Comparatives & Superlatives

Comparative & Superlative Forms

比較級和最高級形容詞/副詞的用法和規則

Basic Rules for Adjectives 形容詞基本規則

Type 類型 Adjective 形容詞 Comparative 比較級 Superlative 最高級
Short (1 syllable)
短音節		 tall 高的 taller 更高的 tallest 最高的
Short ending in -e
以-e結尾		 nice 好的 nicer 更好的 nicest 最好的
Short (CVC pattern)
子音-母音-子音		 big 大的 bigger 更大的 biggest 最大的
2 syllables ending in -y
以-y結尾的雙音節		 happy 快樂的 happier 更快樂的 happiest 最快樂的
2+ syllables
雙音節或更多		 beautiful 美麗的 more beautiful 更美麗的 most beautiful 最美麗的
Irregular
不規則		 good 好的 better 更好的 best 最好的

Rules for Adverbs 副詞規則

Type 類型 Adverb 副詞 Comparative 比較級 Superlative 最高級
Adverbs ending in -ly
以-ly結尾的副詞		 quickly 快速地 more quickly 更快速地 most quickly 最快速地
Short adverbs
短副詞		 fast 快地 faster 更快地 fastest 最快地
Irregular
不規則		 well 好地 better 更好地 best 最好地

Note 注意: Most adverbs that end in -ly use "more" and "most" rather than adding -er or -est.
大多數以-ly結尾的副詞使用"more"和"most"，而不是添加-er或-est。

Common Irregular Forms 常見不規則形式

  • good → better → best (好的 → 更好的 → 最好的)
  • bad → worse → worst (壞的 → 更壞的 → 最壞的)
  • far → farther/further → farthest/furthest (遠的 → 更遠的 → 最遠的)
  • little → less → least (少的 → 更少的 → 最少的)
  • many/much → more → most (多的 → 更多的 → 最多的)
  • old → older/elder → oldest/eldest (老的 → 更老的 → 最老的)
  • well → better → best (好的 → 更好的 → 最好的)
  • badly → worse → worst (糟糕地 → 更糟糕地 → 最糟糕地)
  • late → later → latest/last (晚的 → 更晚的 → 最晚的)

Usage 用法

Comparative 比較級

Used to compare two things or people. 用於比較兩個事物或人。

  • She is taller than her brother. (她比她的兄弟高。)
  • This book is more interesting than that one. (這本書比那本更有趣。)
  • He runs faster than his friend. (他跑得比他的朋友快。)
  • She speaks more clearly than the other presenter. (她說話比其他演講者更清晰。)

Superlative 最高級

Used to compare one thing or person with all others in a group. 用於將一個事物或人與群體中的所有其他事物或人進行比較。

  • She is the tallest in her family. (她是她家中最高的。)
  • This is the most interesting book I've ever read. (這是我讀過的最有趣的書。)
  • He runs the fastest in his class. (他在班上跑得最快。)
  • She speaks the most clearly of all the presenters. (她是所有演講者中說話最清晰的。)

The Use of "The" with Superlatives 使用"The"與最高級

We almost always use "the" before superlative adjectives and adverbs. 我們幾乎總是在最高級形容詞和副詞前使用"the"。

  • The tallest building in the city is the Taipei 101. (城市中最高的建築是台北101。)
  • This is the best restaurant in town. (這是鎮上最好的餐廳。)
  • She runs the fastest of all the students. (她在所有學生中跑得最快。)

Exceptions 例外情況:

  • When the superlative is a predicate adjective after a linking verb like "is", "was", etc., "the" is sometimes omitted in informal speech.
    當最高級是連繫動詞（如"is"、"was"等）後的表語形容詞時，在非正式口語中有時會省略"the"。
    Example: Her smile was (the) brightest when she saw her family. (當她看到家人時，她的笑容最燦爛。)
  • In possessive constructions, "the" may be replaced by a possessive.
    在所有格結構中，"the"可能被所有格取代。
    Example: She is my best friend. (她是我最好的朋友。)

Special Cases 特殊情況

When NOT to use comparatives and superlatives 何時不使用比較級和最高級

  • Absolute adjectives (絕對形容詞): Some adjectives describe qualities that cannot logically be compared because they are already absolute.
    Examples: perfect, unique, complete, dead, pregnant
    ❌ This solution is more perfect. (這個解決方案更完美。)
    ✅ This solution is perfect. (這個解決方案是完美的。)
  • Equal comparisons (相等比較): Use "as...as" instead of comparative forms.
    ✅ She is as tall as her brother. (她和她的兄弟一樣高。)