Comparative and superlative adjectives

Comparative adjectives are used to compare differences between the two

objects they modify (larger, smaller, faster, higher). They are used in sentences
where two nouns are compared, in this pattern:

Noun (subject) + verb + comparative adjective + than + noun (object).

The second item of comparison can be omitted if it is clear from the context (final
example below).

Examples

 My house is larger than hers.

 This box is smaller than the one I lost.
 Your dog is faster than Jim's dog.
 The rock is higher than the roof.
 Jim and Jack are both fast, but Jack is faster. ("than Jim" is understood)

Superlative adjectives

Superlative adjectives are used to describe an object which is at the upper or

lower limit of a quality (the tallest, the smallest, the fastest, the highest ).

They are used in sentences where a subject is compared to a group of objects.

Noun (subject) + verb + the + superlative adjective + noun (object).

The group that is being compared with can be omitted if it is clear from the context
(final example below).

Examples

 My house is the largest one in our neighborhood.

 This is the smallest box I've ever seen.
 Your dog was the fastest of any dog in the race.
 We all have trees in our yard. My tree is the tallest.
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Forming regular comparatives and superlatives
Forming comparatives and superlatives is easy. The form depends on the number of
syllables in the original adjective.

One syllable adjectives

Add -er for the comparative and -est for the superlative. If the adjective has a
consonant + single vowel + consonant spelling, the final consonant must be doubled
before adding the ending.

Tall Taller Tallest

Short Shorter Shortest
Big Bigger Biggest
Fat Fatter Fattest

Two syllables
Adjectives with two syllables can form the comparative either by adding -er or by
adding “more” before the adjective. These adjectives form the superlative either
by adding -est or by adding” the most” before the adjective. In many cases, both
forms are used, although one usage will be more common than the other.

For adjectives ending in y, change the y to an i before adding the ending.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

Happy Happier Happiest
Simple Simpler Simplest
Busy Busier Busiest
Tangled more tangled most tangled

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 Three or more syllables
Adjectives with three or more syllables form the comparative by putting more in
front of the adjective, and the superlative by putting most in front.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

Important more important most important
Expensive more expensive most expensive

Irregular comparatives and superlatives

These very common adjectives have completely irregular comparative and superlative
forms.
Adjective Comparative Superlative
Good Better Best
Bad Worse Worst
Little Less Least
Much More Most
Far further / farther furthest / farthest
Examples

 Today is the worst day I've had in a long time.

 Your painting is better than mine.
 This is the least expensive sweater in the store.
 This sweater is less expensive than that one.
 His house is far from town, but her house is even farther.

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Exercises:

Write “er” or “est” after each adjective.

1. Milo is the cute_____ dog on the street.

2. Nour is loud______ than Maria in the classroom.

3. My hair short_____ than you.

4. Mom has the soft_____ hands.

5. Dad’s pants are large____ than mine.

6. This is the big_____ bowl of popcorn I have ever seen!

7. Cats are quiet______ than dogs.

Choose the correct answer.

1. Selena was the (happier - happiest) girl in the room.

2. Riley is (more focused - most focused) than Max in class.

3. The mouse is (faster- fastest) than the cat and got away.

4. The CN tower is the (taller - tallest) one in Canada.

5. My bed is (more comfortable – most comfortable) than my parent’s bed.

6. The sun is (brighter - brightest) than the moon.

7. The (more dangerous - most dangerous) sports are called extreme sports.

8. This is he (harder - hardest) test I have completed.

9. Water from the fridge is (colder – coldest) than from the tap.

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 Put more or most in front of each adjective.
1. Football is __________ dangerous than golf.

2. Spaghetti is the ____________ wonderful meal there is.

3. You ask the _____________ interesting questions.

4. Jenny is ___________ delicate than her sister Paula.

5. The couch is _____________ comfortable than the chair.

6. Cats are the ___________ interested pets.

7. Science is ____________ difficult than Math.

8. Honey is __________ useful than sugar.

9. Panda bears are the ___________ loveable animals.

Write each sentence, complete with the appropriate comparative or

superlative form of the adjectives in parentheses.

1. Mary is intelligent, but Aida is (smart) than her.

_________________________________________.

2. Wilfred Jackson is the (rich) man in town.

_________________________________________.

3. Who is the (strong) person?

_________________________________________.

4. Yahia is (short) than Khaled.

_________________________________________.

5. Nihal is the (pretty) girl in school.

_________________________________________.

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 Practice:
1. Ali is …………. than Adam ( tall )

2. Pineapples are ……….. than oranges. ( sweet )

3. This is the …………. book I’ve ever read. (sad )

4. Winter is the …………. season. ( cold )

5. My bag is …………. than yours. ( heavy )

6. Sara’s dress is …………. than mine. ( short )

7. Summer is ………… than autumn. ( hot )

8. The elephant is ………… than the mouse. ( big )

9. This t.v is the ………….. one at the shop. ( big )

10. Tim can run ………… than Bill. ( fast )

11. I was sad because I got the …………. grade on the test. ( low )

12. I got a ……….. grade than Lena. ( low )

Complete with more or most.

1. Some people think that Arabic is the………………difficult language.

2. My sister is ……………intelligent than me.

3. I find Maths lessons …………. enjoyable than science lessons

4. Albert Einstein was the …………….intelligent person in history.

5. The …………..enjoyable sport is football..

6. She ran ……………. quickly than me.
7. Of all the students she ran the ……………. quickly.

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Re-Write each sentence below using the comparative or superlative form of the
adjective in parenthesis.

Example A: You are (tall) than me.

Answer A: You are taller than me.

1. The fish I caught is (big) than the one you caught.

__________________________________________________________

2. That is the (small) umbrella I have ever seen!

__________________________________________________________

3. She is the (pretty) girl I have ever seen.

__________________________________________________________

4. My friend is (fabulous) than yours.

_______________________________________________________

5. That building is (large) than the one next to it.

_________________________________________________________

6. Who has the (easy) job in our family?

_________________________________________________________

7. Do you think a screwdriver is (useful) than a hammer?

______________________________________________________ .

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 Underline the correct word (s) in brackets:

1. Sara is good but Sandy is (better – goodder – best).

2. I think spring is (beautiful – more beautiful – the most beautiful) season of the

year.

3. My sister is two years (young – younger – the youngest) than me.

Rewrite the following sentences using the word in brackets:

1. Nada is 165 cm. Mai is 160. (taller)

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2. John is fatter than Mike. (thinner)

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3. Amr is 17 years. Omar is 20 years. Adel is 15 years. (oldest)

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4. Elephants run less quickly than lions. (more)

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5. Manar is good but Mai is better. (than)

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Rewrite the following sentence using a word between brackets.

1. Many people speak English. Only a few people speak Italian. (fewer than …)

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2. Ali drank three glasses of water, but Ali drank only one. (less)

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3. Travelling by bus is cheaper than travelling mu plane. (expensive)

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4. No one can make pizza as good as my mother. (best)

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9. Hany is taller than Ahmed. (shorter)

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10. Hana is 20 years. Mona is 17 years. Amira is 14 years. (youngest)

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11. Lions run more quickly than elephants. (less)

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12. Omar is younger than Ali. (older)

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