Comparatives and Superlatives of Adjectives

Comparatives and Superlatives of Adjectives


Introduction


Comparatives and Superlatives are special forms of adjectives. They are used to compare two or more things. Generally, comparatives are formed using -er and superlatives are formed using -est.
This page will explain the rules for forming regular comparatives and
superlatives, and also show some basic ways of using them.
Forming comparatives and superlatives



How these forms are created depends on how many syllables there are in the adjective. Syllables are like “sound beats”. For instance, “sing” contains one syllable, but “singing” contains two — sing and ing. Here are the rules.

Adjective form Comparative Superlative

Only one syllable, ending in E. Examples: wide, fine, cute	Add -R: wider, finer, cuter	Add -ST: widest, finest, cutest
Only one syllable, with one vowel and one consonant at the end. Examples: hot, big, fat	Double the consonant, and add -ER: hotter, bigger, fatter	Double the consonant, and add -EST: hottest, biggest, fattest
Only one syllable, with more than one vowel or more than one consonant at the end. Examples: light, neat, fast	Add -ER: lighter, neater, faster	Add -EST: lightest, neatest, fastest
Two syllables, ending in Y. Examples: happy, silly, lonely	Change Y to I, then add -ER: happier, sillier, lonelier	Change Y to I, then add -EST: happiest, silliest, loneliest
Two syllables or more, not ending in Y. Examples: modern, interesting, beautiful	Use MORE before the adjective: more modern, more interesting, more beautiful	Use MOST before the adjective: most modern, most interesting, most beautiful

How to use comparatives and superlatives



Comparatives Superlatives

Comparatives are used to compare two things. You can use sentences with THAN, or you can use a conjunction like BUT. Examples: Jiro is taller than Yukio. Yukio is tall, but Jiro is taller.

Superlatives are used to compare more than two things. Superlative sentences usually use THE, because there is only one superlative. Examples: Masami is the tallest in the class. Yukio is tall, and Jiro is taller, but Masami is the tallest.

When you are sure that you understand the lesson,

Comparatives and Superlatives





Choose the correct form for each word.







Show one at a time


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1. 
   What is the comparative of "hot"?
   
   
   
   
   1. 
      ?
      hoter
      
   2. 
      ?
      hotter
      
   3. 
      ?
      hotest
      
   4. 
      ?
      hottest
      
   
   
2. 
   What is the superlative of "deep"?
   
   
   
   
   1. 
      ?
      deeper
      
   2. 
      ?
      deepper
      
   3. 
      ?
      deepest
      
   4. 
      ?
      deeppest
      
   
   
3. 
   What is the comparative of "lively"?
   
   
   
   
   1. 
      ?
      livelyer
      
   2. 
      ?
      more livelyer
      
   3. 
      ?
      livelier
      
   4. 
      ?
      more livelier
      
   
   
4. 
   What is the comparative of "sad"?
   
   
   
   
   1. 
      ?
      sader
      
   2. 
      ?
      sadder
      
   3. 
      ?
      sadier
      
   4. 
      ?
      saddier
      
   
   
5. 
   What is the superlative of "ugly"?
   
   
   
   
   1. 
      ?
      uglier
      
   2. 
      ?
      uggliest
      
   3. 
      ?
      uglyest
      
   4. 
      ?
      ugliest
      
   
   
6. 
   What is the superlative of "small"?
   
   
   
   
   1. 
      ?
      smallier
      
   2. 
      ?
      smaller
      
   3. 
      ?
      smalliest
      
   4. 
      ?
      smallest
      
   
   
7. 
   What is the superlative of "unpleasant"?
   
   
   
   
   1. 
      ?
      unpleasant
      
   2. 
      ?
      most unpleasant
      
   3. 
      ?
      more unpleasant
      
   4. 
      ?
      unpleasantest
      
   
   
8. 
   What is the comparative of "destructive"?
   
   
   
   
   1. 
      ?
      destructiver
      
   2. 
      ?
      more destructive
      
   3. 
      ?
      destructivier
      
   4. 
      ?
      more destructiver
      
   
   
9. 
   What is the superlative of "soft"?
   
   
   
   
   1. 
      ?
      softest
      
   2. 
      ?
      softiest
      
   3. 
      ?
      softtest
      
   4. 
      ?
      most soft
      
   
   
10. 
    What is the comparative of "heat"?
    
    
    
    
    1. 
       ?
       heater
       
    2. 
       ?
       heatter
       
    3. 
       ?
       heatier
       
    4. 
       ?
       hetter
       
    5. 
       ?
       none of these
       
    
    

OK