Comparative and superlative adjectives

Comparative adjectives compare differences between the two elements they modify (larger, smaller, faster, more difficult).

  • Her flat is larger than ours
  • This tablet is smaller than the one I lost
  • You walk faster than me

Superlative adjectives indicate the greatest degree of a quality (the tallest, the smallest, the most vulnerable).

  • Juan is the tallest student in our class
  • He is the kindest cat I know
  • Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world

Forming comparatives and superlatives depends on the number of syllables of the adjective, that is, whether it is a short or a long word.

ONE SYLLABLE” OR SHORT ADJECTIVES

Add -er for the comparative and -est for the superlative: ➯ NICE ➣ nicer ➣ the nicest . If the adjective has a consonant + single vowel + consonant, the final consonant doubles.

AdjectiveComparativeSuperlative
fatfatterthe fattest
bigbiggerthe biggest
sadsadderthe saddest
hothotterthe hottest
madmadderthe maddest
wetwetterthe wettest

More than one syllable” adjectives

They can form the comparative either by adding -er or by preceeding the adjective with more. They can form the superlative either by adding -est or by preceeding the adjective with most. In many cases, both forms are used, but more and most are more frequently used.

Adjectives ending iny change to an i , and must change ➯ ➣ er ➣ est , as in ➯ BUSY ➣ busier ➣ the busiest

AdjectiveComparativeSuperlative
happyhappierthe happiest
lazylazierthe laziest
cleverclevererthe cleverest
whitewhiterthe whitest
strangestrangerthe strangest

Long adjectives

They always form the comparative with more and the superlative with most.

AdjectiveComparativeSuperlative
importantmore importantthe most important
expensivemore expensivethe most expensive
dangerousmore dangerousthe most dangerous

Irregular comparatives and superlatives

AdjectiveComparativeSuperlative
goodbetterthe best
badworsethe worst
littlelessthe least
muchmorethe most
farfurther / fartherthe furthest / farthest
Examples
  • My bike is better than yours
  • Your bike is less striking than mine
  • This is the best large cylinder bike in the store
  • That is the least spectacular bike in the store
  • I am far from home, but you are even farther
  • For further details, visit website
  • The furthest corners of the human mind may be horrifying

reference: English for Life Pre-Intermediate Oxford

Make sentences comparing the two elements:

Examples
Dogs are friendlier than cats
The radio is sometimes more interesting than TV

MAKE SENTENCES in the superlative:

examples
Maths is the worst school subject
Prepositions are the most difficult thing in english

Read and listen about Scotland

reference: English for Life Beginner Oxford




Read the lesson and make the exercises

MIXED EXERCISES

MIXED EXERCISES

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