Scribd
Upload
55 views

Comparatives and Superlatives

This document provides information on forming comparative and superlative adjectives in English. It explains that comparative adjectives use -er or more to compare two things, and superlative adjectives use -est or most to compare three or more things. Common rules for changing adjectives to comparatives and superlatives are described, including adding -er/-est to one-syllable words and changing the ending or doubling consonants for other words. Irregular forms like good/better/best and bad/worse/worst are also covered. Examples of comparative and superlative structures in sentences are provided.

Uploaded by

Shurouq Alimam
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
55 views

Comparatives and Superlatives

This document provides information on forming comparative and superlative adjectives in English. It explains that comparative adjectives use -er or more to compare two things, and superlative adjectives use -est or most to compare three or more things. Common rules for changing adjectives to comparatives and superlatives are described, including adding -er/-est to one-syllable words and changing the ending or doubling consonants for other words. Irregular forms like good/better/best and bad/worse/worst are also covered. Examples of comparative and superlative structures in sentences are provided.

Uploaded by

Shurouq Alimam
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

Comparatives and Superlatives

Comparative adjectives
1- We use comparative adjectives to show
change or make comparisons:
This car is certainly better, but it's much more expensive.
I'm feeling happier now.
We need a bigger garden.

2- We use than when we want to compare one thing with


another:
She is two years older than me.
New York is much bigger than Boston.
He is a better player than Ronaldo.
France is a bigger country than Britain.

3- When we want to describe how something or someone changes we


can use two comparatives with and:
The balloon got bigger and bigger.
Everything is getting more and more expensive.
Grandfather is looking older and older.

4- We often use the with comparative adjectives to show that one


thing depends on another:
The faster you drive, the more dangerous it is.
(= When you drive faster, it is more dangerous.)

The higher they climbed, the colder it got.


(= When they climbed higher, it got colder.)

Superlative adjectives
We use the with superlative adjectives:
It was the happiest day of my life.
Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
That’s the best film I have seen this year.
I have three sisters: Jan is the oldest and Angela is the youngest.
How to form comparative and superlative adjectives
We usually add –er and –est to one-syllable words to make comparatives
and superlatives:

Old older oldest

long longer longest

If an adjective ends in –e, we add –r or –st:

nice nicer nicest

large larger largest

If an adjective ends in a vowel and a consonant, we double the


consonant:

big bigger biggest

fat fatter fattest

If an adjective ends in a consonant and –y, we change –y to –


i and add –er or –est:
happy happier happiest

silly sillier silliest

We use more and most to make comparatives and superlatives


for most two syllable adjectives and for all adjectives with three
or more syllables:

careful more careful most careful

interesting more interesting most interesting

However, with these common two-syllable adjectives, you can either add –
er/–r and –est/–st or use more and most:

common narrow
cruel pleasant
gentle polite
handsome simple
likely stupid

He is certainly handsomer than his brother.


His brother is handsome, but he is more handsome.
She is one of the politest people I have ever met.
She is the most polite person I have ever met.

The adjectives good, bad and far have irregular comparatives and
superlatives:
good better best

bad worse worst

far farther/further farthest/furthest

 older than me.


 more and more interesting.
 more dangerous than flying.
 the more tax I have to pay.
 we need a larger table.
 bigger than Britain's.
 your English will get better.
 smaller and smaller.
 I prefer more modern music.

 the more frightened I became

1- If you practise more,....................................................................................

2- We've invited six friends for dinner, so.......................................................

3- The Beatles are not bad, but........................................................................

4- My brother is ten years.....................................................................................

5- Brazil's economy is now......................................................................................

6- Travelling by train is..............................................................................................

7- Computers these days are getting.........................................................................


8- As the story went on, it became..........................................................................

9- The harder I work,...........................................................................................

10- The higher the plane went,....................................................................

 Choose the correct superlative adjective form to complete each sentence.

1- What's ___ time of year to visit your city?


 best

the best
2- What are ___ things to see and do?

the interesting

most interesting

the most interesting

4- What's ___ way to travel around? What's the fastest?


easiest

the easiest

the most easy

4- What do you think is ___ area?


the attractivest

most attractive

the most attractive

6- What's ___ building? What's the oldest?


the tallest

most tall

the most tall

These are some of the most common adjectives used in English advertisements.
Form the comparative and superlative forms of each adjective.

1. big,

2. bright,

3. clean, ,
4. delicious,

5. easy, ,

6. fine,

7. fresh,

8. good,

9. new,

10. safe,

11. special,

12. wonderful,

You might also like