Grammar
Comparatives and superlatives: bigger, biggest, and more useful
Sign in to saveAre you choosing between two jackets, or picking one from a group? Use warmer for the pair and the warmest for the group.
First, count what you are comparing. Then choose the adjective form that fits the word.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
bigger BIG-er
The short answer
For two things, use a comparative such as bigger or more useful. For a group, use a superlative such as the biggest or the most useful.
This suitcase is lighter than that one.
Why it works: Lighter compares one suitcase with another.
4 more examples
-
Comparing two shirts
This blue shirt is bigger than the red shirt.
Bigger than compares two shirts.
Not this:This blue shirt is
more bigthan the red shirt. What changes: More big is not the usual form for big. -
Finding the largest size
This blue shirt is the biggest size in the shop.
The biggest identifies one size in the shop.
Not this:This blue shirt is
biggest sizein the shop. What changes: This sentence needs the biggest size to name that size in the shop. -
Comparing two travel guides
Your map is more useful than my guide.
More useful than compares two guides.
Not this:Your map is
usefulerthan my guide. What changes: Usefuler is not the normal form. -
Talking about food
Today's lunch was better than yesterday's soup.
Better than is the comparative form of good.
Not this:Today's lunch was
more goodthan yesterday's soup. What changes: More good does not use the usual irregular form.
Quick check
Which form of big completes this comparison: This phone is ___ than that one?
Comparing two phones in a shop
Answer: bigger
Show the answer
Answer: bigger
Bigger compares these two phones. Big usually takes -er, not more.
Read the full guide
With two options, English often changes the word. For one top item in a group, it uses another form. Count first. Then choose the pattern for the word.
Compare a pair or a group
The problem: I can see the items, but I do not know which comparison form to choose.
First, count the things you mean. A comparative compares one thing with another. A superlative picks one thing from its group. With exactly two, the comparative is the usual choice.
For two, use the comparison form, often with than.
The train is faster than the bus.
For a group, use the form for the top item.
The plane is the fastest option.
Choose an ending or more
The problem: I add more to a word that already has -er, or I add an ending to useful.
Many short adjectives take -er and -est. Nice adds -r or -st. Happy changes y to i first.
-
Not this:
This box is more bigger than that box.Say: This box is bigger than that box.
Big already has the comparative ending -er.
-
Not this:
This tool is usefuler than that tool.Say: This tool is more useful than that tool.
Useful normally uses more.
-
The smaller bag fits under the seat.
Why it works: Small takes -er.
-
That is the most useful map for the trip.
Why it works: Useful uses more and most. Some two-beat words, such as simple, allow either pattern.
-
The bigger box is on the floor.
Why it works: Big ends in one vowel and one consonant. Double g before the ending.
| Word | Compare | Group |
|---|---|---|
| small | smaller | smallest |
| nice | nicer | nicest |
| big | bigger | biggest |
| happy | happier | happiest |
| useful | more useful | most useful |
| simple | simpler or more simple | simplest or most simple |
Your turn
Which sentence uses the usual comparative form of light?
Comparing two laptops
Answer: My laptop's lighter than your laptop.
Show the answer
Answer: My laptop's lighter than your laptop.
Light is a short word, so add -er without more.
Learn the irregular forms
The problem: I say more good or badder because I expect every adjective to use the same pattern.
Some common words change form. Learn these as sets. They use their own shapes.
| Base word | Two things | A group |
|---|---|---|
| good | better | the best |
| bad | worse | the worst |
| far (distance) | farther or further | the farthest or furthest |
Your turn
Use the comparative form of good to fill the gap.
Comparing two coffee shops
Answer: The corner cafe's better than the station cafe.
Show the answer
Answer: better
Good becomes better when you compare two cafes.
Choose the form in context
The problem: I know the forms on a list, but I lose them when I need to speak.
Ask two questions before you speak: am I comparing a pair or choosing from a group? Does this word have its own way to change?
- Alex
Aren't these apples sweeter than the pears?
- Elena
Yes, and they're the sweetest apples on this table.
Before you go
Question 1 of 2
Which phrase completes this sentence about three cars: This car is ___ of the three?
Looking at three cars on a street
Answer: the fastest
Show the answer
Answer: the fastest
The fastest identifies one car in a group of three.
Question 2 of 2 · One new sentence
Which sentence correctly compares the computers?
Comparing computers at a shop
Answer: My laptop's lighter than yours, but the desktop's the most powerful.
Show the answer
Answer: My laptop's lighter than yours, but the desktop's the most powerful.
Lighter compares two computers. The most powerful identifies one computer in the group.
Remember this
Count the things first. Then use the form you have learned for that adjective. Do not combine more with an -er adjective.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Comparatives and superlatives: bigger, biggest, and more useful"
Do I use a comparative for two things?
Usually, yes. A comparative compares one thing with another. A superlative names the top or bottom one in a group. In careful writing, the comparative is the usual form when there are exactly two.
Maya is taller than Lina.
Maya is the tallest student in the class.
Why does big become bigger with two gs?
For many short adjectives that end in one vowel and one consonant, English doubles the last consonant before -er or -est. Big becomes bigger and biggest.
The red cup is bigger than the blue cup.
That was the hottest day this week.
Can I use more with any adjective?
No. Many short adjectives use -er and -est, while useful normally uses more and most. Some two-syllable adjectives allow more than one pattern, so learn common forms as you meet them.
This route is narrower than the old route.
Her second explanation was more careful.
Do superlatives always need the?
No. Before a noun, the is usual, but words such as my can replace it: my best friend. In everyday speech, the can also be left out after be when no noun follows.
It is the cheapest ticket today.
This is my best drawing.
Of these routes, which is quickest?
Should I say farther or further?
Use either farther or further for distance. Use further to mean extra or additional, as in further details. Farther does not have that meaning.
The next bus stop is farther down the road.
For further details, ask at the desk.