Comparative VS Superlative in IELTS: A Grammar Cage Match

Comparatives and superlatives are essential tools for achieving a high score in IELTS Writing and Speaking. They allow you to make precise comparisons and emphasize extremes, showcasing your grammatical range and vocabulary.

1. Understanding the Basics

• Comparative Adjectives/Adverbs → Compare two things.
  • Formation:
    • Short adjectives: -er (e.g., “taller,” “faster”).
    • Long adjectives: more + adjective (e.g., “more expensive,” “more efficient”).
  • Example:
    • “Living in a city is more convenient than living in the countryside.” (Writing Task 2)
    • “She speaks English more fluently than her brother.” (Speaking Part 1)
• Superlative Adjectives/Adverbs → Highlight the highest or lowest degree in a group.
  • Formation:
    • Short adjectives: -est (e.g., “tallest,” “fastest”).
    • Long adjectives: the most + adjective (e.g., “the most expensive,” “the most efficient”).
  • Example:
    • “Tokyo has the most efficient public transport system in the world.” (Writing Task 1)
    • “This is the most challenging exam I’ve ever taken.” (Speaking Part 2)

2. Irregular Forms (Key for Band 7+)

Some adjectives/adverbs don’t follow standard rules. Memorize these:

Adjective/Adverb	Comparative	Superlative
Good/Well	Better	The best
Bad/Badly	Worse	The worst
Far	Farther/Further	The farthest/furthest
Little	Less	The least
Much/Many	More	The most

• Example:
  • “His writing skills are better than mine, but hers are the best in the class.” (Writing Task 1)
  • “Air pollution is worse in Beijing than in Shanghai, but Delhi has the worst air quality.” (Speaking Part 3)

3. Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ “More better” → Correct: “Better”
❌ “The most fastest” → Correct: “The fastest”
❌ “Gooder” → Correct: “Better”

4. IELTS-Specific Applications

• Writing Task 1 (Graphs/Charts):
  • “The price of oil increased more rapidly than gas prices.”
  • “Sweden had the highest percentage of renewable energy use.”
• Writing Task 2 (Opinion/Discussion Essays):
  • “Online education is more accessible than traditional schooling.”
  • “The government should focus on the most pressing environmental issues.”
• Speaking (Parts 1-3):
  • “I find history more interesting than mathematics.” (Part 1)
  • “The most memorable trip I’ve taken was to Japan.” (Part 2)
  • “Which do you think is the most effective way to reduce traffic congestion?” (Part 3)

5. Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the correct form (comparative/superlative).

1. Canada is __________ (large) than France but __________ (small) than Russia.
2. This is __________ (difficult) exam I’ve ever taken.

Exercise 2: Rewrite informally for IELTS formality.

• “This phone’s way better than my old one.”
  → “This smartphone is significantly better than my previous device.”

Exercise 3: Describe a graph trend using comparatives/superlatives.

• “Electric car sales grew __________ (fast) in Norway than in Germany.”

Answers:

1. larger, smaller
2. the most difficult
3. faster

Final Tips for IELTS Success

✔ Mix both forms naturally in Writing and Speaking.
✔ Avoid repetition—use synonyms (e.g., “more affordable” vs. “cheaper”).
✔ Exaggerate in Speaking for fluency (e.g., “This was the most unforgettable experience!”).

By mastering comparatives and superlatives, you’ll enhance clarity, precision, and sophistication in your IELTS responses—key for Band 7+! 🚀