Comparative and Superlative Forms of Adjectives and Adverbs

Exercises

Explanation

1. One-syllable adjectives and adverbs

Add –er for comparatives and –est for superlatives.

Examples:

• tall → taller → the tallest

• fast → faster → the fastest

Spelling rules:

• Double the final consonant: big → bigger → the biggest

• Drop -e: nice → nicer → the nicest

• Change y → i: dry → drier → the driest

Examples:

• “My street is quieter than yours.”

• “This is the smallest cup we have.”

2. Two-syllable adjectives ending in –y, –er, –le, –ow

They often add –er / –est, but more / most is also possible.

Examples:

• happy → happier → the happiest

• narrow → narrower → the narrowest

• simple → simpler or more simple

Sentences:

• “This road is narrower than the highway.”

• “Tom is the happiest in his class.”

3. Longer adjectives (two+ syllables)

Use more for the comparative and most for the superlative.

Examples:

• expensive → more expensive → the most expensive

• comfortable → more comfortable → the most comfortable

• carefully (adverb) → more carefully → the most carefully

Sentences:

• “This sofa is more comfortable than the old one.”

• “She worked the most carefully on the project.”

4. Comparatives and superlatives of adverbs

• Short adverbs: add –er / –est
  fast → faster, the fastest

• Long adverbs: use more / most
  quietly → more quietly, the most quietly

Examples:

• “He finished the task faster than I expected.”

• “She sings the most beautifully in the group.”

5. Irregular forms

Some words have special comparative and superlative forms.

Examples:

• “This restaurant is better than the one near my house.”

• “He is the least interested in sports.”

6. Using articles

• Comparatives: use a or the
  “This is the cheaper option.”
  “Choose a lighter bag.”

• Superlatives: usually need the
  “She is the most talented artist here.”

But after verbs like be, the can be dropped:

• “This solution is (the) most effective.”

7. Using “less” and “the least”

Use less and the least to express a lower degree.

Examples:

• “This task is less difficult than the last one.”

• “That was the least exciting part of the trip.”
  
  

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