Adjective Degrees          English Grammar Online

Adjective Degrees

Let's go by car. It's cheaper.

Don't go by train. It's more expensive.

Cheaper and more expensive are comparative forms, after comparative we use than:

• It's cheaper to go by car than to go by train.

Comparative of superiority

Short adjectives and adverbs (monosyllabic/dissyllabic)

Adjective (er) + than

E.g. This bag is heavier than that.

E.g.  My house is bigger than Mike's.

Long adjectives (disyllabic/polysyllabic)

More + adjective + than

E.g.  Diana is more polite than Kate.

E.g.  Today I was more careful than yesterday.

Comparative of equality

Short and long adjectives

Affirmative: As + adjective + as

E.g.  Peter is as tall as Jim.

E.g.  I don't know as many people as you do.

Negative: Not + so/as + adjective

E.g.  I do not know as many people as you do.

E.g.  The city centre was not as crowded this morning as it usually is.

Comparative of inferiority

Short and long adjectives: Less + adjective + than

E.g.  My camera was less expensive than yours.

E.g.  Your house is less big than Bill's.

Note: The comparative of inferiority is less used, usually is replaced by comparative

of equality at negative form:

• My camera was less expensive than yours.

            » negative form

• My camera was not as expensive as yours.

Notes - Comparative

Older and elder - The comparative of old is older:

• Tom looks older than he really is.

We use elder when we we are talking about members of a family. We say (my/your...) elder sister/ brother/

son, daughter:

• My elder brother is a pilot.

We use elder only before a noun: your elder son is tall.

We use as...as (but not "so...as") in positive sentences and in questions:

• There's plenty of food, so eat as much as you like.

• Let's walk. It's just as quick as taking the bus.

We also say twice as...as, three times as...as, etc...

• Petrol is twice as expensive as it was a few years ago.

• Their house is about three times as big as ours.

Superlative of Superiority

Short adjectives - Monosyllabic

In general we use -est for shorter words.

• Yesterday was the coldest day in eighteen years.

• This is the cheapest hotel in the city.

Long adjectives - Polysyllabic

In general we use - most - for longer words.

• That was the most boring film, I've ever seen.

• He's the most intelligent pupil in his class.

Superlative of Inferiority

Short and long adjectives - the least + adjective

• He is the least intelligent of all.

• This car is the least fast of all.

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