Comparative and Superlative

Hi there!

By now you should know what an adjective is: words like tall, big or intelligent. These words can have degrees of modification. The degrees of modification can be the positive, the comparative, and the superlative forms. In fact, only comparatives and superlatives show these degrees in practice.
We use the comparative degree for comparing two things, and the superlative for highlighting one thing out of a group, that is, comparing three or more things. Have a look at the examples below and then I will give you the rules of formation.

Punta Umbría is a big town. (big - positive degree) 
Huelva is bigger than Punta Umbría. (bigger - comparative degree) 
Madrid is the biggest city in Spain. (biggest - superlative degree)

It's easy:

1) One-syllable adjectives: 'adjective + er' for the comparative and 'adjective + est' for the superlative (small-smaller-smallest; tall-taller-tallest; short-shorter-shortest; long-longer-longest).
If the adjective ends in consonant+vowel+consonant (CVC), the final consonant duplicates (big-bigger-biggest; hot-hotter-hottest).

2) Two-syllable adjectives ending in -y: 'adjective - y + ier' for comparatives and 'adjective - y + iest' for superlatives (happy-happier-happiest; funny-funnier-funniest).

3) Two or more-syllable adjectives: 'more + adjective' for comparatives and 'most + adjective' for superlatives (boring-more boring-most boring; intelligent-more intelligent-most intelligent).

4) Irregular forms (good-better-best; bad-worse-worst; far-farther/further-farthest/furthest).

Remember:

[Comparative adjective + than]
[The + superlative adjective + in/among]

Peter is taller than John.
A lorry is bigger than a car. 
Tony is the most intelligent in his school.
Zhang Yae is the oldest among the girls.

¡Hola!

Ya deberíais saber qué es un adjetivo: palabras como tall (alto), big (grande) o intelligent (inteligente). Estas palabras pueden sufrir grados de modificación. Los grados de modificación son el positivo, el comparativo y el superlativo. De hecho, sólo los comparativos y superlativos muestran estos grados en la práctica.

Usamos el grado comparativo para comparar dos cosas, y el superlativo para destacar una cosa de entre varios, o sea, comparar tres o más cosas. Echad un vistazo a los ejemplos de abajo y luego os daré las reglas de formación.

Punta Umbría is a big town. (big - positive degree) 
Huelva is bigger than Punta Umbría. (bigger - comparative degree) 
Madrid is the biggest city in Spain. (biggest - superlative degree)

Es fácil:

1) Adjetivos de una sílaba: adjetivo + er para el comparativo y  adjetivo + est para el superlativo (small-smaller-smallest; tall-taller-tallest; short-shorter-shortest; long-longer-longest).

Si el adjetivo termina en consonante-vocal-consonante (CVC), la consonante final de duplica (big-bigger-biggest; hot-hotter-hottest).

2) Adjetivos bisílabos que terminan en -y: adjetivo - y + ier para el comparativo y adjetivo - y + iest para el superlativo (happy-happier-happiest; funny-funnier-funniest).

3) Adjetivo de dos o más sílabas: more + adjetivo' para comparativos y most + adjetivo para superlativos (boring-more boring-most boring; intelligent-more intelligent-most intelligent).

4) Irregulares (good-better-best; bad-worse-worst; far-farther/further-farthest/furthest).

Recordad:

[Adjetivo comparativo + than]
[The + adjetivo superlativo + in/among]

Peter is taller than John.
A lorry is bigger than a car. 
Tony is the most intelligent in his school.
Zhang Yae is the oldest among the girls.

Practice:

Exercise1, Exercise2, Exercise3