Comparatives and Superlatives: Bigger, Biggest, More Interesting
How to compare two things and pick out the top one — the spelling rules, the irregulars, and the structures that go around them.
Comparing is one of the most useful things you can do at A2, and English does it in two different ways depending on the length of the word.
Short adjectives: add -er / -est
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| cheap | cheaper | the cheapest |
| big | bigger | the biggest |
| easy | easier | the easiest |
| nice | nicer | the nicest |
Spelling: double the final consonant after a short vowel (big → bigger); y becomes i (easy → easier); a silent e just adds -r (nice → nicer).
Long adjectives: more / most
Two syllables or more (except those ending in -y):
- expensive → more expensive → the most expensive
- interesting → more interesting → the most interesting
❌ more cheaper — never use both. One or the other.
The irregulars
| Comparative | Superlative | |
|---|---|---|
| good | better | the best |
| bad | worse | the worst |
| far | further / farther | the furthest |
| little | less | the least |
| much / many | more | the most |
The structures around them
than with comparatives:
This one is cheaper than that one.
the with superlatives:
It is the cheapest in the shop. (not of the shop)
as … as for equality:
Mine is as good as yours. It isn't as expensive as I thought.
much / a bit to grade the difference:
It's much better. / It's a bit colder today.
Common mistakes
❌ She is more taller than me. → ✅ She is taller than me. ❌ It is the most cheap. → ✅ It is the cheapest. ❌ He is more good at maths. → ✅ He is better at maths.
Test yourself
The quiz below covers spelling, the irregulars and the structures.