IELTS Comparative and Superlative Usage

Comparative and Superlative Usage

Rule Explanation

Comparative and superlative adjectives (and adverbs) are crucial in expressing degrees of comparison between nouns and verbs. The comparative form (e.g., "smarter", "more interesting") is used to highlight the difference between two items, whereas the superlative form (e.g., "smartest", "most interesting") identifies the extreme quality within a group of three or more. Forming regular comparative adjectives typically involves adding ­-er to one-syllable adjectives (e.g., "tall" → "taller") and using "more" before adjectives with two or more syllables (e.g., "beautiful" → "more beautiful"). Similarly, the superlative form adds ­-est for one-syllable adjectives ("tall" → "tallest") or "most" for longer adjectives ("beautiful" → "most beautiful"). Note exceptions such as adjectives ending in ­-y where the ­-y changes to ­-i before adding ­-er/­-est (e.g., "happy" → "happier"/"happiest"), and irregular adjectives like "good" → "better" → "best". The same principles apply to adverbs: we say "faster"/"fastest" or "more quickly"/"most quickly" depending on syllable count. In IELTS writing and speaking, accurate use of these forms enhances clarity and coherence. Pay attention to the use of "than" after comparatives (e.g., "better than") and "the" before superlatives (e.g., "the best").

For IELTS test takers aiming for a band score of 6.5 to 7.5, demonstrating a varied range of comparative structures can positively impact your Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range and Accuracy scores. Incorporate irregular forms and avoid repetitive phrasing by alternating between "-er"/"-est" and "more"/"most" constructions. For instance, instead of repeatedly saying "bigger", you might say "larger" or "more substantial" when appropriate. This variation not only showcases your vocabulary range but also your understanding of nuanced degree expressions.

Comparative and superlative adverbs are equally important, especially when describing actions or processes. Use "quick" → "quicker" → "quickest" for short adverbs, and "more"/"most" + adverb for longer forms, for example, "more effectively", "most effectively". Remember that some adverbs do not change form, such as "fast" which remains "fast" in all degrees, with comparative "faster" and superlative "fastest". Be mindful of these irregularities to avoid errors in writing or speaking tasks.

Correct usage examples:

• She is taller than her brother and eagerly reached the top shelf. (Comparative with "-er" shows difference between two people.)
• That was the most challenging lecture I have attended this term. (Superlative with "most" ranks one event among many.)
• Our research proposal proved to be better than the previous drafts submitted last year. (Irregular comparative shows improvement over a single reference.)

Common mistakes to avoid:

• Omitting "the" before a superlative: saying "highest score" instead of "the highest score".
• Using "-er" with long adjectives: writing "more beautifuler" instead of "more beautiful".
• Confusing comparative/adverb forms: using "more faster" instead of "faster".

Examples in context:

1. Among all the competitors, she is undoubtedly the strongest swimmer, winning every heat.
2. These days, people tend to be more conscious of their carbon footprint than ever before.
3. My new phone is far more advanced than my old one.

Practice Question

Choose the correct option to complete the sentence:

When it comes to design aesthetics, this smartphone is _____ than any other model on the market.

A) sleek B) more sleek C) sleekest D) the sleekest

Show Answer

Answer: D) the sleekest
Explanation: "The sleekest" is the superlative form used to compare one item with all others, requiring "the".

Key Takeaways

• Use "-er" or "more" for comparatives and "-est" or "most" for superlatives
• Remember irregular forms such as "better/best" and "worse/worst"
• Always include "than" after comparatives and "the" before superlatives
• Practice grammar correction with Lingo Copilot