This document defines and provides examples of comparatives and superlatives in grammar. Comparatives show that something has more of a quality than something else, using suffixes like "-er" or words like "more". Superlatives indicate something has the most of a quality in a group, using suffixes like "-est" or words like "most". Irregular adjectives and two-syllable adjectives are given as examples, along with exercises asking the reader to form comparatives and superlatives.
2. DEFINITIONS
COMPARATIVES
• IN GRAMMAR, THE COMPARATIVE
FORM OF AN ADJECTIVE OR ADVERB
SHOWS THAT SOMETHING HAS MORE
OF A QUALITY THAN SOMETHING ELSE
HAS. FOR EXAMPLE, 'BIGGER' IS THE
COMPARATIVE FORM OF 'BIG', AND
'MORE QUICKLY' IS THE COMPARATIVE
FORM OF 'QUICKLY'..
3. SUPERLATIVES
• IN GRAMMAR, THE SUPERLATIVE FORM OF
AN ADJECTIVE OR ADVERB IS THE FORM
THAT INDICATES THAT SOMETHING HAS
MORE OF A QUALITY THAN ANYTHING
ELSE IN A GROUP. FOR '.
5. Irregular
Adjective
Comparative
Form
Superlative
Form
good better best
bad worse worst
far farther farthest
little less least
many more most
Exceptions
Two-syllable adjectives that
follow two rules. These
adjectives can be used with -er
and -est and with more and
most
Two-Syllable
Adjective
Comparative
Form
Superlative
Form
clever cleverer cleverest
clever more clever most clever
gentle gentler gentlest
gentle more gentle most gentle
friendly friendlier friendliest
friendly more friendly most friendly
quiet quieter quietest
quiet more quiet most quiet
simple simpler simplest
simple more simple most simple
Irregular adjectives
6. Two-syllable adjectives which end in -y usually form the
comparative by adding -er and the superlative by adding –
est. The only exceptions are some three-syllable
adjectives which have been formed by adding the
prefix un- to another adjective, especially those formed
from an adjective ending in-y. These adjectives can form
comparatives and superlatives by using more/most or
adding -er/-est.
Adjective Comparative Superlative
unhappy unhappier the
unhappiest/most
unhappy
unfriendly unfriendlier the
unfriendliest/mo
st unfriendly
7. PRACTICES
Comparative Adjectives
Make the comparative form. If it's possible, use 'er'. If not, use 'more'.
1) Dogs are _________________________________ (intelligent) than rabbits.
2) Lucy is ___________________________________ (old) than Ellie.
3) Russia is far ________________________________ (large) than the UK.
4) My Latin class is ______________________________ (boring) than my English
class.
5) In the UK, the streets are generally ______________________________ (narrow)
than in the USA.
8. PRACTICES
Complete the sentences.
Use the superlative form of the adjectives in brackets.
Who is the__________________________________ (tall) person in your family?
My mum is the_______________________________ (good) cook in the world.
December is the_______________________________ (cold) month of the year in
my country.
What's the__________________________________ (dangerous) animal in the
world?
Ethan is the___________________________________ (happy) boy that I know.
She bought the________________________________ (big) cake in the shop.
9. ANSWERS
1. MORE INTELLIGENT
2. OLDER
3. LARGER
4. MORE BORING
5. NARROWER/ MORE NARROW
1. THE TALLEST
2. THE BEST
3. THE COLDEST
4. THE MOST DANGEROUS
5. THE HAPPIEST
6. THE BIGGEST