Comparatives and Superlatives
Adjectives have forms called comparative and superlative that are used for comparisons. The comparative form is used when
comparing two items, people, places, or ideas. The superlatives are used when comparing more than two.
Example: Yesterday was hotter than today. (comparative)
Yesterday was the hottest day of the week. (superlative)
 For short adjectives (one syllable or two syllables ending  For longer adjectives (two, three, or more syllables) add
in –y) add the ending –er for the comparative, and –est
more for comparative and most for superlative, before the
for the superlative.
adjective.
 Change –y to –i if the –y is preceded by a
Example: Interesting - more interesting – most interesting
consonant.
Difficult - more difficult – most difficult
Example: icy – icier – iciest
ADJECTIVE
COMPARATIVE
SUPERLATIVE
ADJECTIVE COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE
Intelligent
More intelligent
Careless
More careless
Short
Shorter
Shortest
Carefully
More
carefully
Pretty
Prettier
Prettiest
Dangerous
More
dangerous
Simple
Simpler
Simplest
 IMPORTANT EXCEPTIONS
Example: That book is good. - My book is better than that one. - This is the best book ever written.
ADJECTIVE
Good/ well
Bad
far
Little
Many/ much/ some
COMPARATIVE
Better
Worse
Further/ Farther
Less
More
1) Sarah studied ____ than everyone else
a) More quickly
b) Quicker
SUPERLATIVE
Best
Worst
Furthest/ Farthest
Least
Most
2) Carla is _____ in
class.
a) The tallest
b) Taller
Most intelligent
Most careless
Most carefully
Most dangerous
Note: Further / farther, furthest / farthest are all used for
distance.
Only Further / furthest are used to mean 'additional' or
'more advanced'.
 San Juan is further / farther than Arecibo is from here (in
Mayaguez).
 If you require further information, please contact
reception.
3) It was ______ delicious meal I've ever had.
a) The most
b) The mostest
Direct Translations from Spanish to English
I. Subject Omission: One must always provide a subject for the sentence. In Spanish we can say: “Estamos
bailando,” the correct translation to English would be “We are dancing.” not “Are dancing.”
II. Word Confusion: There are several words in Spanish that are similar in English, but have a different meaning. Here
are a few examples:
 actually is often confused with the Spanish word actualmente; however, actualmente is better
translated with e.g. currently, since actually means in reality.
 realize should not be confused with Spanish realisar. Realize means that you become aware of
something.
 approve is sometimes confused with aprobar: approve means to agree to something.
 eventually is not the same as eventual(mente). Eventually could be translated with finalmente, as it
means: in the end, in the long run. Eventual is in meaning similar to English temporary or conditional.
 By is often confused with for in passive voice. The confusion is caused because Spanish uses por and that
looks and sounds like for.
III. Adjectives vs Adverbs:
a. Adjectives: modifies a noun and generally goes before the noun.
b. Adverbs: modifies an adjective, a verb and another adverb. Generally goes after the word it modifies
i. It's easy to distinguish adverbs from adjectives: they generally and with -ly,
EXAMPLES: He is a bad student: bad is an adjective; it modifies the noun student.
He sings badly: badly is an adverb; it modifies the verb sings.