Lesson 7Intermediate

Comparatives & Superlatives

What it means

A comparative compares two things: Phnom Penh is bigger than Battambang. A superlative says one thing is the most in a group: the biggest city in Cambodia.

How to make it

Short adjectives (one syllable) → add -er / -est: tall → taller → the tallest
Ending in -e → add -r / -st: nice → nicer → the nicest
Ending consonant–vowel–consonant → double the last letter: big → bigger → the biggest, hot → hotter → the hottest
Ending in -y → change y to i: happy → happier → the happiest
Longer adjectives → more / the most: expensive → more expensive → the most expensive, beautiful → more beautiful → the most beautiful
Irregular: good → better → the best, bad → worse → the worst

When to use it

Comparing two things → comparative + than: Phnom Penh is bigger than Battambang.
The top one in a group → the + superlative: This is the most beautiful beach I have ever seen.
Irregular forms: Her English is better than mine.

Compare

Comparative (two things): Today is hotter than yesterday.
Superlative (one in a group): Today is the hottest day of the year.
than goes after a comparative; the goes before a superlative.

Common mistakes

❌ Today is more hotter than yesterday. → ✅ Today is hotter than yesterday. (use only one form: -er OR more)
❌ She is more tall than me. → ✅ She is taller than me. (short adjectives take -er)
❌ He is most tall in the class. → ✅ He is the tallest in the class. (superlatives need "the")

💡 Tip: Short word → add -er / -est. Long word → more / the most. Never use both together.

Examples

Hover or tap a word to see its meaning · grammar

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Short adjective: big → bigger (double the final consonant) + than.
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Long adjective: the most + beautiful.
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Irregular: good → better.
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Use only one form: "hotter", not "more hotter".
💡 Wrong: "Today is more hotter than yesterday."

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