Comparatives and superlatives

• 7 Comparatives and superlatives

  7.1

  Comparatives

  

  

  Comparatives are used to compare two things, often used with than (compared to).

  Short adjectives + -er; long adjectives use more + adjective.

  我的My 包bag 是is 更大bigger 比than 你的yours.

  My bag is bigger than yours.

  这This 书book 是is 更more 有趣interesting 比than 那本that one.

  This book is more interesting than that one.

  Formation Rules:

  • Monosyllabic: add -er → tall → taller, fast → faster.
  • Ending in consonant + y: change y to i and add -er → happy → happier, easy → easier.
  • Two or more syllables: use more → expensive → more expensive.
  • Irregular: good → better, bad → worse, far → further.

  Note: Avoid "double comparison": ~~more bigger~~ ✗ → bigger ✓.

  7.2

  Superlatives

  Superlatives indicate "the most …" (three or more), preceded by the.

  Short adjectives + -est; long adjectives use the most + adjective.

  他He 是is （冠词）the 最高tallest 在in （冠词）the 班级class.

  He is the tallest in the class.

  这This 是is （冠词）the 最most 贵expensive 手机phone.

  This is the most expensive phone.

  Formation Rules:

  • Monosyllabic: the + -est → fast → the fastest.
  • Long adjectives: the most → the most beautiful.
  • Irregular: good → the best, bad → the worst.

  Note: Do not forget the before superlatives: ~~he is tallest~~ → he is the tallest.

  7.3

  as ... as

  as + adjective + as means "as … as …".

  她She 是is 和as 高tall 一样as 她her 妈妈mother.

  She is as tall as her mother.

  Negative not as ... as means "not as … as …":

  今天Today （是）is 不not 像as 热hot 一样as 昨天yesterday.

  It is not as hot today as yesterday.

  Note: Place the base form of the adjective (not the comparative) in the middle: ~~as taller as~~ ✗ → as tall as ✓.

  Common Errors

  • ❌ ~~It is more cheap.~~ → ✓ It is cheaper. — Use -er for monosyllabic adjectives, not more.
  • ❌ ~~He is taller than me a lot.~~ → ✓ He is much taller than me. — "A lot" translates to much, which goes before the comparative.
  • ❌ ~~My bag is bigger than your.~~ → ✓ …bigger than yours. — Use yours / mine / hers (nominal possessive pronouns) after than.
  • ❌ ~~Beijing is bigger than any city in China.~~ → ✓ …than any other city in China. — Do not forget other, otherwise it implies comparing itself to itself.

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