eng8-5.3· Unit 5: Modals & Review· ~13 min

Comparatives, superlatives & quantifiers

Comparison and quantity words (review).

We use comparatives to show that one person or thing has more (or less) of a quality than another. For one-syllable adjectives and most two-syllable adjectives ending in -y, we add -er and -est: 'tall → taller → tallest', 'happy → happier → happiest'. For longer adjectives we use 'more' and 'most': 'interesting → more interesting → most interesting'. Irregular forms must be memorised: 'good → better → best', 'bad → worse → worst', 'far → farther/further → farthest/furthest'. To say two things are equal we use 'as + adjective + as': 'Baku is as busy as Istanbul'. Quantifiers tell us how much or how many. 'Much' and 'a little' go with uncountable nouns; 'many' and 'a few' go with countable plurals; 'a lot of' goes with both. 'Too' signals an amount that is more than wanted ('too hot to drink'), while 'enough' signals a sufficient amount and always comes after adjectives but before nouns ('warm enough', 'enough time'). For example: 'This exercise is harder than the last one, but I have enough time and only a few mistakes to correct.'

Key terms

comparative — The adjective form that compares two things, showing one has more (or less) of a quality. Short adjectives add -er ('taller'); long adjectives use 'more' ('more interesting'). It is followed by 'than'.
superlative — The adjective form that picks out the extreme one in a group of three or more. Short adjectives add -est ('the tallest'); long adjectives use 'most' ('the most interesting'). It takes 'the' and is followed by 'of' or 'in', never 'than'.
(not) as ... as — A structure that compares quantity or quality. 'as + base adjective + as' says two things are equal ('as tall as'); 'not as ... as' says one is less ('not as heavy as'). The adjective inside stays in its base form.
too — An adverb placed before an adjective ('too hot') to signal an amount that is more than wanted — a negative, excessive idea ('too hot to drink').
enough — A word meaning 'sufficient'. It comes after an adjective ('warm enough') but before a noun ('enough time'). It signals a satisfactory amount, the opposite of 'too'.
quantifier — A word that tells how much or how many. 'Much' and 'a little' go with uncountable nouns; 'many' and 'a few' go with countable plurals; 'a lot of' goes with both.
Comparison forms by adjective type
Adjective typeComparativeSuperlative
Short (1 syllable, or 2 ending in -y): tall, easytaller, easierthe tallest, the easiest
Long (2+ syllables): interesting, modernmore interesting, more modernthe most interesting, the most modern
Irregular: goodbetterthe best
Irregular: badworsethe worst
Quantity and degree structures
StructureUseExample
as + adjective + asSays two things are equalBaku is as busy as Istanbul.
too + adjectiveSignals excess (more than wanted)The coffee is too hot to drink.
adjective + enoughSignals a sufficient amountShe is old enough to travel alone.
much / many / a lot of + nounQuantity: much (uncountable), many (countable plural), a lot of (both)much milk, many eggs, a lot of places
✎Building a comparative with a long adjective
  1. 1Sentence to complete: 'This book is ___ than that one.' (adjective: interesting)
  2. 2Choose the rule: 'Interesting' has more than two syllables, so it is a long adjective. Long adjectives use 'more', never -er ('interestinger' is wrong).
  3. 3Add 'than': Comparatives are followed by 'than' because we are comparing two things.
  4. 4Result: This book is more interesting than that one.
✎Choosing 'too' or 'enough'
  1. 1Sentence to complete: 'She is ___ to travel alone.' (adjective: old)
  2. 2Decide the meaning: The idea is positive and sufficient: she has reached a satisfactory age. That points to 'enough', not 'too' (which would signal a problem).
  3. 3Place the word: 'Enough' comes AFTER the adjective: 'old enough', never 'enough old'.
  4. 4Result: She is old enough to travel alone.
🚫Common mistake

Never mix -er and 'more' in the same word. 'More interesting' and 'colder' are correct, but 'more colder' or 'more better' are double comparatives and always wrong.

⚠️Caution

Use 'than' with comparatives and 'the ... of/in' with superlatives. Say 'more modern than the old market', but never 'the most modern than ...' — superlatives are never followed by 'than'.

⚠️Caution

'Too' goes before the adjective and means a negative excess ('too hot to drink'); 'enough' goes after the adjective and means a sufficient amount ('hot enough'). They express opposite ideas — do not swap them.

🚫Common mistake

Match the quantifier to the noun: 'much / a little' with uncountable nouns (milk, time, sugar), and 'many / a few / fewer' with countable plurals (eggs, friends). Saying 'less friends' or 'many information' is incorrect.

Rules

  1. 1Add -er / -est to short adjectives (1 syllable, or 2 syllables ending in -y): 'fast → faster → fastest', 'easy → easier → easiest'.
  2. 2Use 'more / most' with adjectives of 2+ syllables (not ending in -y): 'more careful', 'the most popular'.
  3. 3Learn irregular comparatives: good → better → best; bad → worse → worst; far → farther/further → farthest/furthest.
  4. 4Use 'as + adjective + as' for equality ('as tall as'), and 'not as … as' or 'less … than' for inequality.
  5. 5'Too' (more than enough — negative idea) comes before the adjective; 'enough' (sufficient) comes after the adjective but before the noun: 'too cold', 'warm enough', 'enough money'.

Practice

10 easy · 10 medium · 10 hard

10 random questions per test

EasyMediumHardMixed