Comparisons of Equal, Comparative, and Superlative Degree

Lesson 5 Comparisons of Equal, Comparative, and Superlative Degree

Essential Question

How do we make comparisons of adjectives and adverbs in a sentence?

Grammar in the World

There must have been a time in human history when comparative and superlative forms of words simply didn't exist, but it wasn't very effective! Even in the simplest of descriptions in the English language, we have to be able to say that one thing is the same as another or is more or less than something else. That's where comparative and superlative forms come in. Before we get started with the lesson, see what you might already know!

What Do I Know?

Giant Baobab Tree

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Use the following interactive to see what you already know about showing a degree of comparison between people, places, objects, and ideas.

Building Blocks

Grammar is a complex system and structure of language. Mizzou Academy Grammar Lab spotlights one skill (or block) at a time, but it’s often helpful to see how a skill works together with other, related blocks to build the language structure as a whole. You may find the following resource topics helpful as context for this lesson:

Learn About Equal, Comparative, and Superlative Degree

What if your mom wants to figure out whether to make you a chocolate or coconut cake for your birthday.

If you like both types of cake equally, you would say, “I don’t care what kind of cake you make me for my birthday. I think chocolate cake is as delicious as coconut cake.”
If you like chocolate cake more than coconut cake, you might say, “I would like a chocolate cake for my birthday because I think chocolate cake is more delicious than coconut cake.”
If there is no competition between the two because you love chocolate cake more than any other cake, you might say, “I really want a chocolate cake because chocolate cake is the most delicious cake.”

These three examples are comparisons of equal, comparative, and superlative degree. That may sound confusing, but it’s pretty simple once we break it down.

Comparisons of equal degree are used to express how something is equal (or not equal) to something else.

To make a comparison of equal degree, use this formula:

Noun/pronoun (subject) + as + adjective/adverb + as + noun/pronoun (object).

Noun/pronoun (subject) + not as + adjective/adverb + as + noun/pronoun (object).

Comparisons of Equal Degree
Janelle sings as well as Dezo.	Janelle does not sing as well as Dezo.
Jack is as tall as his dad.	Jack is not as tall as his dad.
Chocolate chip cookies are as delicious as cookie dough ice cream.	Chocolate chip cookies are not as delicious as cookie dough ice cream.

Comparisons of comparative degree are used to compare two nouns or pronouns. To make a comparison of comparative degree, use this formula:

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

Comparisons of Comparative Degree
For most one-syllable adjectives, add -er.	Luke runs faster than Hans. Megan is shorter than her mom. Arianna’s blanket is softer than mine.
For two-syllable adjectives that end in -y, change the y to i and add -er.	Coke is tastier than Pepsi. My literature exam was easier than my statistics exam. Today is cloudier than yesterday.
For one-syllable adjectives whose last three letters are a consonant, a vowel, and then a consonant, double the consonant and add -er.	This spring is wetter than last spring. In Missouri, July is hotter than January. Hazel’s eyes were bigger than her stomach.
For adjectives that end in e, add -r.	Going the speed limit is safer than speeding. Hazel’s hair is blonder than her sister’s. Spring water is purer than tap water.
For adjectives that are two syllables or more, use more + the adjective.	I think sunsets are more beautiful than sunrises. Is a kitten more adorable than a puppy? My cat is more mischievous than my dog.

Comparisons of superlative degree are used to compare three or more nouns or pronouns.

To make a comparison of superlative degree, you will usually use this formula:

Noun/pronoun (subject) + verb + the + superlative adjective/adverb + noun (object)

Comparisons of Superlative Degree
For one-syllable adjectives, add the -est.	In Missouri, January is usually the coldest month of the year.
For two-syllable adjectives that end in -y, change the y to i and add -est.	I am happiest when I spend a lot of time outside. An Ugli Fruit is the ugliest fruit I have ever seen, but it is also one of the tastiest . The rainiest days are the coziest.
For one-syllable adjectives whose last three letters are a consonant, a vowel, and then a consonant, double the consonant and add -est.	In Missouri, August is often the hottest month of the year. My friend Ann is the calmest person I know. February is the shortest month.
For adjectives that are two syllables or more, use the + most + adjective. You can also use the + least + adjective	It is most unattractive when someone is rude. I think that peonies are the most beautiful flower. Who is the least patient person you know?

As with all rules in English, there are irregular forms. Here are some commonly used irregular forms.

Good
Equal Degree Not Equal Degree	as good as not as good as	Abby is as good as Adrienne at playing basketball. Blake is not as good as Domenic at tennis.
Comparative Degree	better than	Glazed donuts taste better than chocolate donuts.
Superlative Degree	best	Weekends are the best days of the week.

Bad
Equal Degree Not Equal Degree	as bad as not as bad as	Gabriella’s biology test score was as bad as she feared. Our flight was not as bad as I thought it would be.
Comparative Degree	worse than	The sunburn I got at the beach this year is worse than the sunburn I got last year.
Superlative Degree	the worst	Last night Haleigh’s team played the worst I have ever seen them play.

Many (used with count nouns)
Equal Degree Not Equal Degree	as many as not as many as	You can have as many pieces of fruit as you want. You cannot have as many pieces of candy as you want.
Comparative Degree	more than	Holly practices the piano more hours than her brother.
Superlative Degree	the most	Crème brûlée is the most delicious dessert item on the menu.

Much (used with noncount nouns)
Equal Degree Not Equal Degree	as much as not as much as	I drink as much coffee as my husband does. I do not eat as much sugar as my husband does.
Comparative Degree	more than	My daughter, who is a college student, has more homework than my son, who is a high school student.
Superlative Degree	the most	I drink the most Coke Zero of anyone I know.

Little (used with noncount nouns)
Equal Degree Not Equal Degree	as little as not as little as	Unfortunately, Ella eats as little healthy food as possible. Fortunately, she does not eat as little healthy food as she used to.
Comparative Degree	less than	Jack saves less money than his sister.
Superlative Degree	the least	The basement has the least furniture in it.

Do I Get It?

Use the interactive exercise below to check your knowledge of equal, comparative, and superlative degrees: