Forming regular comparatives and superlatives

Adjective form Comparative Superlative

Only one syllable, ending Add -R: Add -ST:
in E.
WIDER, FINER, WIDEST, FINEST,
WIDE, FINE, CUTE CUTER CUTEST

Double the final Double the final

Only one syllable, with
consonant, and add consonant, and add
one vowel and one
-ER: -EST:
consonant at the end.
HOTTER, BIGGER, HOTTEST, BIGGEST,
HOT, BIG, FAT
FATTER FATTEST

Only one syllable, with

more than one vowel or Add -ER: Add -EST:
more than one consonant
at the end. LIGHTER, NEATER, LIGHTEST,
FASTER NEATEST, FASTEST
LIGHT, NEAT, FAST

Two syllables, ending in Change Y to I, then add Change Y to I, then add

–Y. -ER: -EST:

HAPPY, SILLY, HAPPIER, SILLIER, HAPPIEST, SILLIEST,

LONELY LONELIER LONELIEST

Use the word “MORE” Use the word “MOST”

Two syllables or more, not
before the adjective: before the adjective:
ending in Y.
MORE MODERN, MOST MODERN,
MODERN,
MORE MOST
INTERESTING,
INTERESTING, INTERESTING,
BEAUTIFUL
MORE BEAUTIFUL MOST BEAUTIFUL

Irregular comparatives and superlatives

Adjective form Comparative Superlative

GOOD, BETTER, BEST,
BAD, WORSE, WORST,
FAR . FARTHER/FURTHER FARTHEST/FURTHEST

How to use comparatives and superlatives

Comparatives are used to compare two things. You can

use sentences with THAN, or you can use a conjunction
like BUT. Examples:
Comparatives
• Jiro is taller than Yukio.

• Yukio is tall, but Jiro is taller.

Superlatives are used to compare more than two things.

Superlative sentences usually use THE, because there is
only one superlative. Examples:
Superlatives • Masami is the tallest in the class.

• Yukio is tall, and Jiro is taller, but Masami is the

tallest.
 EXERCISES
1) Give the comparative form for each of the adjectives listed. (Escriba los
comparativos correspondientes de los adjetivos de la lista)

ADJECTIVE……….COMPARATIVE
• interesting …….._more interesting_
• weak …………..___________
• funny ………….___________
• important……… ___________
• careful …………___________
• big ……………..___________
• small…………... ___smaller___
• polluted ………..___________
• boring …………___________
• angry ………….___________

2) Make new sentences with the adjectives in the list. Follow the sentences below.
(Realice oraciones como las de los ejemplos con los adjetivos de la lista)

• Tennis is a more difficult sport than Rugby. (El Tennis es un deporte más
difícil que el rugby)
• I think John is happier now than a year ago. (Yo pienso que John es más feliz
ahora que hace un año)
• Could you open the window, please? It's getting hotter in this room by the
minute. (¿Podrías tu abrir la ventana?, por favor. Se está haciendo más caliente
en esta habitación cada minuto)
• Tennis is a more interesting sport than Rugby.
•
•
•
•
•

3) Give the superlative form for each of the adjectives listed. (Escriba los superlativos
correspondientes de los adjetivos de la lista)

ADJECTIVE……….SUPERLATIVE
• interesting ………. ___________
• weak ……………..___________
• funny …………….___________
• important………… ___________
• careful ……………_most careful__
• big ………………..___________
• small ……………..___________
• polluted …………..___________
• boring …………….___________
• angry ……………..___________
4) Make new sentences with the adjectives in the list. Follow the sentences below.
(Realice oraciones como las de los ejemplos con los adjetivos de la lista)
• New York has got to be the most exciting city in the world. (New York ha
llegado a ser la ciudad más excitante del mundo)
• His biggest desire is to return home. (Su más grande deseo es volver a casa)
• She is probably the angriest person I know. (Ella es probablemente la persona
más enojona que yo conozco)

• New York has got to be the most important city in the world.
•
•
•
•
•

5) One sentence has a mistake. Choose the correct sentence. Put √ or X. ( Una oración
está incorrecta, escoja la correcta)

a) * Yesterday was more hot than today.

* Yesterday was hotter than today.

b) * She’s taller than her brother.

* She’s taller that her brother.

c) * I’m the most young in the class.

* I’m the youngest in the class.

d) * Last week was busier than this week.

* Last week was busyer than this week.

e) * My homework was the baddest in the class.

* My homework was the worst in the class.