Irregular Comparatives

Regular Pattern

Most adjectives follow a pattern:

• Short: add -er / -est (tall → taller → tallest)
• Long: use more / most (beautiful → more beautiful → most beautiful)

But some are irregular.

Key Irregular Comparatives

Good → Better → Best

Examples

• This book is good.
• This book is better than that one.
• This is the best book I’ve read.

Common Mistakes

• ❌ This is more good.
• ❌ This is gooder.
• ✓ This is better.

Bad → Worse → Worst

Examples

• The weather is bad.
• It’s worse than yesterday.
• It’s the worst weather this year.

Common Mistakes

• ❌ This is more bad.
• ❌ This is badder.
• ✓ This is worse.

Far → Farther/Further → Farthest/Furthest

Farther (physical distance)

• London is farther from here than Paris.
• The farthest point is 100 miles away.

Further (figurative distance, additional)

• We need to discuss this further.
• Do you have any further questions?

Note: In practice, they’re often used interchangeably.

Little → Less → Least

Examples

• I have little time.
• I have less time than you.
• I have the least time of everyone.

Note: Less vs. Fewer

• Less = for uncountable (less water, less time)
• Fewer = for countable (fewer books, fewer people)

Much/Many → More → Most

Examples

• She has much experience.
• She has more experience than me.
• She has the most experience here.

Old → Older/Elder → Oldest/Eldest

Older (general use)

• She is older than me.
• He is the oldest person here.

Elder (family relationships)

• My elder sister lives in London.
• He is the eldest of three brothers.

Avoiding Double Comparatives

Well → Better → Best

For adverbs:

• She sings well.
• She sings better than me.
• She sings best of all.

Quiz