Comparison of adjectives

There are three forms of comparison:

- positive
- comparative
- superlative

A - Comparison with -er/-est

clean - cleaner - (the) cleanest

We use -er/-est with the following adjectives:

1) adjectives with one syllable

clean cleaner cleanest
new newer newest
cheap cheaper cheapest

2) adjectives with two syllables and the following endings:

2 - 1) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -y

dirty dirtier dirtiest
easy easier easiest
happy happier happiest
pretty prettier prettiest

2 - 2) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -er

clever cleverer cleverest

2 - 3) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -le

simple simpler simplest

2 - 4) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -ow

narrow narrower narrowest
Spelling of the adjectives using the
endings -er/-est
large larger largest leave out the silent -e
big bigger biggest
Double the consonant after short vowel
sad sadder saddest
dirty dirtier dirtiest Change -y to -i (consonant before -y)
Here -y is not changed to -i.
shy shyer shyest
(although consonant before -y)

B - Comparison with more - most

difficult - more difficult - (the) most difficult

all adjectives with more than one syllable (except some adjectives with two syllables -
see
2 - 1 to 2 - 4)

C - Irregular adjectives
good better best
bad worse worst
much more most uncountable nouns
many more most countable nouns
little less least
little smaller smallest

D - Special adjectives

Some ajdectives have two possible forms of comparison.

common commoner / more common commonest / most common

likely likelier / more likely likeliest / most likely
pleasant pleasanter / more pleasant pleasantest / most pleasant
polite politer / more polite politest / most polite
simple simpler / more simple simplest / most simple
stupid stupider / more stupid stupidest / most stupid
subtle subtler / more subtle subtlest
sure surer / more sure surest / most sure

Difference in meaning with adjectives:

farther farthest distance
far distance or
further furthest
time
later latest
late latter x
x last
older oldest people and things
old
elder eldest people (family)
nearer nearest distance
near
x next order

Adjectives - Comparison - Exercise 1

Fill in the comparative and superlative forms of the adjectives.

Example: new - _____ - _______

Answer: new - newer - newest

1) old - -

2) bad - -

3) difficult - -

4) large - -

5) good - -
Fill in all the gaps with the correct forms of the adjectives.

Example: ____ - newer - _______

Answer: new - newer - newest

1) - longer -
2) - - worst
3) modern - -
4) - - nicest
5) - - nearest
6) - - flattest
7) popular - -
8) - happier -
9) many - -
10) - - cleverest

Fill in the missing words into the gaps. Mind the first two words in each task.
1) strong - stronger; good -
2) coldest - colder; happiest -
3) nice - nicer; bad -
4) angry - angrier; much -
5) more boring - boring; sunnier -
6) more interesting - most interesting; worse -
7) hard - hardest; new -
8) most expensive - expensive; cleanest -
9) fast - fastest; old -
10) shortest - short; most difficult -

Comparison of adjectives in sentences -

Exercise 1
Put in the adjective in bold from the first sentence into the second sentence in its correct
form (comparative or superlative).

Example: I have a fast car, but my friend has a ______ car.

Answer: I have a fast car, but my friend has a faster car.

1) This is a nice cat. It's much than my friend's cat.

2) Here is Emily. She's six years old. Her brother is nine, so he is .

3) This is a difficult exercise. But the exercise with an asterisk (*) is the exercise on the
worksheet.

4) He has an interesting hobby, but my sister has the hobby in the world.

5) In the last holidays I read a good book, but father gave me an even one last weekend.

6) School is boring, but homework is than school.

Put in the adjective from the first sentences into the second sentence in its correct form
(comparative or superlative).

Example: I have a fast car, but my friend has a ______ car.

Answer: I have a fast car, but my friend has a faster car.

1) My father is heavy. My uncle is much than my father.

2) The test in Geography was easy, but the test in Biology was .
3) Florida is sunny. Do you know the place in the USA?
4) Stan is a successful sportsman, but his sister is than Stan.
5) My mother has a soft voice, but my teacher's voice is than my mother's.
6) Amy has a beautiful baby, but my daughter has the baby on earth.
7) I live in a large family, but my grandfather lived in a family.
8) We have only little time for this exercise, but in the examination we'll have even time.
9) Lucy is clever, but Carol is than Lucy.
10) Have you visited the old castle? It was the castle we visited during our holidays.