EditFast Grammar Resource: Adjectives and Adverbs: Comparative and Superlative Modifiers

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Adjectives and Adverbs

Rule 5:
Comparative modifiers for two things;
superlative modifiers for more

We often use adjectives and adverbs to compare two or more things. When comparing only two things, the adjectives and adverbs should be comparative modifiers, modifiers used with words such as more and less and adjectives with -er added to them (such as greater and smarter).

Examples:

• This half is better than that half.
• Of the two, John is the smarter student.
• Betty types faster than Elliott.
• Hal sells more than the rest of the team combined.

When more than two things are compared, the adjectives and adverbs should be superlative modifiers, modifiers used with words such as most and least and adjectives with -est added to them (such as greatest and smartest).

Examples:

• She is the tallest member of the team.
• He is the smallest quarterback to play in the NFL.
• She is the most qualified of all the applicants.