There are three degrees of comparison - positive degree, comparative degree, and superlative degree. You don't need to know these terms, but you need to know how to use each in a sentence.
Heavier as a comparative form - it compares Susan's backpack and Pedro's backpack. The word "than" follows the comparative form heavier.
Heaviest is the superlative form - it compares the backpacks of all of the students.
You make comparative forms in the following ways:
You make superlative forms in the following ways:
Note: Careful! Only do ONE of these two ways. Phrases like least smartest, more hungrier or most tallest are not grammatically correct!
The handy chart below can help you remember the rules to form comparative and superlative degree of adjective.
Rule | Positive | Comparative Form | Superlative Form |
One-syllable adjectives | ____ small cool big |
____+er smaller cooler bigger |
____+est smallest coolest biggest |
Two-syllables adjectives ending in -y | ____ lazy pretty |
____change "y" to "i" + er lazier prettier |
____change "y" to "i" + est laziest prettiest |
Adjectives with two or more syllables | ____ intelligent charming |
more/less ____ more intelligent more charming |
most/least ____ most intelligent most charming |
Irregular adjectives | good bad |
better worse |
best worst |
Rule | Positive | Comparative Form | Superlative Form |
One-syllable adjectives | ____ small cool big |
____+er smaller cooler bigger |
____+est smallest coolest biggest |
Two-syllables adjectives ending in -y | ____ lazy pretty |
____change "y" to "i" + er lazier prettier |
____change "y" to "i" + est laziest prettiest |
Adjectives with two or more syllables | ____ intelligent charming |
more/less ____ more intelligent more charming |
most/least ____ most intelligent most charming |
Irregular adjectives | good bad |
better worse |
best worst |