Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
Adjectives can be used to compare 2 objects.
Adjectives can be used to say an object is at the top of a list.
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to form these 2 comparisons and practise using them.
How to compare using adjectives.
Comparative – to compare two objects in a group
- One syllable – add -er to the end of the adjective. E.g. bigger, taller
- Two or more syllables – add ‘more’ before the adjective. E.g. more interesting, more difficult
- If an adjective ends in ‘y’ – change ‘y’ to an ‘i’ and add -er. E.g. easier, heavier
- Add ‘than’ after the adjective. E.g. shorter than, more confusing than
Superlative – to say one thing is the top of a group
- One syllable – add -est to the end of the adjective. E.g. hottest, coldest
- Two or more syllables – add ‘most’ before the adjective. E.g. most boring, most colourful
- If an adjective ends in ‘y’ – change ‘y’ to an ‘i’ and add -est. E.g. messiest, bossiest
- Add ‘the’ before the adjective. E.g. the most beautiful, the hardest
Irregular Adjectives
- There are some adjectives which don’t follow the above rule and the word changes depending on comparative or superlative.
- Still use ‘than’ and ‘the’ in the normal places as above with the following adjectives:
- Good – better – best
- Bad – worse – worst
- Far – further – furthest
Examples
History is the hardest subject.
They are the most beautiful flowers in the world.
This is the heaviest box.
Practise
Fill in the correct form of the adjectives.
Common mistakes learners make
- Forgetting to use ‘the’ and ‘than’
- Using ‘more/most’ with ‘er/est’
- Confusing meaning of comparative and superlative
Common mistakes learners make
- Forgetting to use ‘the’ and ‘than’
- Using ‘more/most’ with ‘er/est’
- Confusing meaning of comparative and superlative