Comparatives and Superlative

Comparative adjectives

Comparative adjectives are used to compare differences between the two objects they modify (larger, smaller, faster, higher). They are used in sentences where two nouns are compared, in this pattern:

Noun (subject) + verb + comparative adjective + than + noun (object).

The second item of comparison can be omitted if it is clear from the context (final example below).

Examples

·        My house is larger than hers.

·        This box is smaller than the one I lost.

·        Your dog is faster than Jim's dog.

·        The rock is higher than the roof.

·        Jim and Jack are both fast, but Jack is faster. ("than Jim" is understood)

Superlative adjectives

Superlative adjectives are used to describe an object which is at the upper or lower limit of a quality (the tallest, the smallest, the fastest, the highest). They are used in sentences where a subject is compared to a group of objects.

Noun (subject) + verb + the + superlative adjective + noun (object).

The group that is being compared with can be omitted if it is clear from the context (final example below).

Examples

·        My house is the largest one in our neighborhood.

·        This is the smallest box I've ever seen.

·        Your dog was the fastest of any dog in the race.

·        We all have trees in our yard. My tree is the tallest. ("of all the trees" is understood)

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