Comparatives and Superlatives

Adjective Comparatives (2) Superlatives (2 or

more)
One-syllable Add –er ending Add –est ending
adjectives tall, smart taller, smarter tallest, smartest
One-syllable Double the consonant Double the
adjective ending big, thin, fat, sad before –er consonant before –
with a consonant bigger, thinner, fatter, est
sadder biggest, thinnest,
fattest, saddest
Two-syllable Drop –y and add –er Drop –y and add –est
adjectives ending in happy, easy happier, easier happiest, easiest
–y
Two-syllable Add –r Add –st
adjectives ending in simple, gentle Simpler, gentler Simplest, gentlest
–le
Two or more Add more before adj. Add the most before
syllable adjectives important, adj.
expensive more important, more the most important,
expensive the most expensive

Irregular Adjectives
Adjective Comparative Superlative
good better the best
bad worse the worst
far further the furthest
little less the least
many more the most

Adjectives that take both forms

clever cleverer, more clever cleverest, most clever
gentle gentler, more gentle gentlest, most gentle
friendly friendlier, more friendly friendliest, most friendly
quiet quieter, more quiet quietest, most quiet
simple simpler, most simple simplest, most simple

Exercise: Complete the following sentences using comparatives.

1. Amanda’s house is BIGGER (big) than Jake’s.
2. Alma is a BETTER (good) cook than her sister.
3. Joe´s car is FASTER (fast) than Judy’s.
4. Roger is FRIENDLIER (friendly) than George.
5. Mr. Johnson is FUNNIER (funny) than Mr. Roberts.
6. My new computer is FASTER (fast) than my old one.
7. This movie was even WORSE (bad) than the previous one.
8. My skin is DRIER (dry) than yesterday.
9. Bikes are CHEAPER (cheap) than cars.
10. Canada is COLDER (cold) than Mexico.
11. I am THINNER (thin) than my brother.
12. Tigers are FASTER (fast) than turtles.
13. Football is MORE PUPULAR (popular) than golf.
14. Elephants are HEAVIER (heavy) than lions.
15. The movie is MORE EXCITING (exciting) than the book.

Exercise: Complete the following sentences using superlatives.

1. This is ______________________ (beautiful) place I’ve ever seen.
2. The apple is ______________________ (delicious) fruit!
3. The Prado is ______________________ (famous) museum in Spain.
4. James is ______________________ (tall) in class.
5. Richard is ______________________ (funny) person in class.
6. This is ______________________ (pretty) dog I’ve ever had.
7. London is ______________________ (large) city in England.
8. The sailfish are ______________________ (fast) animals in the water.
9. Whales are ______________________ (big) animals in the world.
10. San Francisco is ______________________ (beautiful) city in the United States.
11. Summer is ______________________ (good) season of the year.
12. I think math __________________________________ (difficult) subject.
13. The Sahara is __________________________________ (hot) desert on Earth.
14. The Everest is ______________________ (high) mountain in the world.
15. What is the ______________________ (good) city?

Exercise: Write the sentences in the correct order.

a. the / basketball player / he / tallest / is
HE IS TALLEST THE BASKETBALL
b. actress / Mary / the / was / popular / most
MARY WAS MOST POPULAR ACTRESS
c. He / the / was / footballer / best
HE WAS THE BEST FOOTBALLER
d. plays / than / better / you / Sarah
e. father / is / your / than / younger / mine
Exercise: Complete the sentences with the correct form of the adjective in brackets.
1. These shorts are ____________________ (comfortable) than those jeans.
2. She is ______________________ (happy) now than she was last year.
3. You are the ________________________ (pretty) girl in class.
4. My grandma is _______________________ (old) than my grandpa.
5. The red dress is the ______________________ (expensive) in the shop.
6. He always tells the _______________________ (fun) jokes.
7. Your hair is ____________________ (curly) than my hair.
8. My hair is ______________________ (short) than yours.

Exercise: Match the adjective with its definition:

1 D Generous 6 Reliable

2 Honest 7 Sensitive

3 Ambitious 8 Outgoing

4 Stubborn 9 Greedy

5 Aggressive 10 Polite

A Is friendly, likes meeting people.

B Gets easily upset.

C Often behaves angrily.

D Likes giving things to others.

E Refuses to change his mind.

F Wants to be successful.

G Tells the truth.

H Has good manners.

I Does what he promises.

J Wants more than he needs.

Adjectives of Equality and Inequality

We use the structure as + adjective + as when the things we are comparing are equal or similar
in some way:

The weather is as bad as yesterday.

He is not as tall as his father.

Exercise: Use either as…as o or not as… as to complete the sentences.

1. The green car is _______________________ the blue one. (fast)
2. Robert is _______________________ Erick. (not/tall)
3. My dress is _______________________ yours. (not/new)
4. My hands are _______________________ ice (cold).
5. This movie is _______________________ the previous one (good).
6. Peter is _______________________ Alfredo (friendly).
7. This sweater is _______________________ (not/big) the one I was wearing yesterday.
8. Today is _______________________ (not/windy) as yesterday.
9. The apple is _______________________ the orange (heavy).
10. My mom is _______________________ my sister (thin).