Irregular comparative and superlative adjectives
These are the most common irregular forms:
– good – better – best
– bad – worse – worst
– little – less – least
– much – more – most
– far – further/farther – furthest/farthest
– Jim is a better player that I am, but John is the best.
– It’s the worst game I’ve ever seen. It’s even worse than their last one.
– You live further from the station than I do, but Pedro lives the furthest away.
Comparing adverbs
1. Most adverbs of manner have two or more syllables.
Therefore they form their comparatives and superlatives with more and most.
– If you speak more clearly, everyone will be able to hear you.
– Sami works the most quickly.
2. Adverbs with the same form as adjectives form their comparatives with -er and -est.
– I can run fast, but Toni can run even faster.
– We were the earliest people to get to the party.
– He’ll need to work much harder if he’s going to pass the exam.
– It’ll take much longer if we walk – let’s get the bus.
– Who’s the quickest at mental arithmetic?
– We’ll get there sooner if we walk.
Irregular comparative adverbs
1. badly and well use the same comparative and superlative forms as bad and good.
– I did worse in Maths than I’d expected, but better in English.
2. Other irregular forms include: late – later – latest, much – more – most, little – less – least
– Tom arrived later than Peter, but Mary arrived last.
– I don’t go to the cinema much, but I go more than I used to.
– She likes Howard less than Dean, but she likes Sylvester least of all.
Modifying comparisons
We can use the following words to modify comparatives:
– far / much / a lot cheaper / less expensive
– very much bigger/better
– rather harder
– a bit / slightly / a little faster
– no worse than
– not any quicker
– just as good as
– almost / not quite as expensive as
– not nearly as cheap
Watch out! You cannot use very with comparatives.