Grammar: Irregular Comparatives & Superlatives
B1 Lesson 18
Breaking the Rules
While most adjectives follow the standard rules for comparatives (-er/more) and superlatives (-est/most), some of the most common adjectives in English are irregular. This means they have special forms that you must memorize.
We never say "gooder" or "the goodest".
Example: My mother's soup is the best in Siem Reap!
We never say "badder" or "the baddest".
Example: Monday morning has the worst traffic of the week.
The Grammar Rule 📖
Common Irregular Adjectives
| Adjective | Comparative Form | Superlative Form |
|---|---|---|
| good | better | the best |
| bad | worse | the worst |
| far | further / farther | the furthest / the farthest |
| little (amount) | less | the least |
| much / many | more | the most |
Note: You already know 'more' and 'the most' from regular long adjectives! They are the irregular forms of 'much' and 'many'.
In Conversation
Let's see how these words are used in a natural conversation.
Practice Your Grammar 🎯
Exercise: Complete the Sentences
Complete the sentences with the correct irregular form of the adjective in parentheses ( ).
- My English is good, but her English is ___ than mine. (good)
→ better - This is ___ coffee I have ever tasted! It's terrible. (bad)
→ the worst - Of all the temples, which one is ___ from the city? (far)
→ the furthest / the farthest - I need to drink ___ coffee and more water in the morning. (little)
→ less - I think watching the sunrise at Angkor Wat is ___ experience. (good)
→ the best
Your Grammar Mission ⭐
Give Your Opinion
Write three sentences giving your opinion. Use at least three different irregular forms like 'better', 'the best', 'worse', or 'the worst'.
Example: I think Khmer coffee is better than Starbucks. The traffic in Phnom Penh is the worst!
Key Vocabulary
- Irregular Not following the usual rules or patterns.
- Memorize To learn something so that you can remember it exactly.