基本の説明Overview
2つのものを比べて「AはBより〜だ」と言うときは比較級、3つ以上の中で「いちばん〜だ」と言うときは最上級を使います。形容詞や副詞の語尾を変えたり、前に more / most を置いたりして作ります。To say “A is more ~ than B” when comparing two things, use the comparative; to say “the most ~” among three or more, use the superlative. You make them by changing the ending of an adjective or adverb, or by putting more / most in front.
ふつう、つづりの短い語（1音節の語と、-y で終わる語など）は語尾に -er / -est をつけ、つづりの長い語は more / most を前に置きます。もとの形（tall など）を「原級」と呼びます。As a rule, short words (one-syllable words and words ending in -y, for example) add -er / -est, while longer words take more / most in front. The basic form (tall, etc.) is called the positive form.
| 作り方How to form | 原級Positive | 比較級Comparative | 最上級Superlative |
|---|---|---|---|
| ふつうは -er / -est をつけるAdd -er / -est | tall | taller | tallest |
| e で終わる語は -r / -st だけつけるWords ending in e: add only -r / -st | large | larger | largest |
| 「子音字＋y」は y を i に変えて -er / -estConsonant + y: change y to i, then add -er / -est | easy | easier | easiest |
| 「短母音＋子音字1つ」は子音字を重ねるShort vowel + one consonant: double the consonant | big | bigger | biggest |
| つづりの長い語は more / most を前に置くLonger words: put more / most in front | interesting | more interesting | most interesting |
| 不規則に変化する語（1）Irregular words (1) | good / well | better | best |
| 不規則に変化する語（2）Irregular words (2) | bad | worse | worst |
| 不規則に変化する語（3）Irregular words (3) | many / much | more | most |
比較級：形容詞[副詞]の比較級 + than 〜 ／ 最上級：the + 形容詞[副詞]の最上級 + of[in] 〜Comparative: comparative form + than ~ / Superlative: the + superlative form + of / in ~「〜より」は than、「〜の中で」は、あとに複数を表す語が来るなら of、場所や集団なら in を使います。than means “than”; for “among,” use of before a plural word and in before a place or a group.
「同じくらい〜だ」は as + 原級 + as で表します（原級は変化させない形です）。「〜ほど…ではない」は not as + 原級 + as です。To say “as ~ as,” use as + positive form + as (the adjective is not changed). “Not as ~ as” means the first thing is less ~ than the second.
例文で確認Example sentences
① 比較級（AはBより〜）1. Comparatives (A is ~er than B)
This bag is bigger than that one.
このかばんはあちらのものより大きいです。
big は g を重ねて bigger。big doubles the g: bigger.
Tom runs faster than Ken.
トムはケンより速く走ります。
副詞の fast も、形容詞と同じように -er をつける。The adverb fast takes -er just like an adjective.
This question is easier than that one.
この問題はあの問題より簡単です。
子音字＋y の easy は、y を i に変えて easier。easy (consonant + y) changes y to i: easier.
Summer is hotter than spring.
夏は春より暑いです。
hot も t を重ねて hotter。hot also doubles its last letter: hotter.
This movie is more interesting than that one.
この映画はあの映画よりおもしろいです。
interesting は長い語なので more をつける（interestinger とは言わない）。interesting is a long word, so it takes more (we never say interestinger).
My bike is more expensive than yours.
私の自転車はあなたのより高価です。
② 最上級（いちばん〜）2. Superlatives (the ~est)
Ken is the tallest in his class.
ケンはクラスの中でいちばん背が高いです。
「クラスの中で」のような集団には in を使う。Use in for a group such as a class.
February is the shortest month of the year.
2月は1年の中でいちばん短い月です。
This is the oldest temple in our town.
これは私たちの町でいちばん古いお寺です。
「町の中で」のような場所には in を使う。Use in for a place such as a town.
Health is the most important thing.
健康はいちばん大切なものです。
important は長い語なので most をつける。important is a long word, so it takes most.
Emi is the best singer in our class.
エミは私たちのクラスでいちばん歌が上手です。
good の最上級は best（不規則）。The superlative of good is best (irregular).
Mika gets up the earliest in her family.
ミカは家族の中でいちばん早く起きます。
副詞の最上級では the をつけないことも多い。early は y を i に変えて earliest。With an adverb, the is often left out. early changes y to i: earliest.
③ 比べる質問3. Questions that compare
Which is bigger, this box or that one?
この箱とあの箱ではどちらが大きいですか。
2つのものを比べて「どちら」とたずねるときは which を使う。Use which to ask “which one?” when comparing two things.
Which do you like better, tea or coffee?
お茶とコーヒーではどちらのほうが好きですか。
like ... better は「〜のほうが好き」。well の比較級 better を使う。like ... better means “prefer.” It uses better, the comparative of well.
Who is the youngest in your family?
あなたの家族の中でだれがいちばん年下ですか。
人について最上級でたずねるときは who を使う。Use who to ask about a person with a superlative.
What is the most popular sport in your school?
あなたの学校でいちばん人気のあるスポーツは何ですか。
④ 同じくらい（as ... as）4. “As ... as”
Tom is as tall as Ken.
トムはケンと同じくらいの背の高さです。
as と as のあいだの語（tall）は変化させない。The word between the two as (tall) does not change.
This bag is not as big as that one.
このかばんはあちらのものほど大きくありません。
not as ... as は「〜ほど…ではない」。not as ... as says the first thing is less big than the second.
⑤ 不規則に変化する語5. Irregular words
This book is better than that one.
この本はあの本よりよいです。
good → better → bestgood → better → best
Tom speaks English better than Ken.
トムはケンより上手に英語を話します。
well（上手に）も better → best と変化する。well also changes: better → best.
I have more books than Mika.
私はミカより多くの本を持っています。
many / much の比較級は more。The comparative of many / much is more.
The weather is worse today.
今日は天気がもっと悪いです。
bad → worse → worst。ここでは「昨日より」の意味が文脈から分かる。bad → worse → worst. The context makes it clear that this means “worse than before.”
確認クイズQuick check
カッコの中の語を、文に合う形に直して空所に入れましょう。Change the word in the parentheses into the form that fits, and write it in the blank.
- Tom is ___ than Ken. (tall)
答えを見るShow the answer
taller — 2人を比べているので比較級。tall に -er をつける。Two people are compared, so use the comparative: tall + -er. - This is the ___ movie of the three. (interesting)
答えを見るShow the answer
most interesting — 3つ以上の中の最上級で、interesting は長い語なので most を使う。A superlative among three or more things; interesting is long, so use most. - Mika's bag is ___ than mine. (heavy)
答えを見るShow the answer
heavier — 「子音字＋y」なので y を i に変えて -er。heavy is consonant + y, so change y to i and add -er. - Emi sings ___ than Mika. (well)
答えを見るShow the answer
better — well の比較級は better（不規則）。The comparative of well is better (irregular). - Today is the ___ day of the year. (hot)
答えを見るShow the answer
hottest — hot は最後の t を重ねて hottest。hot doubles its last letter: hottest. - Tom is as ___ as Ken. (tall)
答えを見るShow the answer
tall — as ... as のあいだは原級（もとの形）のまま。Between as ... as, the word stays in its basic form.
おさえておきたいポイントKey points
- つづりの短い語は -er / -est、長い語は more / most を前に置くShort words add -er / -est; long words take more / most in front
- 語尾に注意：e で終わる語は -r / -st、「子音字＋y」は y を i に、big や hot は子音字を重ねるWatch the ending: add only -r / -st after e, change y to i after a consonant, and double the last letter in big and hot
- 比較級は than（〜より）、最上級は the をつけて of / in（〜の中で）と組み合わせるUse than with the comparative; use the with the superlative and combine it with of / in
- of は複数を表す語（of the three, of all）の前、in は場所や集団（in my class, in Japan）の前に置くUse of before a plural idea (of the three, of all) and in before a place or group (in my class, in Japan)
- good / well → better → best、bad → worse → worst、many / much → more → most は不規則変化Learn the irregular ones: good / well → better → best, bad → worse → worst, many / much → more → most
- 同じ程度は as + 原級 + as、「〜ほど…でない」は not as + 原級 + asUse as + basic form + as for “equally,” and not as + basic form + as for “not as ~ as”
よくある間違いCommon mistake："Ken is more taller than Tom." ✗ → "Ken is taller than Tom." ✓ 比較級は -er か more のどちらか一方だけ。両方つけません。"Ken is more taller than Tom." ✗ → "Ken is taller than Tom." ✓ Use either -er or more, never both.
よくある間違いCommon mistake："Ken is the tallest of his class." ✗ → "Ken is the tallest in his class." ✓ クラスのような集団には in を使います。"Ken is the tallest of his class." ✗ → "Ken is the tallest in his class." ✓ Use in for a group like a class.
よくある間違いCommon mistake："This is more good than that." ✗ → "This is better than that." ✓ good の比較級は better です。"This is more good than that." ✗ → "This is better than that." ✓ The comparative of good is better.