives have irregular comparatives and superlatives that you must memorise: good → better → the best; bad → worse → the worst.
These don't follow the -er/-est or more/most rules at all, so learn them as fixed forms.
Ejemplos
Today is better than yesterday.
good → better (not 'gooder').
She is the best student in our class.
good → the best (superlative).
The traffic is worse on Mondays.
bad → worse.
better
/ˈbetər/
Today is better than yesterday.
the best
/ðə best/
She is the best student in our class.
worse
/wɜːs/
The traffic is worse on Mondays.
the worst
/ðə wɜːst/
That was the worst film I've seen.
Choose the comparative of 'good': Today is ___ than yesterday.
Superlative of 'good': She is ___ student in our class. (the …)
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