Writers use adjectives and adverbs both to describe things and to compare things. Grammar rules require writers to change the form of modifiers to show that one thing is being described or that two things or more than two things are being compared.
The most moving look I ever saw from a child in the woods was on a mud bar by the footprints of a heron. . . . The sun beat down heavily on our hair. Our shoes were soaking wet. The look said: I did not know until now that I needed someone much older to confirm this, the feeling I have of life here.
—from "Children in the Woods" written by naturalist Barry Lopez
The sentences use different forms of modifiers for description and comparison.
Most adjectives and adverbs have different forms to show degrees of comparison. The positive form is used to describe one person or thing. The comparative form is used to compare two people or things. The superlative form is used to compare three or more people or things.
Positive – The weather is cold today.
Comparative – The weather is colder today than yesterday.
Superlative – Today is the coldest day this month.
With one- and two-syllable modifiers, the most common way to form the comparative and superlative degrees is to add -er or -est to the modifier. If that would sound awkward, you should use more for the comparative degree and most for the superlative degree.
large, larger, largest
helpless, more helpless, most helpless
With adverbs that end with the suffix -ly, usually use more and most.
clearly, more clearly, most clearly
recently, more recently, most recently
With modifiers of three or more syllables, always use more and most.
beautiful, more beautiful, most beautiful
Some adjectives and adverbs form their comparative and superlative degrees in irregular ways. Here are some examples:
bad, worse, worst
good, better, best
little, less, least
many, more, most
much, more, most
well, better, best
To make your comparisons clear, use the comparative degree to compare two people, places, or things and the superlative degree to compare three or more.
Incorrect – Which of the twins is tallest?
Correct – Which of the twins is taller?
Make sure that your sentences compare only items that are balanced.
Unbalanced – Jon's score was better than Lisa.
Balanced – Jon's score was better than Lisa's. (The comparison is to Lisa's score.)
When comparing one of a group with the rest of the group, use the word other or the word else.
Illogical – Beth is a better dancer than anyone in the class. (Isn't Beth in the class?)
Logical – Beth is a better dancer than anyone else in the class.
Illogical – Miguel is stronger than any player on the team. (Isn't Miguel on the team?)
Logical – Miguel is stronger than any other player on the team.
