The Comparative is the form of an adjective or adverb used to compare two things. To

create a comparative, remember that with short adjectives add -er to the end, and longer ones

use more before the adjective:

EG: The Nile is longer than the Amazon. - Long >> Longer

EG: Many students find writing more difficult than reading. - Difficult >> More Difficult

Comparatives and Superlatives

Here are some basic rules for spelling comparatives and superlatives:

Rule 1 - one syllable adjectives or adverbs:

Comparatives Superlatives

Simply add -er Examples: smart =  smarter young =  younger fast = faster

Use THE  and add -est Examples: smart =  the smartest young =  the youngest fast = the fastest

Rule 1B - One syllable adjectives with a Consonant-Vowel-Consonant  Pattern:

(Review Consonants and Vowels)

If the adjective has a CVC pattern, double the consonant and add -er.  Examples: wet  =  wetter big  =  bigger sad = sadder Practice comparatives with one-syllable words.

If the adjective has a CVC pattern, double the consonant and add -est. Don't forget THE! Examples: wet  =  the wettest big  =  the biggest sad = the saddest Practice superlatives with one-syllable words.

Rule 2 - two syllable adjectives ending in Y

Change the Y to I and add -er    Examples: pretty =  prettier happy =  happier busy = busier Practice comparatives ending in Y.

Change the Y to I and add -est. Don't forget to use THE! Examples: pretty =  the prettiest happy =  the happiest busy = the busiest Practice superlatives ending in Y.

Rule 3 - Adjectives or adverbs with two or more syllables (not ending in Y):

  Use MORE Examples: famous =  more famous interesting =  more interesting carefully = more carefully Practice comparatives with 2 or more syllables.

Use THE MOST Examples: famous =  the most famous interesting =  the most interesting carefully = the most carefully Practice superlatives with 2 or more syllables.

Rule 4 These are the irregular words. There is no system or pattern here, so you'll just have to remember them. Fortunately, there are only a few...

Examples: good =  better bad =  worse far = farther (further) well = better badly = worse little = less Practice irregular comparatives.

Examples: good =  the best bad =  the worst far = the farthest (the furthest) well = the best badly = the worst little = the least Practice irregular superlatives.

I. Use -er than or more than.

1. My brother is _____________ (handsome) than my father2. Tigers are _______________ (dangerous) than cats.3. Men are __________ (strong) than women.4. A silver chain is __________ (cheap) than a gold one.5. German is __________ (difficult) than English.6. The cure is_________ (bad) than the sickness7. Your cat is __________ (big) than my dog.8. She doesn’t eat too much. That’s why she is __________ (thin) than her sister9. Dolphins are _______________ (intelligent) than monkeys10. Santos is _______ (old) than Obama.11. A platinum ring is ______________ (expensive) than a gold one.12. Action movies are _______________ (exciting) than love stories.13. English is _____________ (easy) than Mathematics.14. Fruits are _________ (good) than candies.15. His brother is _________ (fat) than Botero´s pictures

II. Make a comparison with the following issues

1. An accountant an economist ______________________________________2. a motorcycle a car__________________________________________3. women men__________________________________________4. heaven hell___________________________________________5. a camel a horse________________________________________

The Superlative is the form of an adjective or adverb that shows which thing has that quality

above or below the level of the others. There must be three or more to use the superlative. It

takes the definite article and short adjectives add -est and longer ones take 'most':

SUPERLATIVE EXAMPLES:

 Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.

It is the most expensive restaurant I've ever been to.

III. Write a sentence using a superlative, taking into account the following relationship between these words.

1. France-Spain-Germany _________________________________________________

2. Movistar-Claro -Tigo __________________________________________________

3. Huawei-Motorola-Samsung __________________________________________________

4. Hamburger-Pizza-Tacos __________________________________________________

5. Golf-Baseball-Swimming __________________________________________________

QUIZ COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

Choose the correct answer

Q1 - It's better ____ I thought. a. As b. then c. than d. like

Q2 - Brazil is _____ England.

a. biger than b. bigger as c. bigger than d. biger as

Q3 - She is _____ in the class

a. the best b. best c. better than d. as good as

Q4 - I'm not as successful ___ she is.

a. as b. like c. than d. then

Q5 - It was ______ expensive restaurant I've ever been to.

a. more b. the more c. most d. the most

Q6 - I'd like some ____ information.

a. farther b. further c. Either could be used here.

Q7 - It's ____ art collection in Europe.

a. finer b. finest c. the finer d. the finest

Q8 - It was ____ than I was expecting.

a. cheaper b. cheapest c. Either could be used here.

Q9 - This is the ______ kitchen I've ever seen.

a. dirtyest b. dirtiest c. Either could be used here.

Q10 - Which is ____ of the two?

a. more difficult b. most difficult c. Either could be used here.

Q11 - She finished ____ than everyone else.

a. more quickly b. quicker c. Either could be used here.

Q12 - The underground is ____ buses.

a. more expensive b. most expensivec. the most expensive d. more expensive than

Q13 - The plane would be _____ than the coach.

a. more quicklyb. quicker c. Either could be used here.

Q14 - It was ____ test I have ever done.

a. the most hard b. the hardest c. Either could be used here.

Q15 - There were ____ people at the game than expected.

a. most b. more c. many

Choose the correct completion.

1) (large) Sarah's house is ____ than Shannon's house.

a) large

b) more larger

c) larger

d) more large

  3) (sad) Today I was ____ than I was yesterday.

a) sad

b) sadder

c) more sad

d) more sadder

  5) (old) Germany is an ____ country than the United States.

a) more older

b) more old

c) old

d) older

  7) (tall) Jack is much _____ than his sister, Jennifer.

a) tall

b) taller

c) more tall

d) more taller

  9) (wet) The grass is _____ than the sidewalk. 

a) more wetter

b) more wet

c) wetter

d) wet

2) (smart) Jason is ____ in math than his brother.

a) smarter

b) more smart

c) more smarter

d) smart

  4) (cute) I think kittens are ____ than puppies.

a) more cuter

b) more cute

c) cute

d) cuter

  6) (young) My sister Elaine is ____ than my brother Fred.

a) more younger

b) more young

c) younger

d) young

  8) Monkeys and chimpanzees are _____ than birds. (big)

a) biger

b) bigger

c) more big

d) more bigger

  10) My cat Neko is _____ than my other cat, Sebastian. (soft)

a) soft

b) softer

c) more soft

d) more softer

Comparatives - one syllable words