HOW TO MAKE A COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES

HOW TO MAKE COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES

Definition: To make the comparative form of adjectives (like “bigger” or “more expensive”) and the superlative form (like “biggest” or “most expensive”), first we need to know how many syllables are in the adjective.
1: Adjectives with one syllable:
Usually if an adjective has only one syllable, we add “er” to make the comparative form. We add “est” to make the superlative form.

clean → cleaner → the cleanest

cold → colder → the coldest

small → smaller → the smallest

young → younger → the youngest

tall → taller → the tallest

There are some spelling changes. If there is one vowel followed by one consonant at the end of the adjective, we often double the consonant.

wet → wetter → the wettest

big → bigger → the biggest

hot → hotter → the hottest

thin → thinner → the thinnest

If the adjective ends in “y”, this often changes to “I”.

dry → drier → the driest

If the adjective ends in “e”, we don't add another “e”, just “r”.

nice → nicer → the nicest

large → larger → the largest

Even when the adjective has only one syllable, it's still not wrong to use “more” or most”. It's possible to say “more wet” or “most tall”. This isn't incorrect. There are a few adjectives that we have to use “more” or “most” with, even though they only have one syllable. We CAN'T add “er” or “est'”

fun → more fun / most fun (NOT funner / the funnest)

real → more real / most real (NOT realer / the realest)

right → more right / most right (NOT right / the rightest)

wrong → more wrong / most wrong (NOT wronger / the wrongest)

2: Adjectives with two syllables:
For adjectives with two syllables we generally use “more” or “most”.

careful → more careful → the most careful

bored → more bored → the most bored

But some two syllable adjectives can take “er or '”est”. It's also fine to use “more” (for the comparative) or “most” (for the superlative).

clever → cleverer → the cleverest

simple → simpler → the simplest

narrow → narrower → the narrowest

quiet → quieter → the quietest

Adjectives with two syllables that end in “y” usually can add “er” or “est” (y generally changes to i). It's also fine to use “more” or “most”.

dirty → dirtier → the dirtiest

pretty → prettier → the prettiest

happy → happier → the happiest

ugly → uglier → the ugliest

3: Adjectives with more than two syllables:
Adjectives with more than two syllables can only make their comparative by using “more” and their superlative by using “most”.

beautiful → more beautiful → the most beautiful

intelligent → more intelligent → the most intelligent

interesting → more interesting → the most interesting

expensive → more expensive → the most expensive

4: Irregular adjectives:
There are also some irregular adjectives. We just need to learn these forms.

good → better → the best

bad → worse → the worst

far → further → the furthest

little → less → the least

much → more → the most

EXERCISES ON COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES 

Direction: Make the comparative form. If it’s possible, use “er”. If not, use “more”:

1. Dogs are _________________________________ (intelligent) than rabbits.

2. Lucy is _________________________________ (old) than Ellie.

3. Russia is far _________________________________ (large) than the UK.

4. My Latin class is _________________________________ (boring) than my English class.

5. In the UK, the streets are generally _________________________________ (narrow) than the streets in the USA.

6. London is _________________________________ (busy) than Glasgow.

7. Julie is _________________________________ (quiet) than her sister.

8. Amanda is _________________________________ (ambitious) than her classmates.

9. My garden is a lot _________________________________ (colourful) than this park.

10. His house is a bit _________________________________ (comfortable) than a hotel.

Click here to download full lesson explanation and doing exercises