Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. What Are Comparatives and Superlatives?
  3. Forming Comparatives
  4. Forming Superlatives
  5. Using Comparatives and Superlatives
  6. Common Mistakes with Comparatives and Superlatives
  7. Comparative and Superlative Exercises
  8. Answers
  9. Conclusion

Introduction

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on comparatives and superlatives in English! Comparatives and superlatives are forms of adjectives and adverbs used to compare two or more things. Understanding how to form and use them correctly is essential for expressing comparisons and enhancing your communication skills in English.

This guide is designed specifically for ESL students. We’ll explore what comparatives and superlatives are, how to form them, provide plenty of examples, highlight common mistakes, and offer exercises to help you practise. By the end of this guide, you’ll feel confident using comparatives and superlatives in your everyday English conversations and writing.

What Are Comparatives and Superlatives?

Comparatives and superlatives are special forms of adjectives and adverbs used to compare nouns or actions.

  • Comparatives compare two things. For example: “She is taller than her sister.”
  • Superlatives compare one thing against a group. For example: “He is the tallest in the class.”

Forming Comparatives

The way we form comparatives depends on the number of syllables in the adjective.

One-Syllable Adjectives

For most one-syllable adjectives, add -er to the end.

  • Old ➔ older
  • Fast ➔ faster

If the adjective ends with a single vowel followed by a consonant, double the consonant and add -er.

  • Big ➔ bigger
  • Hot ➔ hotter

Two-Syllable Adjectives

For adjectives ending in -y, change the -y to -i and add -er.

  • Happy ➔ happier
  • Easy ➔ easier

For other two-syllable adjectives, use more before the adjective.

  • Careful ➔ more careful
  • Peaceful ➔ more peaceful

Adjectives with Three or More Syllables

Use more before the adjective.

  • Important ➔ more important
  • Expensive ➔ more expensive

Irregular Adjectives

Some adjectives have irregular comparative forms.

  • Good ➔ better
  • Bad ➔ worse
  • Far ➔ farther / further

Forming Superlatives

Superlatives are formed similarly to comparatives but with different endings or words.

One-Syllable Adjectives

Add -est to the end of the adjective. Use “the” before the superlative form.

  • Old ➔ the oldest
  • Fast ➔ the fastest

If the adjective ends with a single vowel followed by a consonant, double the consonant and add -est.

  • Big ➔ the biggest
  • Hot ➔ the hottest

Two-Syllable Adjectives

For adjectives ending in -y, change the -y to -i and add -est.

  • Happy ➔ the happiest
  • Easy ➔ the easiest

For other two-syllable adjectives, use the most before the adjective.

  • Careful ➔ the most careful
  • Peaceful ➔ the most peaceful

Adjectives with Three or More Syllables

Use the most before the adjective.

  • Important ➔ the most important
  • Expensive ➔ the most expensive

Irregular Adjectives

Some adjectives have irregular superlative forms.

  • Good ➔ the best
  • Bad ➔ the worst
  • Far ➔ the farthest / the furthest

Using Comparatives and Superlatives

Comparatives are used to compare two people, places, or things.

  • John is taller than Mark.
  • This book is more interesting than that one.

Superlatives are used to compare one person, place, or thing with several others.

  • Mary is the tallest in the class.
  • It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen.

Common Mistakes with Comparatives and Superlatives

1. Double Comparative or Superlative Forms

❌ She is more taller than her brother.

✅ She is taller than her brother.

Tip: Do not use “more” with adjectives that already take “-er” endings.

2. Incorrect Use of “Than” and “The”

❌ He is the smarter than his friend.

✅ He is smarter than his friend.

Tip: Use “than” with comparatives, and “the” with superlatives.

3. Using “Most” Instead of “More”

❌ This is most difficult than I thought.

✅ This is more difficult than I thought.

Tip: Use “more” for comparatives and “most” for superlatives.

4. Incorrect Spelling Changes

❌ She is the beautifullest girl in the class.

✅ She is the most beautiful girl in the class.

Tip: Adjectives with three or more syllables use “most” instead of “-est”.

5. Irregular Adjective Forms

❌ His cooking is gooder than mine.

✅ His cooking is better than mine.

Tip: Remember the irregular forms of adjectives.

Comparative and Superlative Exercises

Now it’s time to practise! Complete the following exercises to test your understanding of comparatives and superlatives.

Exercise 1: Forming Comparatives

Write the comparative form of the adjectives in brackets.

  1. Today is _______ (cold) than yesterday.
  2. She is _______ (smart) than her brother.
  3. This puzzle is _______ (easy) than that one.
  4. Mount Everest is _______ (high) than K2.
  5. My new job is _______ (good) than my old one.

Exercise 2: Forming Superlatives

Write the superlative form of the adjectives in brackets.

  1. He is the _______ (fast) runner in the team.
  2. That was the _______ (bad) movie I’ve ever seen.
  3. This is the _______ (beautiful) painting in the gallery.
  4. She is the _______ (young) in the family.
  5. It was the _______ (happy) day of my life.

Exercise 3: Choose the Correct Form

Select the correct comparative or superlative form to complete each sentence.

  1. This test is _______ (harder/hardest) than the last one.
  2. She is the _______ (most talented/more talented) artist here.
  3. My house is _______ (bigger/biggest) than yours.
  4. He is _______ (less/least) experienced than his colleague.
  5. They are the _______ (friendlier/friendliest) neighbours we’ve had.

Exercise 4: Correct the Mistakes

Identify and correct the mistakes in the following sentences.

  1. She is the most tallest girl in the class.
  2. This is the more interesting book I’ve read.
  3. He runs faster than any one in the team.
  4. Your cake is gooder than mine.
  5. The Pacific Ocean is the bigest ocean on Earth.

Exercise 5: Write Sentences

Use the given adjectives to write sentences using comparatives and superlatives.

  1. Old
  2. Comfortable
  3. Interesting
  4. Bad
  5. Far

Answers

Exercise 1

  1. Today is colder than yesterday.
  2. She is smarter than her brother.
  3. This puzzle is easier than that one.
  4. Mount Everest is higher than K2.
  5. My new job is better than my old one.

Exercise 2

  1. He is the fastest runner in the team.
  2. That was the worst movie I’ve ever seen.
  3. This is the most beautiful painting in the gallery.
  4. She is the youngest in the family.
  5. It was the happiest day of my life.

Exercise 3

  1. This test is harder than the last one.
  2. She is the most talented artist here.
  3. My house is bigger than yours.
  4. He is less experienced than his colleague.
  5. They are the friendliest neighbours we’ve had.

Exercise 4

  1. She is the tallest girl in the class.
  2. This is the most interesting book I’ve read.
  3. He runs faster than anyone in the team.
  4. Your cake is better than mine.
  5. The Pacific Ocean is the biggest ocean on Earth.

Exercise 5

Your sentences may vary. Here are some examples:

  1. My grandmother is older than my grandfather.
  2. This sofa is more comfortable than the chair.
  3. That was the most interesting film I’ve seen.
  4. This is the worst coffee I’ve ever tasted.
  5. She lives farther from the city than I do.

Conclusion

Understanding and using comparatives and superlatives correctly is essential for expressing comparisons in English. By mastering the formation rules and practising their usage, you’ll enhance your ability to communicate effectively and make your speech and writing more precise.

If you have any questions, thoughts, or would like to share your own sentences using comparatives and superlatives, please leave a comment below. Happy learning!

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