English Grammar

Comparative forms ending in -or

Among the several words English has borrowed from Latin, there are 12 comparative adjectives ending in –or. They are: interior, exterior, ulterior, major, minor, inferior, superior, junior, senior, anterior, posterior and prior.

Five of these words - interior, exterior, ulterior, major, minor – have lost their comparative meaning. They are now used as positive adjectives.

He had a major accident.
He sustained minor injuries.
I suspect he has some ulterior motive behind this.

Note that we do not use than or to after these adjectives because they have lost their comparative meaning.

The remaining seven adjectives - inferior, superior, junior, senior, anterior, posterior and prior – have retained their comparative meaning. Note that they are followed by to instead of than.

My job is superior to yours.
He is junior to me in service.
She is senior to me by six years.