ADJECTIVES: Comparatives & Superlatives

COMPARATIVES & SUPERLATIVES To form the comparative and the superlative form of the adjectives in English, we have to take into account the number of syllables the adjectives have.

SPELLING CHANGES If an adjective ends in -e, we only add –r: nice nicer, safe safer. If the adjective ends in a single vowel letter followed by a single consonant letter, the consonant letter is doubled: thin thinner, hot hotter. If an adjective ends in a consonant followed by -y, -y is replaced by -i and then we add –er: dry drier, happy happier. One syllable adjectives form the comparative by adding –er to the adjective:

Three or more syllable adjectives form the comparative by adding more before the adjective:

But two syllable adjectives form the comparative according to their ending: If they end in –y, they usually form the comparative by adding -er The rest usually form the comparative with more

Let’s summarize:

To form the superlatives, the rule is the same:

Note the following: Irregular adjectives: Exceptions: With some 2-syllable adjectives, we can either use '-er' or 'more':

Practice 1.WRITE the correct comparative in the following sentences. ADD than when necessary. 1. John is (tall) Peter. 2. I’m (happy) yesterday. 3. Ann is very bright but Pat is (intelligent). 4. My brother is (young) me. 5. This film is (bad) the book. 6. I think his house is (big). 7. Planes are (safe) cars. 8. July is (hot) April. 9. Your car is (expensive) Peter’s. 10.My parcel is heavy but your bag (heavy). 11.This cake is (good) that one. 12. The dress is (long) the skirt.

Practice 1. WRITE the correct comparative in the following sentences. ADD than when necessary. 1. John is taller than (tall) Peter. 2. I’m happier than (happy) yesterday. 3. Ann is very bright but Pat is more intelligent (intelligent). 4. My brother is younger than (young) me. 5. This film is worse than (bad) the book. 6. I think his house is bigger (big). 7. Planes are safer than (safe) cars. 8. July is hotter than (hot) April. 9. Your car is more expensive than (expensive) Peter’s. 10.My parcel is heavy but your bag is heavier (heavy). 11.This cake is better than (good) that one. 12. The dress is longer than (long) the skirt.

Practice 2. NOW write the correct comparative or superlative form in the following sentences. 1. Pat is (bright) girl in class. 2. I’m (happy) person in the world. 3. Luke is (old) Peter. 4. This is (bad) book I’ve ever read. 5. I’m feeling much (good). 6. I think this cake is (big) usual. 7. You live (far) Peter. 8. German is (difficult) English. 9. You look (sad) yesterday. Are you OK? 10.This horse is (cheap) I could find. 11.This cake is (good). 12. A Ferrari is (fast) a BMW .

Practice 2. NOW write the correct comparative or superlative form in the following sentences. 1. Pat is the brightest (bright) girl in class. 2. I’m the happiest (happy) person in the world. 3. Luke is older than (old) Peter. 4. This is the worst (bad) book I’ve ever read. 5. I’m feeling much better (good). 6. I think this cake is bigger than (big) usual. 7. You live further than (far) Peter. 8. German is more difficult than (difficult) English. 9. You look sadder than (sad) yesterday. Are you OK? 10.This horse is the cheapest (cheap) I could find. 11.This cake is the best (good). 12. A Ferrari is faster than (fast) a BMW .