We use the comparative and superlative form to compare and contrast different objects in English. Use the comparative form to show the difference between two objects.
Example: New York is more exciting
than Seattle. Use the superlative form when speaking about three or more objects to
show which object is 'the most' of something.
Example: New York is the most
exciting city in the USA.
ONE SYLLABLE COMPARATIVE
ADJECTIVES
Add
'-er' to end of the adjective (Note: double the final consonant if preceded
by a vowel) remove the 'y' from the adjective and add 'ier'
Example: cheap - cheaper / hot -
hotter / high - higher
Example
Sentences
Yesterday
was hotter than today.
This book is cheaper than that book.
ONE SYLLABLE SUPERLATIVE
ADJECTIVES
Place
'the' before the adjective and add '-est' to end of the adjective (Note:
double the final consonant if preceded by a vowel)
Example: cheap - the cheapest /
hot - the hottest / high - the highest
Example
Sentences
Today
is the hottest day of the summer.
This book is the cheapest I can find. |
TWO SYLLABLE COMPARATIVE
ADJECTIVES Ending in '-y'
Example: happy - happier / funny -
funnier
Example
Sentences
I am
happier than you.
That joke was funnier than his joke.
TWO SYLLABLE SUPERLATIVE
ADJECTIVES Ending in '-y'
Place
'the' before the adjective and remove the 'y' from the adjective and add
'iest'
Example: happy - the happiest /
funny - the funniest
Example
Sentences
New
York is the noisiest city in the USA.
He is the most important person I know. |
TWO, THREE OR MORE SYLLABLE COMPARATIVE
ADJECTIVES
Place
'more' before the adjective
Example: interesting - more
interesting / difficult - more difficult
Example
Sentences
London
is more expensive than Madrid.
This test is more difficult than the last test.
TWO, THREE OR MORE SYLLABLE SUPERLATIVE
ADJECTIVES
place
'the most' before the adjective
Example: interesting - the most
interesting / difficult - the most difficult
Example
Sentences
London
is the most expensive city in England.
That is the most beautiful painting here. |
IMPORTANT EXCEPTIONS
Below are
two of the most important exceptions:
GOOD
·
good - adjective
·
better - comparative
·
the best - superlative
Example Sentences
This
book is better than that one.
This is the best school in the city.
BAD
bad - adjective
·
worse - comparative
·
the worst - superlative
Example Sentences
His
French is worse than mine.
This is the worst day of my life. |
EXERCISES: COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVES
1. Choose whether each sentence requires the comparative or superlative
form:
(A) There are 10 houses on our street. Our house is the __________________________ one.
((i) biggest (ii) bigger)
(B) My brother sings better than I do, but I play
guitar ___________________ than he does.
((i) the best
(ii) better)
(C) This is ____________________________
song I have ever heard!
((i) better (ii) the best )
(D) Tom is __________________________________ than I am.
((i)
stronger (ii) the strongest )
(E) Out of all the students in our class, I am __________________________________.
((i) the shortest (ii) shorter )
(F) Everyone says that my sister is ___________________________________ than I am.
((i) the best looking (ii) better looking )
(G) She is _______________________________________________
girl in our school.
((i) the best
looking (ii) better looking)
(H) This is boring. Let's do something ____________________________________________.
((i) the most interesting (ii) more interesting)
2. Fill
in the gaps with the comparative or the superlative form of the adjectives
given.
(A) This armchair is _______________________ than the old one. (comfortable)
(B) Trains are ______________________ than
airplanes. (slow)
(C) I bought the
___________________________
souvenir I could afford. (expensive)
(D) In this classroom there are
_____________________ girls than boys. (many)
(E) Ann is the
_________________________ child in the
family. (young)
(F) That TV set is the
____________________________ of all. (cheap)
(G) You are _______________________ here
than there. (safe)
(H) Fifi is _______________________ than Kate. (pretty)
(I) This is the _____________________ film I have ever seen. (exciting)
(J) Tim
is _________________________ than Peter. (talented)
ANSWERS
1.
Choose whether each
sentence requires the comparative or superlative form:
(A) There are 10 houses on our street. Our house is the biggest one.
((i) biggest (ii) bigger)
(B) My brother sings better than I do, but I play
guitar better than he does.
((i) the
best (ii) better)
(C) This is the best song I have ever heard!
((i) better (ii) the best
)
(D) Tom is stronger than I am.
((i) stronger (ii) the strongest )
(E) Out of all the students in our class, I am the shortest.
((i) the shortest (ii) shorter )
(F) Everyone says that my sister is better looking than I am.
((i) the best looking (ii) better looking )
(G) She is the best looking girl in our school.
((i) the best looking (ii) better looking)
(H) This is boring. Let's do something more interesting.
((i) the most interesting (ii) more interesting)
2. Fill
in the gaps with the comparative or the superlative form of the adjectives
given.
(A) This armchair is more
comfortable than the old one. (comfortable)
(B) Trains
are slower than airplanes. (slow)
(C) I bought the most expensive
souvenir I could
afford. (expensive)
(D) In this classroom there are many more girls than boys. (many)
(E) Ann is the youngest
child in the family. (young)
(F)
That TV set is the cheapest of all. (cheap)
(G) You
are safer here than there. (safe)
(H) Fifi is prettier
than Kate. (pretty)
(I) This is the most
exciting film I have
ever seen. (exciting)
(J) Tim is more talented
than
Peter. (talented)
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