Comparatives, Superlatives & First Conditional
bigger / the biggest / as…as, plus if + present, will.
We use the comparative form of an adjective to compare two people or things. For short adjectives we add -er and use 'than' (Tom is taller than Sam; this box is bigger than that one), and for long adjectives (two or more syllables) we use 'more' before the adjective (English is more interesting than maths). We use the superlative form to compare three or more things, adding -est with 'the' for short adjectives (the tallest boy) or 'the most' for long adjectives (the most expensive car). Some adjectives are irregular and do not follow the rules: good becomes better and best, and bad becomes worse and worst (Ali is a better runner; today is the worst day). When two things are equal, we use 'as + adjective + as' (she is as tall as her sister). We also use the first conditional to talk about a real future possibility: the 'if' clause uses the present simple and the main clause uses 'will' + base verb (If it rains, we will stay at home; you will pass if you study). For example: 'This is the biggest shop in town, and if you go early, you will find better prices than in the small shops.'
Key terms
| Adjective type | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| Short (one syllable), e.g. big, cheap, long | add -er + than (bigger than) | the + -est (the biggest) |
| Long (two or more syllables), e.g. interesting, expensive | more + adjective + than (more expensive than) | the most + adjective (the most expensive) |
| Irregular: good | better (a better runner) | best (the best) |
| Irregular: bad | worse (today is worse) | worst (the worst day) |
| Clause | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| If clause (condition) | if + present simple | If it rains, ... |
| Main clause (result) | will + base verb | ... we will stay at home. |
| Full sentence | if + present simple, will + base verb | If you study, you will pass. |
- 1Comparing two things: We compare two things, so we need the comparative. 'Big' is a short adjective, so we add -er and use 'than': An elephant is bigger than a dog.
- 2Comparing three or more: Now we choose one from many, so we need the superlative. 'Long' is short, so we use 'the' + -est: This is the longest book in the library.
- 3Long adjective: For a long adjective like 'expensive', do not add -er/-est. Use 'more' for the comparative and 'the most' for the superlative: the mall is the most expensive of all three.
- 1Write the if clause: Use the present simple in the 'if' clause, not 'will': If you study hard, ...
- 2Write the result clause: Use 'will' + base verb (no -ed, no -s) in the main clause: ... you will pass the exam.
- 3Join them: Full sentence: If you study hard, you will pass the exam. The 'if' clause may come first or second (you will pass if you study).
Do not mix -er with 'more'. Short adjectives take -er only (cheaper, not 'more cheap'), and long adjectives take 'more' only (more interesting, not 'interestinger').
Use 'than' (not 'as') after a comparative: 'bigger than', not 'bigger as'. Save 'as ... as' for things that are equal (as fast as).
A superlative needs 'the' in front of it: 'the hottest day', not 'hottest day'; 'the most difficult', not 'most difficult'.
Never use 'will' in the 'if' clause. The condition stays in the present simple: 'If the weather is good', not 'If the weather will be good'.
Rules
- 1Comparative: short adjectives add -er + than (cheaper than), long adjectives use more + than (more careful than); for two things only.
- 2Superlative: short adjectives use the + -est (the cheapest), long adjectives use the most (the most careful); for three or more things.
- 3Learn irregular forms: good → better → best, bad → worse → worst.
- 4Use as + adjective + as to show two things are equal (as fast as a car).
- 5First conditional for real future: if + present simple, will + base verb (If you ask, she will help).
Practice
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