Grammar: Comparatives & Superlatives (Exercises)

English Level: High-Beginner, Intermediate

Language Focus: Changing adjectives to comparative and superlative form

Worksheet Download: comparative-superlative-worksheet-esl.docx (scroll down to study the exercises online)

Jump to: Comparatives, Superlatives, Exercises

Review: Making Sentences in Comparative Form

We put an adjective ('big') into a comparative form ('bigger') when we are comparing two things. For example, here are two boys.

Let's say the boy on the left is Ian and the boy on right is Peter. We can say,

• Ian is taller than Peter.
• Peter is more excited than Ian.

To make comparative sentences like this, we make a regular sentence and change the adjective to a comparative form.

Ian is tall. > Ian is taller.

We add 'than' after the adjective when we want to say what we are comparing the subject ('Ian') to.

Ian is taller than Peter.

Sometimes we don't add 'than' because we don't need to when it is already clear who/what we are comparing.

Peter is young.

Peter is younger.... than who? Ian of course!

Comparatives: Comparing Apples to Apples

Always compare two similar things. For example, [Food-A] is [comparative adjective] than [Food-B].

[Bananas] are [healthier] than [cookies]. (Correct)

This sentence is wrong:

[Peter's hair] is lighter than [Ian]. (Wrong)

How can we compare hair to a person? These are different things that can't really be compared. We need to compare [hair] to [hair]. To fix this, we can write:

• [Peter's hair] is lighter than [Ian's hair]. (Correct)
• [Peter's hair] is lighter than [Ian's]. (Correct - If you write "Ian's" (a possessive), it means the hair of Ian)
• [Peter's hair] is lighter. (Correct)

Now let's look at how we change adjectives into comparative adjectives now.

Rule #1: Add 'er' to End of One-Syllable Adjectives

Add ~er to short words that are only one syllable. (A syllable is how many sounds a word has. Usually this is how many times you open your mouth when you say a word; for example, when you say 'big', you only open your mouth once so it is one syllable. However, when you say the word 'beautiful', you open your mouth three times. This means it is three syllables.)

E.g.: John is taller than Peter. ( tall + er = taller)

Here are some common one-syllable adjectives:

• tall > taller
• cheap > cheaper
• dark > darker
• smart > smarter

Note: If the last two letters of the adjective are a vowel (a/e/i/o/u) followed by a consonant (d/g/m/p/t, etc), repeat the last consonant to make the comparative form.

• mad > madder
• big > bigger
• slim > slimmer
• hip > hipper
• fat > fatter
• wet > wetter

Rule #2: Add 'ier' to Two-Syllable Adjectives that end in 'Y'

If the adjective has two syllables ('ugly = ug-ly') then drop the 'y' at the end, add an 'i', and then 'er'.

E.g. That house is uglier than my house.

• ugly > uglier
• easy > easier
• happy > happier
• lucky > luckier
• windy > windier

Rule #3: Add 'more' to Adjectives Longer than Three Syllables

When we have longer adjectives (two syllables that don't end in 'y', or any adjective with three syllables or more), we usually add 'more' before the word and  we do not change the adjective.

For example, the adjective beautiful has three syllables (beau-ti-ful). So we'd say,

E.g. This painting is more beautiful than that painting.

Here are some other common longer adjectives in comparative form.

• beautiful > more beautiful
• expensive > more expensive
• delicious > more delicious
• interested > more interested
• difficult > more difficult

Making Comparatives: Exceptions

These adjectives have irregular comparative forms.

• good > better
• bad > worse
• well > better
• far > farther

E.g. Your day was worse than mine.

That's it. Let's try some practice exercises.

Practice Exercises: Comparative Adjectives

Review: Making Sentences in Superlative Form

We use a superlative form to mean that something is #1. It is the best; it is the top.

For example,

• John was the fastest in the race. 
• Russia is the biggest country.
• The diamond ring was the most expensive ring in the shop.

A sentence with a superlative (like 'Russia is the biggest country') is a statement that means the subject is the #1 of all things in that category. It is not a comparison between two things.

As you can see, we usually add 'the' before the adjective in superlative form: 'the fastest / the biggest / the most expensive'.

Also, we do not use 'than' with superlatives.

To change an adjective to its superlative adjective form, the rules are similar to comparatives.

Rule #1: Add 'est' to End to One-Syllable Adjectives

Add ~est to short words that are only one syllable.

E.g.: Kate is the fastest. ( fast + est = fastest)

Here are some common one-syllable adjectives:

• tall > tallest
• cheap > cheapest
• dark > darkest
• smart > smartest

Note: If the last two letters of the adjective are a vowel (a/e/i/o/u) followed by a consonant (d/g/m/p/t, etc), repeat the last consonant to make the comparative form.

• mad > maddest
• big > biggest
• slim > slimmest
• hip > hippest
• fat > fattest
• wet > wettest

Rule #2: Add 'iest' to Two-Syllable Adjectives that end in 'Y'

If the adjective has two syllables ('ugly = ug-ly') then drop the 'y' at the end, add an 'i', and then 'est'.

E.g. That house is the ugliest on the street.

• ugly > ugliest
• easy > easiest
• happy > happiest
• lucky > luckiest
• windy > windiest

Rule #3: Add 'the' + 'most' to Adjectives Longer than Three Syllables

When we have longer adjectives (two syllables that don't end in 'y' or adjectives with three syllables or more), we usually add 'most' before the word and  we do not change the adjective.

For example, the adjective beautiful has three syllables (beau-ti-ful). So we'd say,

E.g. This painting is the most beautiful in the gallery.

Here are some other common longer adjectives in superlative form.

• beautiful > the most beautiful
• expensive > the most expensive
• delicious > the most delicious
• interested > the most interested
• difficult > the most difficult

Making Superlatives: Irregular Adjectives

These adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms.

• good > better > best
• bad > worse > worst
• well > better > best
• far > farther > farthest

E.g. Today was the best day of my life.

Let's try some exercises.

Practice Exercises: Superlative Adjectives

Add a superlative form. Don't forget to add 'the'.

Practice Exercises: Comparative or Superlative?

Change the adjective to a comparative or a superlative form. Remember that we use a comparative when comparing two things (the subject of the sentence with another thing). Sentences with comparatives often contain [than] and then another noun.

Give it a try. Remember to add 'the' for superlatives.

Practice Exercises: Comparatives or Superlatives in Questions

I hope these exercises and my explanations have helped you understand comparative and superlative adjective forms. If you find a mistake or have a question, please leave a comment below.

- Matthew Barton / Creator of Englishcurrent.com (copyright)