COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES (ALL THE THEORY)

Grammatical constructions used for comparing adjectives

There are three forms of comparison:

• positive
• comparative
• superlative

1. Comparison with -er/-est

clean → cleaner → (the) cleanest

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

1.1. Adjectives with one syllable

positive	comparative	superlative
clean	cleaner	cleanest
new	newer	newest
cheap	cheaper	cheapest

1.2. Adjectives with two syllables and the following endings:

1.2.1. Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -y

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

1.2.2. Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -er

positive	comparative	superlative
clever	cleverer	cleverest

1.2.3. Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -le

positive	comparative	superlative
simple	simpler	simplest

1.2.4. Adjectives with two syllables, ending in -ow

positive	comparative	superlative
narrow	narrower	narrowest

1.3. Spelling of the adjectives using the endings -er/-est

positive	comparative	superlative	comment
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)
shy	shyer	shyest	Here -y is not changed to -i. (although consonant before -y)

2. Comparison with more – most

all adjectives with more than one syllable (except some adjectives with two syllables – see 2.1. to 2.4.)

positive	comparative	superlative
difficult	more difficult	(the) most difficult

3. Irregular adjectives

positive	comparative	superlative	comment
good	better	best
bad	worse	worst
much	more	most	uncountable nouns
many	more	most	countable nouns
little	less	least
small	smaller	smallest

4. Special adjectives

Some adjectives have two possible forms of comparison (-er/est and more/most).

positive	comparative	superlative
clever	cleverer / more clever	cleverest / most clever
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
quiet	quieter / more quiet	quietest / most quiet
simple	simpler / more simple	simplest / most simple
stupid	stupider / more stupid	stupidest / most stupid
subtle	subtler / more subtle	subtlest / most subtle
sure	surer / more sure	surest / most sure

5. Difference in meaning with adjectives

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

EN OTRAS PALABRAS

When we compare two things:
 - We use _______-er than in one word syllables and two syllables ending in -y
- We use more ______ than in two or more syllables.

SUPERLATIVES

 - We use the _______-est in one word syllables and two syllables ending in -y

- We use the most __________in two or more syllables.

More information

Exercises

Comparison of adjectives – Exercises and Tests

• 1013 Adjectives – comparison – Exercise 1  
• 1015 Adjectives – comparison – Exercise 2  
• 1023 Adjectives – comparison – Exercise 3  
• 1029 Adjectives in English – Comparison – Test 1  
• 1037 Adjectives in English – Comparison – Test 2  
• 1039 Adjectives in English – Comparison – Test 3  
• 1061 Comparative adjectives in a sentence – Exercise 1  
• 1063 Comparative adjectives in a sentence – Exercise 2  
• 1025 Comparative of English adjectives – Crossword 1  
• 1027 Comparative of English adjectives – Crossword 2  
• 1033 Comparison of adjectives in sentences – Exercise 1  
• 1051 Comparison of adjectives in sentences – Exercise 2  
• 1077 Comparison of adjectives in sentences – Exercise 3   
• 1031 Comparison of adjectives with as ... as – Exercise  
• 1017 Comparison of adjectives with -er and -est – Exercise 1  
• 1019 Comparison of adjectives with -er and -est – Exercise 2  

5_U1_01

WHAT DOES SHE LOOK LIKE?

You use this to ask about physical appearance:

- Then you use "TO BE: IS / ARE" with adjectives
- And "HAVE GOT/HAS GOT" with nouns

WHAT'S SHE LIKE?

We use this question to ask about personality:

 Practise the vocabulary of the unit and enjoy the story:

COMPARATIVES

When we compare two things:
 - We use _______-er than in one word syllables
- We use more ______ than in two or more syllables.

SUPERLATIVES

 - We use the _______-est in one word syllables
- We use the most __________in two or more syllables.

CONTRACTIONS

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Halloween falls on the 31st October of every year and is a time when people dress in scary costumes, go trick or treating and play traditional Halloween games, such as apple bobbing.
Halloween involves a variety of traditions from different cultures and religions and there are many interpretations of these.

Trick or treating nowadays involves dressing up in costumes and knocking on neighbours doors for treats. If treats are not given then tricks are played on the neighbour.
(As seen in http://www.bbc.co.uk)



Here you can learn how to carve your own pumpkin, (ask an adult for help):

If you go trick-or-treating there are some safety precautions to take:

To revise the vocabulary, you may play a Halloween memory game:

http://www.learningchocolate.com/content/halloween?st_lang=en

And watch the "Meg & Mog" video:

Our legendary song for Halloween: