Grammar Spot

COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

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Comparative 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).

Examples:

• My skirt is larger than hers.
• This bracelet is smaller than the one I lost.

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 dress I've ever seen.

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.

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
Tall	Taller	Tallest
Fat	Fatter	Fattest
Big	Bigger	Biggest
Sad	Sadder	Saddest

two SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES

Adjectives with two syllables can form the comparative either by adding -er or by preceding the adjective with more. These adjectives form the superlative either by adding -est or by preceding the adjective with most. 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
Peaceful	More peaceful	Most peaceful
Pleasant	More pleasant	Most pleasant

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

Retrieved from

https://www.ef.com/ca/english-resources/english-grammar/comparative-and-superlative/

PRACTICE

• Complete the chart. Write the comparative and superlative of the adjectives below.
• Write the answers on your notebook and bring them to the next class. 

#	Adjectives	Comparative	Superlative
Ex	Fast	Faster	The fastest
1	Important
2	Expensive
3	Little
4	Interesting
5	Happy
6	Busy
7	Tall
8	Short
9	Ugly
10	Beautiful

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR A SMALL QUIZ

Choose the correct option that completes the sentence